CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Pets who need a little help with meals got a big boost this NBA season courtesy of star Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball.
At the start of the season, Ball became an ambassador for the Humane Society of the United States’ More Than a Pet initiative. He joined forces with the nonprofit to launch Points for Pets. Every time Ball scored a point during the regular season, the Humane Society donated 250 meals to pets in historically marginalized communities across the U.S.
In January 2025, Ball – a noted animal lover with five dogs of his own – had scored 873 points, equating to 218,250 meals. The Hornets’ season is now over, and the final total for Ball is 1,184 points, meaning 296,000 meals were donated through the 2024-2025 season.
“We see how much people will do to take care of their pets and how people will forgo their own meals and other essential services that they need to make sure their pets are happy and health,” said the Humane Society’s VP of Access to Care Amanda Arrington in January. “So to be able to provide meals through this program is such a relief to so many people.”