Chris Manon Trend Explained: Why Everyone Is Searching His Name Today

Emerging forward Chris Manon is set to take the next step in his basketball journey as the Los Angeles Lakers finalize a two-way contract that will keep the former Vanderbilt standout in purple and gold alongside fellow signee Christian Koloko. The move caps a whirlwind month for the 6-foot-6 wing. After going undrafted, Manon impressed scouts with a relentless two-way motor for Golden State’s squads in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer Leagues, averaging 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and shooting just over 49 percent from the field. His best outing—17 points, four steals and two blocks—came in a nationally televised win that showcased exactly why the Lakers value his defensive versatility. Background and college résumé Born in New Milford, New Jersey, Manon began his collegiate career at Cornell before transferring to Vanderbilt, where he started 26 of 33 games last season. He finished 2024-25 logging 6.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 56 steals, good for fourth in the SEC, while posting an efficient 53.5 percent from the floor. Scouts praised his 6-10 wingspan, quick hands and ability to guard three positions—traits the Lakers have prioritized as they look to surround their veteran core with younger, switch-friendly talent. What a two-way deal means Under the NBA’s current CBA, two-way contracts allow players to spend up to 50 regular-season games with the parent club while also suiting up for its G-League affiliate. For Manon, that means shuttling between Crypto.com Arena and the South Bay Lakers, where he’ll receive significant minutes to refine his catch-and-shoot rhythm, secondary playmaking, and continued on-ball disruption. Fit with L.A.’s roster Los Angeles has been actively searching for wing depth that can alleviate defensive pressure on stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. New head coach JJ Redick emphasized during Summer League that “length, lateral quickness, and decision-making” will dictate rotational minutes. Manon ticks each box: • Point-of-attack defense: His steal rate ranked in the 94th percentile among high-major guards last year. • Transition offense: Manon generated 1.35 points per possession on fast breaks at Vanderbilt. • Positional flexibility: At 215 lbs, he can slide to small-ball four lineups, allowing Davis to roam as a weak-side shot blocker. Path to a standard roster spot While two-way players traditionally face an uphill climb, recent Lakers history offers a blueprint. Austin Reaves parlayed his two-way deal into a multi-year contract and a starting role within a single season. Should Manon convert his rim-pressure slashes and corner-three volume into consistent production, a similar trajectory isn’t out of the question. What comes next Training camp opens in late September, and early indications are that Manon will arrive a week early to work with assistant coach Phil Handy on footwork and pick-and-roll reads. Expect him to log heavy preseason minutes, particularly in matchups versus rangy Western Conference opponents such as Oklahoma City and Minnesota. Strong showings could push him into the opening-night depth chart as a situational defender against elite wings. SEO keywords: Chris Manon two-way contract, Los Angeles Lakers news, Vanderbilt Commodores NBA, Lakers roster 2025, NBA Summer League standout, Christian Koloko signing, Lakers young wings, South Bay Lakers development. With his defensive upside and high-energy style, Chris Manon has an opportunity to become the Lakers’ next undrafted success story—and fans will be watching closely as training camp inches closer.