NBA star LaMelo Ball is being SUED over claims he broke an 11-year-old’s foot by driving over it as young fan tried to get an autograph
NBA star LaMelo Ball is being sued by a mother who claims the Charlotte Hornets player broke her son’s foot by running over it.
Angell Joseph, who is 12 but 11 at the time, tried to get Ball’s autograph outside the Spectrum Center after an event in October.
Ball left the arena in his purple Rolls Royce SUV, but was immediately forced to stop at a traffic light. It is alleged that Joseph and other children went to Ball’s car in hopes of getting his autograph.
Ball “looked Joseph straight in the face as he approached the vehicle before” driving away in a grossly negligent and reckless manner.
It is alleged that Ball suddenly and without warning accelerated and struck Joseph, seriously injuring him.
NBA star LaMelo Ball is being sued by a mother who claims he broke her 11-year-old son’s foot
Tamaria McRae says her son waited outside the arena for Ball’s autograph
Angell Joseph did not get an autograph, but it is said that Ball broke his foot while driving away
‘[Angell] said, ‘LaMelo, I love you. I love you, sign my…give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?'” his mother, Tamaria McRae, told Action 9.
“I just saw my son go down and I thought maybe he dropped something.”
But she says Angell was actually looking at his foot after Ball ran over it and broke it.
“This is his hero, his idol, and he got run over by him,” their attorney, Cameron DeBrun, added.
McRae claimed her son suffered from “depression” due to the injury. She added: “For a while I couldn’t even recognize who my child was because, like depression, I couldn’t go outside to play.
“When you see your children hurt, it hurts you. It’s been tough. It’s been very tough. I mean, like I’m a strong person. This broke me. This right here, really.’
Ball signed a rookie max contract extension last summer worth up to $260 million over five seasons
DeBrun insists the family would have filed a claim with Ball’s insurance to cover the cost of medical treatment, but his insurer and name were both left out of a police report for the incident.
The family is also suing the Hornets, insisting the team should have taken more security measures to protect fans while trying to get player autographs.
Ball, who is only 22, signed a rookie max contract extension last summer that will pay him up to $260 million over the next five seasons.
When healthy, he has been dynamite this season, averaging 23.9 points, eight assists and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc.
Ball, the 2022 All-Star point guard, was limited to 58 games the past two seasons due to ankle problems and hasn’t played for the Hornets since Jan. 26.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Hornets for comment.