Bam Adebayo Addresses NBA Officiating After LaMelo Ball Incident

“Obviously, I’m still walking, so I’m okay,” Adebayo said.

Adebayo said that he understood the officials, who did not call a foul at the time. However, he thinks that the play between him and Ball could raise a concern and lead to a change in the future.

“I think the officials handled it, I guess, by the rule book,” he continued. “I feel like it’ll be a change at some point because it doesn’t make sense that three or four plays can go by, and you can review a three-point shot. But you can’t review a hostile act.”

Fortunately for Adebayo and the Heat, the X-ray on the NBA star's lower back came out negative. Additionally, he isn't required to undergo an MRI.

Zach Zarba, who was the crew chief for the officiating team that game, explained the reasoning why it wasn't called at the moment. Zarba told Charlotte Observer’s Rod Boone on the game's Pool Report that the action did not stop, and it did not allow him and his team to stop the game.

“The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed. Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed,” Zarba said. 

Adebayo isn't focused on meeting Ball anytime soon. But since the Heat and Hornets are in the same division, they're likely to meet multiple times in the 2026-27 regular season. The three-time All-Star said that he will have a conversation with the former Chino Hills star when it happens.