LaMelo Ball contract details: Hornets star signs five-year maximum extension worth up to $260 million

Gilbert McGregor

LaMelo Ball contract details: Hornets star signs five-year maximum extension worth up to $260 million image

The Hornets have made a serious commitment to make LaMelo Ball as the face of the franchise for years to come.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Ball and the Hornets are finalizing a five-year designated maximum extension worth up to $260 million. The extension will keep Ball in Charlotte through the 2028-29 NBA season.

Ball, who was selected third overall by the Hornets in the 2020 NBA Draft, has quickly ascended to stardom. After winning Rookie of the Year in the 2020-21 season, Ball was named to the All-Star Game during his sophomore campaign, becoming the fourth-youngest All-Star in league history.

Injuries marred Ball's third season as he missed 46 games with various ailments, but he did show growth in the time that he was on the floor.

Here's a look at the deal that guarantees Ball will be a mainstay in the Queen City for years to come as the Hornets look to rebuild and end a playoff drought that dates back to 2016.

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LaMelo Ball contract details

As Ball has one year remaining on his rookie-scale contract, Ball's five-year designated maximum extension will begin during the 2024-25 NBA season, which will be his fifth in the NBA.

The deal is worth up to $260 million with a base scale of $205.9 million, per Spotrac. Ball's contract figure can increase based on meeting incentives, which could include major end-of-season awards and all-league selections.

Here is the basic breakdown of Ball's remaining rookie deal and his upcoming extension, not including potential incentives, which are currently unknown:

Season Salary
2023-24 $10,900,635
2024-25 $35,500,000
2025-26 $38,340,000
2026-27 $41,180,000
2027-28 $44,020,000
2028-29 $46,860,000

LaMelo Ball stats

2022-23 season

  • 23.3 points per game
  • 8.4 assists per game
  • 6.4 rebounds per game
  • 41.1 percent field goal shooting
  • 37.6 percent 3-point shooting
  • 83.6 percent free throw shooting

Career

  • 19.4 points per game
  • 7.3 assists per game
  • 6.4 rebounds per game
  • 42.6 percent field goal shooting
  • 37.7 percent 3-point shooting
  • 82.8 percent free throw shooting

LaMelo Ball career earnings

According to Spotrac, Ball has earned $24.7 million through the first three seasons of his career, as per the terms of the rookie-scale contract tied with being the third pick in 2020. He'll tack on another $10.9 million during the 2023-24 season.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.