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Robbie Avila's brief tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers may not mark the end of his basketball journey, as the undrafted center is now considering a return to the NCAA. After averaging just 1.0 point in four Summer League appearances, Avila has been granted a fifth year of eligibility, prompting him to weigh his options between continuing his professional career or heading back to college.
According to college basketball insider Adam Zagoria, Avila, who played one season at Saint Louis, is waiting to see what opportunities arise following the eligibility ruling. The NCAA transfer portal is set to reopen from August 3 to August 10, giving Avila a narrow window to explore other college programs.
Avila's Summer League performance with the Lakers was underwhelming, as he averaged 1.0 point, 0.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in eight minutes per game, shooting just 16.7% from the field. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Los Angeles after going undrafted in June, but his audition never gained traction.
Key Analysis
The ruling that opened the door for Avila's extra season came from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney, who issued a preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to restore eligibility for athletes from the high school class of 2022 who had exhausted their eligibility. This leaves Avila with two distinct paths: he can pursue an NBA opportunity through training camp or the G League, or he can return to college to enhance his draft stock with another productive season.
At Saint Louis, Avila averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, earning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound center became a cult favorite for his passing skills, signature goggles, and array of nicknames, including 'Cream Abdul-Jabbar,' though he reportedly prefers 'Rob Wave' and 'Milk Chamberlain.'
For the Lakers, Avila's potential departure is less about losing a roster piece and more about their ongoing search for frontcourt depth. The team continues to seek a reliable backup center behind Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney, with trade targets like Jericho Sims of the Milwaukee Bucks and free agents such as Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks, and Xavier Tillman being mentioned as possibilities.
Avila was always seen as a developmental project rather than an immediate contributor, and now he must decide whether his quickest route back to the NBA lies in another professional stint or one more year of college basketball to boost his stock.
Originally reported by yahoo.