LaMelo Ball made his highly anticipated Minnesota Timberwolves debut against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, marking his first regular-season action alongside Anthony Edwards. However, a controversial second-quarter play shifted attention from the new backcourt pairing to the officiating.

Ball converted a long-range shot that left broadcasters and viewers questioning how he escaped a travel call. The play caught fire online, with NBA fans, analysts, and media personalities struggling to believe what they had just witnessed.

LaMelo Ball’s 3-Pointer After Missed Travel Call Sparks Disbelief

The incident happened early in the second quarter, when the score was tied at 39-39. Ball gathered the ball before taking a series of sidesteps and launching a 25-foot step-back 3-pointer. The shot went down, but the multi-step footwork leading up to it became the bigger talking point.

Even the broadcast crew questioned the sequence, suggesting the officials should have called a travel. No whistle came, however, allowing the play to stand and sparking a wave of criticism online.

“This is the most egregious travel I’ve ever witnessed. How is this not called?” NBA insider Brett Siegel questioned.

“Uh, what?” Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reacted in disbelief.

“The NBA STOPPED calling travels. LaMelo took EIGHT STEPS,” BrickCenter captioned the play.

“That ain’t a regular travel. That’s time travel,” The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill quipped.

“Bro took a trip, and the refs let him enjoy the vacation,” NBA Memes joked.

“Another Look At This: Oh My Lord,” SM Highlights added.

The missed travel call raised plenty of eyebrows, but it was just one of several talking points from Ball’s debut.

Ball joined Minnesota in July as part of a blockbuster four-team trade, setting up an intriguing pairing with Edwards. The 25-year-old guard finished with 21 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists, shooting 7-for-17 from the field and 5-for-13 from beyond the arc.

Edwards, however, carried much of the scoring load, finishing with a game-high 45 points and 10 rebounds. The Timberwolves’ offense proved too much for Miami, as Minnesota secured a 131-106 victory.

Former Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo made his Heat debut and led Miami with 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting. However, his performance wasn’t enough to prevent a 25-point loss, as the Heat struggled mightily with outside shooting.

Ball’s first outing in Minnesota offered a glimpse of the scoring punch the Timberwolves hope he can bring alongside Edwards. The duo will be back in action against the Orlando Magic on Friday.