What are James Bouknight's contract details for 2022-23 season? Here are all the details
James Bouknight is still currently under his rookie contract as of last season. According to Spotrac, Bouknight made $4.15 million as a rookie in the 2021-22 NBA season. Now entering his second season in the league, he's expecting to make $4.36 million. Depending on what the Charlotte Hornets decide, this could be his last season with the club.
Based on his current contract, the Hornets have club options for 2023 and 2024. That means they can either extend James Bouknight's contract or terminate it once the season ends.
With that said, is Bouknight a player that Charlotte may want to keep on their roster moving forward? Let's take a closer look at the trajectory of his career so far.
The trajectory of James Bouknight's career so far
Growing up as a kid in New York, James Bouknight didn't play basketball until he went to middle school. Initially, he played baseball for the majority of his childhood. But it looked like transitioning to basketball was the right choice for the young Bouknight. His future in the sport seemed bright, especially in high school when he started playing for La Salle Academy.
As a junior, Bouknight led his team to the New York Federation Class B state title while averaging 17.4 points per game. He was also voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
He was named the Class B Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association and the MVP of the B Division by the Catholic High School Athletic Association.
James Bouknight later transferred to MacDuffle School to gain more exposure. He went on to put up even more spectacular performances as a junior in high school.
Before suffering a season-ending torn meniscus in his left knee, Bouknight averaged 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in his reclassified junior campaign. Bouknight then received AA All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council recognition as a senior.
After high school, he ended up playing for the UConn Huskies in 2019. Even as a college student, Bouknight proved to be a special player. He averaged 15 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in college before announcing his entry into the 2021 NBA Draft.
James Bouknight was the eleventh pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets and has been playing with the team since. However, his career didn't exactly turn out the way everyone expected it to be. Last season, he played only 31 games and averaged 4.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.8 minutes of play per game.
Given the way he performed last season, Bouknight could be seeking to redeem himself in his second NBA season. If all goes well for the young player, then the Charlotte Hornets might consider extending his contract. If not, it'll be interesting to see how his career will take off in the future with other teams.