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LaMelo Ball's biggest offseason headline has nothing to do with basketball
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- LaMelo Ball's biggest offseason headline has nothing to do with basketball
After the 2025-26 season concluded, LaMelo Ball arguably came off his best career year yet for the Charlotte Hornets, where he averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game throughout the season, appearing in a total of 72 games.
Although he had better statistics in previous years, LaMelo's career impact, health and winning record were on full display, which served as a maturing phase, highlighted by various bumps in the road, including early-year losses and a transition from the starting lineup to the bench in the middle of the season.
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Nevertheless, Ball managed to pick up on his and the Hornets' struggles, leading the team to 44 wins, their most since 2016, and a noticeable winning streak of nine games in a row, which is the franchise's second-highest.
In a turn of events, however, entering the 2026 off-season, the Hornets traded LaMelo to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which turned the internet into a frenzy as Ball will form a scary backcourt duo alongside Anthony Edwards.
Still, his impactful season and groundbreaking trade have only been a fraction of Ball's offseason talk.
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LaMelo's baby-mama drama
In January of this year, Ball welcomed his first publicly known child, LaOne, with his girlfriend, Ana Montana.
"Welcoming LaOne into the world has changed our hearts in the best way," the couple said . "Family has always meant everything to us, but becoming parents has given us an entirely new perspective on love, purpose, legacy and what truly matters most."
"[LaOne] has brought so much happiness and meaning into our lives, and we're incredibly grateful to God for trusting us with such a special blessing. We're embracing this new chapter with so much love and excitement as we raise and guide our son together," they added.
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Despite the exciting news, Ball made headlines once again after the Hornets' season ended in April. Reportedly, LaMelo and his ex, known as "KBallout," reached a private, off-court agreement regarding their newborn child, under which he would pay around $ 25,000 to $ 30,000 in child support, with a strict non-disclosure agreement.
The NDA contract comes as a shield for both sides, where LaMelo's ex can't speak about him publicly, especially in a negative way, while also not acknowledging him as a father.
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As a result, neither of the two commented or mentioned anything regarding the situation.
LaMelo is expected to have an impact on the Wolves
Despite having his best season with the Hornets, Ball inevitably needed a fresh start due to numerous headlines involving his name, and the transition to Minnesota came at the right time.
In his six relatively underwhelming seasons in Charlotte, Ball has received constant scrutiny for being injury-prone, as he battled nagging ankle injuries at the beginning of his career, which made him miss significant time on the court. With that, LaMelo also battled the stereotype of not having a proper playstyle and character to fit the standard of a franchise player.
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Still, as he gets ready to suit up for the Timberwolves, many are loving the benefit Minnesota received from the trade. For years, Edwards' need for a second ball-handler and a proper playmaker has been the main topic of discussion regarding the team's chances of a potential title, and now, they have found the man who fits the bill.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jul 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
