New Orleans Pelicans sign Antonio Reeves to three-year contract

Some didn’t know if Antonio Reeves would be drafted after his final collegiate season. Instead, he not only was a selection but has now signed his first official deal as a pro.

Per reports, the New Orleans Pelicans have signed Reeves to a contract worth $5.41 million over the next three years. The third year of the deal will be a team option that could put him into restricted free agency.

Reeves was a second-round pick for New Orleans at No. 47 overall during the 2024 NBA Draft. The Pelicans acquired him in a deal with the Orlando Magic and paired him with their only other draft selection in Baylor’s Yves Messi at No. 21.

Reeves just finished up his time with New Orleans at the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas. He appeared in five games, including starts in the final three. Still, he averaged 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and a steal in 22.2 minutes a game. He shot 41.2% from the field and 32% from three as well. In those starts, those numbers improved for Reeves to 12.7 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and a steal on 43.3% shooting overall and 41.2% from deep.

This comes after Reeves’ five-year college career at Illinois State and Kentucky. In 156 games, Reeves posted 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 38.4% from three. In 67 games over a pair of seasons in Lexington, he averaged 17.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on splits of 46.7% overall, 42.2% from distance, and 83% from the free-throw line.

Reeves has developed and proven to be a top-notch kind of scorer. He’ll now get his chance to continue that progression over the next few years in New Orleans.

Reeves brings ‘natural’ shooting to Pelicans: ‘He’s a marksman’

Antonio Reeves emerged as a do-it-all threat for Kentucky and a clear pro after expanding his game. That’s why the New Orleans Pelicans selected the former Wildcat in the most recent NBA Draft.

“Antonio is a big-time shooter, playmaker,” Pelicans GM Bryson Graham said. “His growth each and every year — you saw it. This past year, shooting 45% from three on close to six attempts per game. He’s a marksman. He’s going to fit very, very well here.”

Reeves agreed with the overall analysis of his game.

“Of course, that’s how I feel. I think I’m the best shooter in the draft,” he said. “I feel like I am, just working every day and staying in the gym.”

“It basically just came natural to me,” Reeves said. “I always had it when I was younger. Of course, I worked on it over the course of the years as I got older. Who would I say I would shoot like in the NBA? I would say someone like Reggie Miller. I’d give it to Reggie Miller. I watched his film growing up and things like that. He’s a really good shooter.”