Star NBA players have a history of dropping homophobic lines and facing proverbial slaps on the wrist. The NBA fined Minnesota Timberwolves standout Anthony Edwards $40,000 in 2022 for making anti-gay comments on his Instagram account, and Kevin Durant $50,000 for using homophobic and misogynistic language in private messages that were leaked.

On Nov. 17, the NBA announced that it was hitting Ball with a $100,000 fine for "making an offensive and derogatory comment in a post-game interview." Later that day, the Hornets lost 128–114 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and after that game, Ball took a moment when speaking to reporters to address his off-color remark from the night before.