Distracted US NBA fan cops a basketball to the face

Proving you always need to keep your eyes on the ball, a female NBA fan who was more interested in her friend’s phone than the game came a cropper after being struck in the face by an errant basketball.

The unidentified woman was sitting a few rows back from the Charlotte Hornets v Sacramento Kings game in North Carolina when she copped the hit straight to the face.

She can be seen on camera looking at her friend’s phone when the ball from Hornets player Lance Stephenson suddenly comes whistling towards her.

Fans around the poor woman ducked out of the way and one man attempts to save the flying ball, but it was not enough to save the lady.

The catapulting ball doesn’t break her glasses, but she is seen cupping her face moments after.

Lesson learned – always pay attention to live sporting matches.