The Lakers player who promises to shine in his second year in the NBA
Chris Mañon wants to make the leap with the Los Angeles franchise: this is how he works to earn a spot on Luka Doncic's team
Chris Mañon faces a decisive summer in his still short professional career. After a learning season with the Los Angeles Lakers, the point guard seeks to establish himself as a piece with real options to be part of the first team's rotation. The NBA Summer League has become the perfect stage to show that his evolution goes far beyond the defensive aspect that already caught the attention of the Los Angeles franchise.
The player, who competed in the 2025 Summer League with the Golden State Warriors before signing a two-way contract with the Lakers, suffered an injury during the preseason that halted his progress. Nevertheless, he managed to debut shortly after the start of the 2025-26 season and spent most of the campaign developing his game with the South Bay Lakers, the franchise's affiliate team in the G League.
Now, with a season of experience under his belt, Mañon aims to become a much more complete player.
Mañon aims to contribute on both ends of the court
After the Lakers' victory over the Chicago Bulls in the Summer League, the point guard explained what his main goal has been during these months.
"I'm just trying to space the floor and be an offensive threat. I would say I'm a utility player, capable of doing anything."
His words reflect the change in mindset with which he approaches this second season. If during his rookie year he stood out mainly for his defensive intensity, now he wants to show that he can also score, create plays, and be a constant threat on offense.
That progress was precisely reflected against Chicago, where he had his best offensive performance of the summer.
His best summer game
Mañon led the scoring for the Lakers with 16 points, showing great efficiency in his shooting.
| Chris Mañon's Statistics vs. Bulls | Record |
|---|---|
| Points | 16 |
| Field Goals | 5/7 |
| 3-Pointers | 1/1 |
| Team's Top Scorer | Yes |
It was his most efficient encounter of the entire Summer League so far, confirming the work he has been putting in throughout the preseason.
A summer focused on improving the offense
The player himself explained that he has remained in Los Angeles throughout the summer training specifically on offensive aspects of his game.
"I've been in Los Angeles all summer working on different aspects, mainly offensive. I'm glad it's paying off and I can be much more efficient."
That work is beginning to be reflected on the court. Although he remains a very aggressive defender on the ball, he now makes better offensive decisions, selects his shots with more criteria, and plays with much more patience.
All this significantly increases his chances of becoming a useful player for JJ Redick during the regular season.
Defense remains his main calling card
Despite his offensive evolution, Mañon continues to build his identity around defense.
During the past season, he was one of the best defensive specialists in the G League, an achievement that allowed him to be part of the league's Defensive Ideal Team.
Already during the NBA regular season, JJ Redick publicly highlighted his intensity, his ability to press passing lanes, and his constant energy on the perimeter.
That profile remains one of the main arguments to aspire to minutes in a roster that seeks to surround its stars with players capable of defending multiple positions.
Coach highlights his maturity
Ty Abbott, coach of the Lakers in the Summer League, also praised the growth of the young point guard, especially in decision-making.
According to Abbott, Mañon has learned not to rush and let the game flow naturally.
"He has done an excellent job adapting to the next actions and letting the game flow. Nothing is forced. He plays for his teammates and for his team. He has managed to turn defense into offense and seize his opportunities."
Such evolution is usually highly valued by NBA franchises, which look for players capable of fulfilling a specific role without monopolizing the ball.
Increased responsibility among two-way contracts
Mañon's situation within the organization has also changed compared to last year.
Following the additions of AK Okereke and Peter Suder, the guard becomes the most experienced player among those under two-way contracts with the Lakers.
That leadership can be important both for the development of the young group and for his own chances of permanently moving up to the first team.
Furthermore, the competition for minutes in the perimeter rotation will be intense during the season, so every performance in the Summer League takes on added value.
Lakers continue to develop young talent
The Lakers have been betting on developing players through two-way contracts and the G League for several seasons before incorporating them permanently into the main team.
Recent cases like Drew Timme or Nick Smith Jr. demonstrate that the organization is willing to reward the growth of its young talents when they are deemed ready to compete at the highest level.
Chris Mañon hopes to be the next name on that list.
His offensive evolution, combined with the defensive intensity he had already shown during his rookie year, makes him one of the most intriguing players to follow during this Summer League. If he maintains the level shown against Chicago and continues to improve his efficiency, he will have enough arguments to catch the attention of JJ Redick's coaching staff and aspire to a much more significant role in the 2026-27 season.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El jugador de los Lakers que promete brillar en su segundo año en la NBA