LaMelo Ball and the Hornets ‘agree to a $260m max contract over five years’

Charlotte Hornets point guard and All-Star LaMelo Ball is in the works of finalizing a max contract extension, according to Shams Charania.

The deal is worth up to $260million spread out over the course of five years.

Ball was drafted third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by Charlotte after playing overseas in various places.

In his rookie season, the California-born guard averaged 15.7 points per game alongside 6.1 assists a game and 5.9 rebounds per game.

That earned him Rookie of the Year honors in a class that included the likes of Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton.

Ball suffered a season-ending ankle injury in late February of this season, requiring surgery

That derailed a great season for Ball – who was coming off his first All-Star appearance in 2022

Ball earned All-Star honors in the 2021-22 season when he was named as an injury replacement for Kevin Durant.

That season, his points per game average jumped up to 20.1 as he also averaged a career-best 6.7 rebounds per game.

But last season, Ball suffered a right ankle injury just 36 games into the 2022-23 campaign.

He underwent surgery in March and was ruled out for the remainder of the season – leading the Hornets to drop off.

With Ball in the team, Charlotte made back-to-back Play-In appearances where they lost both times.

In his young career, Ball is already eighth on the Hornets’ all-time 3-pointers list. He’s just one shy of teammate PJ Washington but remains over 800 behind the franchise’s leader in a career – Kemba Walker.