26
Jun
Exclusive Interview
'He's got a shot': Mackinnon a step closer to NBA dream
Max MacKinnon #3 of the LSU Tigers brings the ball up court during the second half of a game against the Florida Gators at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on January 20, 2026 in Gainesville, Florida. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images
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Max Mackinnon has taken the first step towards realising his NBA dream after signing an Exhibit-10 deal to join the Charlotte Hornets, completing a rapid rise from a mid-major college program just three years ago to the bright lights of the biggest stage.
Mackinnon signing an Exhibit-10 deal with the Hornets means he will play NBA Summer League next month in Las Vegas for the franchise and then compete for a two-way spot at training camp later in the year.
The 22-year-old 6'6" guard earns the contract after making the switch to play in the SEC for the LSU Tigers in his senior year of college basketball, where he showcased his talents at a higher level, averaging 15.7 points as well as 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists but more importantly while shooting 37.6% from the three-point line on almost six attempts per game.
His length and shooting makes him an intriguing two-way prospect for NBA teams.
His dad, Australian basketball and NBL legend Sam Mackinnon, said he couldn't be more proud of what his son has achieved and now the real work starts.
"It's great news for Max, he's worked incredibly hard to get to this point and now he's got a real shot (of playing in the NBA)," he told basketball.com.au.
"There was interest from a few teams but it's great for him to get to a good environment in Charlotte. He knew there was going to be some interest but it got real in the last few days when we knew people from Charlotte had spoken to his coaches at obviously LSU but also at Portland and at ELON.
"He's pretty excited and now he's just got to do the best he can when he gets his chances and at camp and if he does that, hopefully he can get that two-way spot. But you never know with these things, you can do well and other teams can be interested in signing you, so it's just all in front of Max at the moment."
The former Brisbane Bullets development player had several breakout performances for LSU in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball last season.
Mackinnon's top performances for the Tigers included a 34-point haul in a double-overtime win over Ole Miss in February, where he connected on 4-from-6 from beyond the arc and also a 28-point performance against Kentucky in March.
And while his perimeter shooting has reached an elite level, shooting above 36% in his last three college basketball seasons, Sam Mackinnon said his defensive ability improved during his time in the SEC.
"That's the reason he chose to go to the SEC, he wanted to test himself, especially defensively and I think he got a lot better in that area," he said.
"I think his last season really prepared him for trying to have a real shot at the NBA, obviously it's a different level but he's ready for it."
Mackinnon also recently competed for the NBL Next Stars team at the Adidas EuroCamp in Italy.
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