NBA: LaMelo Ball gets spooked by mechanical clown on Halloween

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball looks to shoot a 3-pointer against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Charlotte won 138-133. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina— LaMelo Ball isn’t afraid of anything when he steps on the basketball floor.

But the Charlotte Hornets point guard apparently still gets a little spooked by clowns.

READ: NBA: LaMelo Ball shines in 1st game for Hornets since January

In a Halloween video that has gone viral on social media, Ball is seen singing as he walks through a doorway following Thursday’s NBA practice at the Spectrum Center when a hidden mechanical clown begins to move its arms, causing the 23-year-old to jump and scream.

this is the best scare video you'll see today pic.twitter.com/TVE6QbW1BB

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) October 31, 2024

Ball responds by slapping the clown across the head.

As he starts to walk up the stairs, Ball doubles back and slaps the clown again, knocking its head completely off its body.

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Ball then starts laughing as he climbs the stairs, saying, “Boy, hell no, it’s too early for that.” Ball and a team employee walking behind him continue laughing and the point guard eventually jokingly falls to the ground on the stairs holding his chest, saying “feel my heart!”

The Hornets play the Boston Celtics on Friday night.