The Los Angeles Lakers announced a free agent signing on Monday but it wasn’t Kawhi Leonard. They did, however, sign a promising young rookie who just turned in an outstanding season for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. After averaging 14.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a sophomore at Gonzaga last year, Zach Norvell Jr. came to terms with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract.
Norvell Jr. was a First Team All-West Coast Conference selection who ranked first in the conference in three-pointers made (97). The Chicago, Illinois native also ranked third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.6). Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have up to two players under two-way contracts on their roster at any given time in addition to the 15-man regular season roster.
Zach will join rookie Talen Horton-Tucker on the Lakers roster that is yet to be filled out as we wait on the free agency decision of Kawhi. Fellow Gonzaga product Jonathan Williams is also listed on the Lakers roster at the moment. Many expected Norvell Jr. to be a second-round selection heading into last month’s draft and he looks to be a promising young prospect for the Lakers to pick up via free agency heading into NBA Summer League.
