The tension from Tuesday night's Hornets-Heat thriller is still simmering, and at the center of it is Miami's defensive anchor, Bam Adebayo. The All-Star big man confirmed Thursday that he has yet to receive an apology from Charlotte's LaMelo Ball for the controversial trip that forced Adebayo out of the game with a back injury.

While downplaying the severity, joking "I'm still walking, so I'm OK," Adebayo made it clear the incident hasn't been settled personally. "It didn't happen… I want it to be out there," Adebayo stated. "At some point I'll see him again and we'll have that conversation." He was quick to note this wasn't a threat, adding that their past interactions have always been positive, but the expectation for a direct conversation remains.

The play itself was a flashpoint in a one-point Charlotte victory. In the second quarter, after a disrupted drive, Ball appeared to swipe at Adebayo's legs as the Heat center tried to save a loose ball. Adebayo fell hard, exited the game, and did not return. No foul was called in real-time, a decision Heat coach Erik Spoelstra later labeled "a dangerous play" that deserved punishment.

The league office agreed, subsequently fining Ball $35,000 for the trip and an additional $25,000 for post-game profanity. When asked about the financial penalty, Adebayo expressed doubt it would be a true deterrent for a max-contract player like Ball. "I think LaMelo’s just going to see it as another game," he remarked, hinting that the fine might not carry the intended weight.

Beyond the personal drama, Adebayo used the moment to advocate for a rules change, arguing that plays involving a "hostile act" should be reviewable after the fact. As for the intent behind the trip? Adebayo left that judgment to the man himself: "Only LaMelo knows if it was dirty or not." The basketball world will be watching closely the next time these two Eastern Conference stars share the court.