Former NBA player Noah Vonleh accused of “harassment campaign” against sports agency
A bitter dispute between former NBA lottery pick Noah Vonleh and his sports agency has escalated into serious legal accusations, with the agency claiming Vonleh owes them $235,000 in unpaid fees.
The 29-year-old Vonleh has been publicly calling out both the Chinese Basketball Association’s Shanghai Sharks and Pensack Sports agency on social media, claiming they didn’t pay him money he was owed after his contract was terminated in February 2024.
But the agency tells a completely different story.
“Mr. Vonleh did not appeal the decision after he lost and has yet to pay the amount owed,” Attorney Mitch Schuster told TMZ Sports in an exclusive interview.
The 6-foot-10 former NBA player posted videos on Instagram attempting to show mistreatment by the Sharks. He’s been vocal about his complaints, sharing multiple posts detailing his side of the story.
Schuster didn’t mince words about Vonleh’s behavior.
“Since the ruling, in an effort to avoid his financial obligation, Mr. Vonleh has engaged in a malicious harassment, defamation, and extortion campaign in which he has made blatantly false accusations against Pensack Sports.”
## The dispute gets messier
The agency claims Vonleh went even further by paying social media accounts to spread his version of events. According to Schuster, these posts were later taken down because they contained false information.
Even the National Basketball Players Association tried to step in.
The NBPA reportedly reached out to help Vonleh resolve the situation, but according to Schuster, the former NBA player refused to cooperate with them.
The case is now headed to federal court, where Pensack Sports expects to collect the money they say Vonleh owes them based on their arbitration victory.
“Despite the ongoing harassment, defamation, and extortion Mr. Vonleh has directed towards my client, Pensack Sports remains committed to resolving this matter through the proper legal channels,” Schuster added.
Vonleh was picked 9th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2014 NBA draft after playing college ball at Indiana University. His NBA journey included stints with several teams including the Trail Blazers, Bulls, Knicks, Timberwolves, Nuggets, Nets, and Celtics.
Throughout his 362 NBA regular-season games (172 as a starter), the Massachusetts native averaged 4.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in just over 16 minutes per game.
The legal battle continues as both sides dig in, with significant financial implications for the former first-round pick.
