The Los Angeles Lakers have added undrafted Vanderbilt forward AK Okereke on a two-way NBA contract, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. The agreement was reported on Wednesday, June 24, during the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Okereke went undrafted after completing his senior season at Vanderbilt, where he appeared in 36 games and started 35. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.2 minutes per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range.
The Lakers entered the offseason after finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a 53-29 record, good for fourth place in the Western Conference and the Pacific Division title. Los Angeles reached the second round of the playoffs before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With a roster built around Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have continued to add developmental pieces around their veteran core. Doncic led the team with 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game, while Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
Okereke brings a versatile forward profile that fits the Lakers’ recent preference for players capable of contributing in multiple areas. Before transferring to Vanderbilt, he spent three seasons at Cornell, where he improved each year. In 2024-25, he averaged career highs of 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 59.5% from the field.
Across his college career, Okereke appeared in 99 games and averaged 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 54.4% overall and 35.8% from three-point range. His 2025-26 season showed a notable jump as a perimeter shooter, as he converted 1.1 three-pointers per game on 2.8 attempts.
The two-way contract gives Okereke an opportunity to develop within the Lakers’ system while splitting time between the NBA roster and the G League.
