LaMelo Ball's Tattoo Makes Return in NBA Game on Friday

LaMelo Ball makes NBA return with visible tattoo after league changes stance, but Hornets still struggle in loss to Spurs.

The Charlotte Hornets have been struggling in the NBA recently, only winning one game since early December. A major issue has been the absence of their top scorer, LaMelo Ball, who has been out with a sprained ankle since Thanksgiving. However, Ball made his return on Friday, and his controversial tattoo was on full display during the game.

Earlier in the season, the NBA warned Ball about a tattoo just below his left ear, citing a policy that prohibits players from displaying commercial logos during games. The tattoo, which features the initials "LF," is believed to be the logo for Ball's personal clothing brand, LaFrance. However, Ball and his camp argue that the letters represent his middle name, which is also the name of the company.

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, it seems that Ball may have won the argument, as the league announced that they would no longer be fining him for the tattoo. Ball played without a cover during his return game, and the tattoo was clearly visible.

Despite Ball's strong individual performance, the Hornets were dominated by the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The Spurs held a significant lead throughout the game, with Charlotte's bench struggling to make an impact. Ball finished with 28 points, but it wasn't enough to secure a win for the struggling Hornets.

Looking ahead, the Hornets will face the Miami Heat on Sunday as they continue to work towards improving their performance on the court.