“F**k This Motherf**ker” – Kendrick Perkins Reveals LaMelo Ball’s Frustration with Coach Charles Lee

After LaMelo Ball came off the bench on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers, former NBA player Kendrick Perkins reported the Charlotte Hornets superstar’s frustrations. Perkins shared insider information about the relationship between Ball and Hornets coach Charles Lee.

On a recent episode of the “Road Trippin'” podcast, the crew of Perkins, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, and Allie Clifton discussed the situation in Charlotte.

Perkins cited sources within the Hornets, reporting that Ball and Lee do not get along. He even shared that the 2021 Rookie of the Year was frustrated with his coach after their 97-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Ball allegedly shouted profanities to express his disappointment with Lee.

“Those two guys don’t see eye-to-eye,” Perkins said. “I’m telling straight up this as a fact, the energy is not there, (and) the coach feels as if LaMelo is not his guy. We’re talking about a guy who is the face of your franchise, a guy who puts butts in the seats, a guy who sells shoes, and for not for naught, you move him to the bench?”

Perkins added:

“My sources tell me that LaMelo, after a game, yelled in the hallway, ‘F**k this motherf**ker,’ about the coach. They are not on the same page.”

LaMelo Ball was limited to just 25 minutes against the Toronto Raptors, but he did play in crunch time. Ball even hit a go-ahead layup with two seconds remaining to give the Charlotte Hornets a two-point lead.

However, Immanuel Quickley had other plans and hit a game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer to stun the Hornets.

And in the following game, Charles Lee removed Ball from the starting lineup and replaced him with Collin Sexton. Ball played 26 minutes to drop 33 points and eight assists. He had the ball at the last minute, passing it to Sexton, who airballed the game-tying attempt, as Charlotte lost 114-112.

Charles Lee lauds LaMelo Ball after loss to Pacers

Speaking to reporters after the loss to the Indiana Pacers, Charles Lee explained why he decided to bring LaMelo Ball off the bench. Lee wants Ball to be as fresh as possible for late-game situations, lauding his selflessness for agreeing to come off the bench for the first time since he was a rookie.

“Obviously, his play and his performance helps the team,” Lee said, according to the Basketball Network. “But also with his open-mindedness to come off the bench to try to help the team. It just shows another area of his leadership, of his selflessness.”

The Hornets have now lost two in a row and six of their last 10 games, heading to a five-game Western Conference road trip.