Yes, You Saw That Right: LaMelo Ball Took Eight Steps /VIDEO/

After landing an All-Star point guard in one of the biggest blockbuster trades of the offseason, the Timberwolves kicked off their campaign on Wednesday with a 131-106 blowout victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat. Miami's Nikola Jovic logged four points, four rebounds, and two assists on 2-of-8 shooting across 24 minutes, along with a block and two turnovers.

Anthony Edwards (45 points) and Antetokounmpo (35) led their respective teams in scoring, but Ball enjoyed an impressive Minnesota debut with 21 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals. He also delivered the most talked-about play of the night—though not necessarily for the right reasons.

During the second quarter, Ball had an open lane to the basket but chose to hit a step-back three-pointer instead. At first glance, it may have looked like a clean move to some, and the referees certainly treated it as such, letting play continue without a whistle.

Slow-motion replays, however, revealed the truth: Ball got away with a comically blatant travel, leaving the ESPN broadcast crew stunned as they reviewed the footage.

Color commentator Richard Jefferson initially tried to defend the sequence, saying: "The old hoopers sitting next to me say that was a travel. Me, personally, I think this was a..." before trailing off into silence once he took a closer look.

The missed call was glaring enough to catch the attention of Ball's older brother, Lonzo, who openly called out the sequence for what it was.

In the end, it was merely a humorous footnote in an otherwise successful debut for Ball, who spent the first six years of his career with the Charlotte Hornets before the blockbuster trade sent him to Minnesota.

The rationale behind pairing Ball with Minnesota's core is clear. Edwards is one of the NBA's brightest superstars, and Rudy Gobert remains an elite interior defender and rebounder. The roster is deep, but a dynamic playmaker like Ball has the potential to elevate everyone around him as the franchise pushes for a Finals berth.

Wednesday was a promising start—taking down an Eastern Conference contender and spoiling Antetokounmpo's Heat debut in commanding fashion. Even so, the Wolves probably shouldn't expect officials to overlook that kind of fancy footwork on the perimeter every night.

VIDEO Pistons Secure First Win: "The Comeback Epitomizes Our Culture!"