“Melo gotta repay him” – LaMelo Ball fan kid who traveled 8,043 miles goes VIRAL as superstar ended up being injured

LaMelo Ball was voted the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021.

“Melo gotta repay him” – LaMelo Ball fan kid who traveled 8,043 miles goes VIRAL as superstar ended up being injured

LaMelo Ball and disappointed kid who flew in from Australia (via Open Source/X)

Lamelo Ball was evidently absent in the game held last night at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, the home court of the Sacramento Kings, where the Sacramento crowd witnessed a matchup between the visiting Charlotte Hornets. Against the odds, the Hornets emerged victorious with a scoreline of 111-104, putting an end to their 11-game losing streak in the process.

LaMelo Ball, the star player, sustained an ankle injury on November 27th during a 130-117 away loss against the Orlando Magic. With the player absent for 17 consecutive games, an Australian kid, seemingly unaware of the All-Star guard’s injury status, made the journey to witness his idol in action.

YouTube video

The kid traveled from far east Australia to Sacramento, eager to see Lamelo in action. However, his excitement turned to disappointment as Lamelo was absent. A video captured the moment, showing the kid holding a sign about flying to watch his favorite player. The commentator also made remarks on the situation:

FS Video
The kid we just saw with the sign said he was 7000 miles away.  I just met him, caught up with him, his name is Max, he's from Australia. Literally flew here just to watch LaMelo play. They flew in yesterday, they're flying out tomorrow. We gotta get this kid a jersey or something. He's a huge LaMelo Ball fan.

Effortlessly returning from the sick bed, however, Hornets’ point guard Terry Rozier showcased his prowess, leading with 34 points, three rebounds, and six assists. In a commendable collaboration, Mikal Bridges added to the triumph with 27 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Meanwhile, on the Kings’ front, De’Aaron Fox displayed his skills, amassing 30 points, five rebounds, and six assists.

Fans react to disappointed kid who traveled to watch LaMelo Ball

Selected as the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, LaMelo Ball has faced an unfortunate setback, being sidelined for 17 consecutive games since his injury against the Orlando Magic in late November. Further proof of his All-Star status and a devoted fan following, a kid and his family from Australia embarked on a long journey to witness LaMelo in action, only to be disheartened as he remained on the injured list.

LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball has been out injured since 27th November 2023. (via Open Source/X)

The video of this heartbreaking moment stirred reactions on social media, especially on X (formerly known as Twitter). Here are a couple of fans’ responses:

https://twitter.com/james_jefegreat/status/1742422071773163806

Without a definite return date in sight, LaMelo is anticipated to remain sidelined for a significant period. Meanwhile, the Hornets find themselves in the 13th position on the Eastern Conference standings, holding a challenging 8-24 record.

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