Charlotte Hornets rookie to reportedly sign multi-year shoe deal with Nike

Liam McNeeley, the 29th pick in the NBA Draft, signed multi-year deal with Nike.

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Liam McNeeley stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 29th pick by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Charlotte Hornets rookie, Liam McNeeley, signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike, Nick DePaula reported Monday.

BREAKING: Charlotte Hornets standout rookie Liam McNeeley has signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike. 📄✍️

The UConn star was named one of the “best 3 rookies at Summer League” by ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Fw31jZsFj9

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) July 21, 2025

The former UConn wing had a strong Summer League in the two games he played, averaging 18 points on 42.9% from three. The Hornets traded Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns to acquire the draft rights to McNeeley, who is set to be a pivotal piece of the future of the squad. With Charles Lee's offense needing more shooting, the wing will generate lots of open looks with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel on the squad.

McNeeley is a product of Montverde Academy, where he played with several other top NBA rookies, such as Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen. The 19 year old McNeeley was viewed as a consensus top five prospect, but a down season at UConn under Dan Hurley saw his value drop. After the Summer League, McNeeley showed he may be a steal for the Hornets going forward.

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