Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and his brother, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, made an unannounced appearance on popular content creator Kai Cenat’s livestream on 9 July. Flanked by their brother LiAngelo, the pair spent several minutes offering motivational advice to Cenat’s large online audience. “It be ups, it be downs… When you’re down, the only way is up,” LaMelo told viewers, urging them to stay focused on family and perseverance. The brothers’ cameo highlights the NBA’s increasingly direct engagement with fans through social-media personalities who routinely draw audiences that rival conventional broadcasts. Their remarks were widely shared across platforms, underscoring how top athletes are using digital channels to shape their public image during the off-season. Two days later, LaMelo Ball carried that off-court visibility to Las Vegas, taking a courtside seat at the Hornets’ NBA 2K Summer League game on 11 July. Dressed head-to-toe in bright pink despite an outside temperature of about 109°F, the 23-year-old drew cameras and attention as he watched Charlotte’s prospects in action. His string of appearances keeps the spotlight on the Hornets star as the franchise prepares for the 2025-26 NBA campaign.