NBA fans ended up talking about more than just the result after Saturday’s 119–115 win over the Washington Wizards, as a postgame moment involving LaMelo Ball picked up traction online.
After the final buzzer, Ball was seen celebrating with teammate Moussa Diabate. A clip of the exchange circulated shortly after and drew attention from the fan page MeloHive.
The post read, “I really hope LaMelo is secure in his sexuality because I feel like he’s about to start overcompensating for his masculinity because of recent events.”
That comment sparked a wide range of reactions.
@BButterscotchQuuevn said, “When men start to overcompensate it’s cuz they know they gay fr”
When men start to overcompensate it’s cuz they know they gay fr
— ButterscotchQueevn (@jdeenmedellin) January 25, 2026
Others brushed the discussion aside. @lxrdVie replied, “He always been zesty. Its been talked about and he still the same person. He dont care lol.”
@Tella1Truth echoed that thought, adding, “Lamelo really doesn’t strike me as the type to care about what weirdos on the internet say.”
Lost in the online chatter was the game itself. Ball finished with 20 points and 11 assists, while Diabate added 11 points and 14 rebounds as the Hornets continued to work their way up the standings.
“This better be AI”: NBA fans mock LaMelo Ball’s ‘zesty’ postgame celebrations
While some fans pushed back on the conversation entirely, others leaned into humor.
A wave of jokes followed, with fans focusing more on the celebration than the box score.
@nocapfghts tried to write it off, saying, “Ts better be Ai.”
@Grokuhpeediuh joked, “Looks like a big pharma commercial for HIV meds.”
And @SadaSurfer focused on Ball’s look, adding, “The crop top ain’t making this better.”
What started as a quick postgame moment turned into another example of how easily small interactions get magnified online — even on a night when the Hornets simply took care of business on the court.
