Not long ago, Minnesota made a big splash in the NBA offseason by acquiring a former All-Star expected to boost its championship hopes. The 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, that positive conversation has taken an unexpected turn. LaMelo Ball is reportedly facing 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. Agape Property Management Group, which is run by former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s father, Cecil Newton, has sued the NBA guard as well, holding him responsible for the mounting unpaid rent and property-related fees. According to the lawsuit, Jackson failed to pay his rent, and Ball also failed to cover those obligations 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 the time. Jackson’s legal team contested those claims, arguing that paying the increased rent ($13,500) was 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.

The latest rent lawsuit adds to the off-court issues for the new Timberwolves guard, whose legal matters have made headlines alongside his basketball career. He only recently settled a case 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.

Although 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 getting ready to launch the latest version 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 had a wash of darker blues across the midfoot and heel. The outsole featured a gradient inspired by the Puerto Rican flag, with a direct imprint visible on the tongue alongside 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 focus remains on the legal dispute. While the latest lawsuit names Ball, earlier court proceedings centered on Jackson’s tenancy and the dispute over unpaid rent versus alleged maintenance failures. The outcome of the new case has yet to be decided, and no judgment has been made against Ball.

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