Full Breakdown
LaMelo Ball Hires Personal Driver After Series of Car Incidents
8/26/2026, 12:04:20 PM
Core Event: Driver Hired as LaMelo Ball Begins Minnesota Tenure
Following LaMelo Ball’s trade from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2026, his older brother Lonzo Ball confirmed that LaMelo has engaged a professional driver to handle his transportation in Minneapolis. The move comes after multiple publicized vehicle incidents while Ball was based in Charlotte.
Background & Context: Trade and Prior Driving Incidents
The Hornets selected LaMelo Ball third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft and traded him, along with teammate Josh Green, to Minnesota for Naz Reid and several draft picks. The trade marked the end of Ball’s six-year stint in Charlotte, a period during which his on-court performance earned him an All-Star selection and the 2021 Rookie of the Year award.
In February 2026 a video showed his custom camouflage-patterned Hummer lose its left front tire after colliding with another vehicle. USA Today reported that the other driver sustained minor injuries while Ball emerged uninjured and faced no criminal charges. A separate incident involving a Cybertruck in Minnesota was referenced by Lonzo but not detailed in the available reports.
Data & Statistics: Cars, Accidents, and Timeline
- Vehicle inventory: Lonzo Ball stated that his brother “has 10 cars.”
- Accident count: Two publicly documented crashes (the February 2026 Hummer collision and an earlier incident involving a Cybertruck) have been cited.
- Injury outcomes: No injuries to LaMelo Ball in either incident; minor injuries reported for the other driver in the February crash.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Who in your family out of y'all three spends the most [money],” — Michael Porter — Michael Porter, NBA forward
- “He'll buy a $1 million car and then just immediately f–k it up, I've never understood [that],” — Charlotte. Lonzo — Lonzo Ball, former NBA guard
- “He actually doesn’t get in accidents, but he has a lot of, like, situations on the road,” — Charlotte. Lonzo — Lonzo Ball, former NBA guard
- “Even though Melo's small as h*ll, his skill level was much higher than a lot of people in high school,” — Charlotte. Lonzo — Lonzo Ball, former NBA guard
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree that the February 2026 Hummer crash resulted in no charges against LaMelo Ball, but details about the second incident (the Cybertruck crash) remain vague, with no publicly released police reports or injury summaries. Additionally, while multiple outlets note that LaMelo owns ten cars, the exact composition of his fleet (e.g., makes and models beyond the Hummer) is not fully documented.
Why It Matters
The hiring of a driver directly addresses concerns about LaMelo Ball’s off-court distractions and potential liability for the Timberwolves organization. By delegating transportation, the team aims to keep the young point guard focused on his on-court role alongside Anthony Edwards, potentially enhancing his contribution to Minnesota’s Western Conference campaign.
