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Gonzaga Basketball

Former Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr. joining Lakers on two-way contract

In this March 28, 2019 photo, Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr. looks for an opening against Florida State forward Mfiondu Kabengele during a 2019 NCAA basketball tournament game at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585
In this March 28, 2019 photo, Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr. looks for an opening against Florida State forward Mfiondu Kabengele during a 2019 NCAA basketball tournament game at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)

Former Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr. didn’t hear his name called in Thursday’s NBA draft but he quickly landed an NBA opportunity.

Norvell has agreed to a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to a tweet from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. If that sounds familiar, former Zag forward Johnathan Williams spent last season on a two-way deal, splitting time between the Lakers and their NBA G League South Bay Lakers.

Players on two-way contracts can be with an NBA team for 45 days during the season. Their stint can be extended but the team is required to convert the deal into a regular contract.

Norvell is expected to have an opportunity to play for the Lakers’ NBA Summer League team.

Norvell declared for the draft after his sophomore season. The Chicago native was listed as a second-round pick on several mock drafts but he went undrafted. He averaged 14.9 points per game, third on the team, and hit a GU- and WCC-leading 97 3-pointers last season.

Norvell moved into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman after Corey Kispert’s ankle injury. Norvell hit numerous clutch shots late in games and finished the 2017-18 season at 12.7 ppg with 77 3-pointers.