Former Wildcats guard Antonio Reeves signs deal with Pelicans

Guard Antonio Reeves has signed his contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

One of the pleasant surprises for Big Blue Nation at the 2024 NBA draft was the selection of former Kentucky basketball star Antonio Reeves. While most mock drafts leading up to it predicted he wouldn’t be picked, he went 47th overall and, after a trade, wound up with the New Orleans Pelicans.

In NBA Summer League play, Reeves played solidly. He averaged nearly 12 points per game and added 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest as well. His three-point shooting was down a bit, but that’s not likely to be an issue in the long run.

Related: ESPN names Reed Sheppard as Summer League star

On Monday, Reeves signed his contract with the Pelicans, and per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, it’s a three year deal worth $5.41 million with a team option for year three.

It’s unlikely that Reeves will be a starter for New Orleans, but he certainly has the ability to come off the bench and contribute.

At Kentucky, he developed into one of their best scorers of all-time, and an elite shooter as well. He averaged over 20 points per game in his final season in Lexington, and was first-team All-SEC.

Wildcats fans will continue to support Reeves as he begins his NBA career, and congratulates him on his contract.