Not long ago, Minnesota made a major splash in the NBA offseason by acquiring a former All-Star expected to boost its championship hopes. That blockbuster trade immediately shifted focus to what more the franchise could achieve on the court with its revamped roster. However, just weeks after that move, the conversation has taken an unexpected turn. LaMelo Ball is reportedly facing unforeseen legal trouble with his North Carolina landlord.

“As of July 1, 2026, the Defendants owed the Plaintiff rent exceeding $181,500.00,” Agape Property Management Group wrote in its lawsuit, according to the New York Post.

Ball moved to Charlotte in 2020 and signed a lease for two apartments above Chima Steakhouse. The NBA star lived in one apartment and sublet the other to his manager, Jermaine Jackson. Ball eventually bought the home he was living in for $2.47 million and kept Jackson’s lease on the other property. However, the lawsuit claims that Jackson didn’t pay his rent, and neither did the then Charlotte Hornets star on behalf of his manager.

The property management company also alleged that Ball and Jackson “accrued over $90,000.00 in unpaid HOA compliance fines.”

This isn’t a new issue.

Earlier this year, a North Carolina judge ordered Jackson’s eviction after Agape claimed he had not paid rent for nearly a year. The landlord stated that more than $150,000 was owed at that time. Jackson’s legal team contested those claims, arguing that the increased rent ($13,500) had been withheld due to unresolved maintenance issues, including repairs related to a leaking aquarium. Jackson paid the original rent ($7,500) instead.

“This matter is more layered than a simple claim for unpaid rent,” attorney Christi Hunoval previously said after the eviction ruling.

Magistrate Judge April Mack ruled, though, that “there was no evidence to show that the unit was uninhabitable.” She reinstated Agape’s control over the property.

Ex-Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton used to own the two homes. Agape Property Management, though, is owned by his father, Cecil Newton.

The latest rent lawsuit adds to other off-the-court issues for the new Timberwolves guard, whose legal matters have made headlines alongside his basketball career. He only recently settled a lawsuit that accused him of running over and breaking a 12-year-old fan’s foot outside Spectrum Center in 2023.

Years later, because of the incident, Angell Joseph, the teen, now suffers from “debilitating” complex regional pain syndrome. Court documents showed that Joseph’s family demanded $3.75 million from Ball, but the final settlement terms remained unclear.

While the lawsuits have generated headlines for the wrong reasons, LaMelo Ball continues to expand his business portfolio off the court. NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that PUMA is preparing to launch the newest edition of the Timberwolves star’s signature sneaker line.

“PUMA and LaMelo Ball are debuting the next chapter in Melo’s signature franchise with the MB.06 Puerto Rico,” Siegel posted. “These will be available only in Puerto Rico starting on Friday before the new signature silhouette launches in September.”

The sneakers featured a wash of darker blues across the entire midfoot and heel. The outsole had a gradient inspired by the Puerto Rican flag, a direct imprint of which was present on the tongue along with the player’s personal branding.

The release marks another milestone in Ball’s long-term reported $100 million partnership with PUMA, one of the league’s most successful signature shoe deals for a young star.

For now, though, much of the attention remains on the legal dispute. While the latest lawsuit names Ball, earlier court proceedings largely centered on Jackson’s tenancy and the disagreement over unpaid rent versus alleged maintenance failures. The outcome of the newly filed case has yet to be determined, and no judgment has been entered against Ball regarding the latest allegations.

On the other hand, Minnesota prepares for its first season with Ball in the backcourt, aiming to break past the Conference Finals barrier they’ve been hindered by twice in the last five years.