The 27-year-old is coming off averaging a career-high 17.7 points to go with 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists on 31.1 minutes per game through 72 appearances (64 starts). He did so on 45.1/36.7/84.1 per cent shooting splits.

He finished the season ranked third on the Pelicans in average scoring, second in minutes per game, third in games played and second in total made threes. Bey showed off his explosive scoring dynamism routinely last season, putting up 30-plus points on five different occasions, including a season-high 42 points on 14-of-20 shooting against the Utah Jazz in February.

It was a nice bounce-back for Bey after he missed all of the 2024-25 season due to a torn ACL when he was with the Atlanta Hawks.

Bey’s new deal, according to Charania, also includes a trade kicker. He’s set to make $6.57 million this upcoming campaign before the new extension — carrying an $18.5 million AAV — kicks in through the 2029-30 season.

The Villanova product was originally drafted 19th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in 2020, but was sent to the Detroit Pistons less than 24 hours later as part of a three-team deal. Bey has played in 364 regular-season games in the five years since, between the Pistons, Hawks and Pelicans, averaging 14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, while maintaining a career 35.5 three-point percentage.

He now locks in long-term with a rebuilding core in New Orleans — fresh off a 26-56 showing and 11th place in the West — that includes veterans like Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray, and also promising youngsters Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears and Yves Missi.