Terry Rozier signs three-year, $58 milion deal with Charlotte

Terry Rozier has made the jump from moderately wealthy to extremely wealthy.

The former Louisville standout and Boston Celtic has agreed to a deal with the Charlotte Hornets that will pay him $58 million over three years. The deal — which can’t officially be signed until Sunday, July 6 — will also give Rozier the opportunity to showcase his ability as a lead guard over a complete season for the first time in his professional career.

Rozier has made just 30 starts over the course of his four years in the NBA, but the bulk of those came during an impressive stretch in the 2018 playoffs where he filled in for an injured Kyrie Irving and came one win away from leading Boston to the NBA Finals. He averaged 9.0 points, 2.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game playing behind Irving last season.

You always feel great for any former Cardinal when they make their mark in the league and are able to eventually get a contract like this that’s going to change the lives of their family for generations to come. It’s especially reason for celebration when the recipient is a guy like Rozier.

There were two things members of the U of L staff during Rozier’s time here would always say about him: 1) Nobody worked harder, 2) No player they had recruited had come from a tougher background. While some guys like to use the second fact as a badge of pride or a built-in excuse, Rozier did neither. He just went about his business and didn’t talk about it. Now he’s going to make $58 million over the next three years to play a game.

I couldn’t be happier for Terry.