Can the 24-Year-Old Undrafted Forward Impress with the Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers did not have a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft; however, they were able to select a few players in the second round or players that went undrafted. One of those undrafted players finished his senior season as the 2025 NCAA Scoring Champion while playing for the Villanova Wildcats. Eric Dixon, who went undrafted, signed a two-way deal with the Lakers for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Dixon averaged 23.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 41% from three-point range on an average of seven attempts per game, demonstrating his ability to stretch the floor consistently.
Dixon enters his rookie season as a six-foot-eight, 260-pound forward who finished his college career with 2,314 career points, becoming the Villanova all-time leading scorer and cementing himself as a historic player in their elite basketball program. He is a versatile forward known for his physicality, reliable three-point shooting, and his ability to work in the low or mid post using his footwork. However, Dixon lacks explosive quickness and athleticism; he is also not the best defender on the perimeter and in the post. He also averages more turnovers, 2.1, than assists, 1.9, per game. On the contrary, Dixon is a polished scorer who is not afraid of who is guarding him; he can put the ball in the basket, regardless of who is guarding him.
Dixon did not play during the 2025 Summer League because of a foot injury. He has signed his two-way deal and is ready to make an impact for the Lakers, primarily in the G League. Dixon has a similar playing style to Julius Randle, a left-handed forward who can score the ball at all three levels. Dixon can be a force in the pick-and-pop when called up to the NBA, with ball handlers such as Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves setting up the offense. If that’s not the case right away, expect Eric Dixon to dominate with the South Bay Lakers in the G-League and get his name called up at some point during this season.
