LaMelo Ball defended his viral Timberwolves moment, but an unexpected response -- and his own brother -- made his explanation harder to sell.
The NBA Referees union publicly refuted LaMelo Ball's explanation of a controversial stepback three-pointer during his Minnesota Timberwolves debut against the Miami Heat. While Ball claimed on SportsCenter that he was letting the ball guide before touching it, the referees union stated he gathered the ball with his right foot down and took four illegal steps, constituting a travel that was missed in real time.
Despite the controversy, the basket counted as the Timberwolves defeated the Heat 131–106. Ball recorded 21 points and six assists, while teammate Anthony Edwards scored 45 points, marking an otherwise successful season opener for Minnesota's new backcourt.
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