The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t need to spend a draft pick to create one of the more entertaining stories of their offseason. They only needed to sign Robbie Avila.

Avila, the former Saint Louis big man whose goggles, passing touch and old-school post-game earned him the nickname “Cream Abdul-Jabbar,” has reportedly joined the Lakers on an Exhibit 10 contract after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. 

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The deal doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot, but it gives him a chance to prove himself in Summer League, training camp and potentially with the South Bay Lakers.

The nickname made the move travel fast online. Avila has long drawn attention because he doesn’t look or play like a modern highlight-reel prospect. He wins with angles, pump fakes, soft finishes, smart passing and the kind of pace that feels pulled from another era.

That’s also why the Lakers fit makes the story even better. Any big man nicknamed after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, even jokingly, was always going to cause a stir once Los Angeles got involved.

Avila skill set gives Lakers something to test

Avila’s college rise began at Indiana State, where he became a national fan favorite while averaging 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 2023-24. When coach Josh Schertz left for Saint Louis, Avila followed him and continued to show why his game had become so widely discussed.

At Saint Louis, Avila won Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and remained one of the more skilled big men in college basketball. His passing from the elbows, shooting touch and ability to read defenses made him more than a novelty act.

That’s what the Lakers are betting on. Avila isn’t an explosive athlete, and there are real questions about how he defends in space against NBA players. But his offensive feel gives him a pathway if he can survive the physical and speed demands of the next level.

An Exhibit 10 contract gives Los Angeles flexibility. The Lakers can evaluate him up close, convert the deal to a two-way contract or keep him in their G League system if he is waived.

Fans split on whether story becomes real

The Lakers have already watched an undrafted guard, Austin Reaves, grow into a major piece of their rotation, so fans are naturally willing to dream on another overlooked prospect.

One fan captured that optimism by writing: “Every year the Lakers find a random undrafted guy and fans convince themselves he’s the next star. This time… they might actually have a case.”

Others aren’t buying in yet. One pointed to Avila’s rough NCAA Tournament game against Michigan, writing: “Go watch the Michigan game. He ain’t an NBA player.”

Another fan offered the more cautious middle ground: “Robbie Avila is an entertaining player to watch but I’ll be surprised if he makes an impact in the NBA. He has really good passing and dribbling skills and can shoot from deep, but poor athleticism.”

This is the debate Avila now gets to settle. The nickname got him noticed. Summer League will decide whether the Lakers found more than a viral story.