The Los Angeles Lakers announced they have signed undrafted free agent forward AK Okereke to a two-way contract.
Okereke is listed at 6’7” and 245 pounds and is coming off a season in which he appeared in 36 games (35 starts) and averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.2 minutes, while shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point range, as a graduate transfer at Vanderbilt. He helped lead them to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.
Before finishing up at Vanderbilt, Okereke began his college career as a walk-on and developed into an All-Ivy League selection in his third season. As a junior, he averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 25.6 minutes, while shooting 59.5 percent from the field. He the Ivy League and ranking 18th nationally in field goal percentage.
Okereke will wear No. 31 for the Purple and Gold and is a member of the Lakers 2026 Summer League roster. Through the first two games of the California Classic in the Bay Area, the 23-year-old has averaged 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in around 18 minutes per game.
Lakers have filled all two-way contracts
The Lakers are allowed to give out three two-way contracts and after this Okereke signing, all three are now filled.
The team also recently announced that they have re-signed Chris Mañon and added another undrafted rookie in Peter Suder on two-way deals.
Mañon was with the Lakers last season and had a strong season in the G League, averaging 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. In 13 Tip-Off Tournament games, he averaged a league-high 2.6 steals with 1.5 blocks. The 24-year-old was named to the G League’s All-Defense team and finished second in G League Defensive Player of the Year voting in his first pro seasin. Similar to Okereke, he played his college ball at Vanderbilt.
Suder is coming off a year in which he averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 54.6% from the field and 42.1% from deep while being named MAC Player of the Year at Miami (OH).
Things can always change before or during the season as the Lakers have typically shuffled through multiple two-way players each year, with guys like Jordan Goodwin and Nick Smith Jr. earning recent NBA callups.
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