Lakers two-way guard Chris Manon
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Lakers' Chris Manon during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in October 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to establish consistent defensive intensity and physicality for much of the season.
Despite some recent improvement, the team still ranks 20th in the NBA in defensive rating at 115.7.
Los Angeles also sits 19th in the league in total steals with 533 and 25th in blocks with 271, numbers that further highlight the team’s ongoing defensive and hustle concerns.
In an attempt to strengthen the roster, the Lakers filled their final roster spot after the trade deadline with G League standout Kobe Bufkin, hoping to add another two-way presence.
Lakers Securing Kobe Bufkin Highlighted Roster Priorities
The decision to elevate Bufkin to a full roster spot was largely about securing his place within the organization.
Prior to the move, Bufkin was signed only to the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, on a standard G League contract.
That meant he remained free to sign with any NBA team on a two-way, 10-day or standard deal.
With Los Angeles already using its two-way contracts on Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr. and Chris Manon, there was no available slot to bring Bufkin onto a two-way deal.
A full roster contract ultimately became the only option to retain him.
Timme and Smith have both shown flashes with the Lakers at the NBA level this season. Manon, however, remains relatively untested at that level, logging just 25 minutes all season, the lowest total on the roster.
The 24-year-old might have appeared the most likely candidate if the Lakers chose to reshuffle their two-way contracts. Instead, the undrafted rookie’s potential may be flying somewhat under the radar.
Manon has been a constant presence for South Bay this season, averaging 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals across 37 games.
He is shooting 49.7% from the field and 29.8% from three-point range.
After completing a four-year college career that concluded at Vanderbilt, Manon entered the professional ranks with a reputation as a gritty, defense-first guard rather than a flashy offensive scorer.
“His point-of-attack defense, passing, rebounding, and overall ability to make winning plays cannot be understated,” Sports Illustrated’s Jordan Monaco wrote in February 2025.
Manon Emerging as Defensive Standout in G League
That defensive mindset has translated quickly to the professional level, where Manon has established himself as one of the G League’s most disruptive defenders.
His 84 steals rank fifth in the entire league, just six behind Rio Grande Valley Vipers guard Daishen Nix.
At the end of February and the start of March, the Lakers rookie produced back-to-back five-steal performances in wins over the Stockton Kings and Oklahoma City Blue.
Manon has recorded five steals in a single game on five separate occasions this season. He has also posted seven multi-block games and four double-digit rebounding performances despite standing 6-foot-4 and playing in the backcourt.
While his offensive game has occasionally been questioned, recent performances suggest progress in that area as well.
Manon is currently in the middle of four straight double-digit scoring games and has reached that mark in five of his last six appearances.
In his most recent outing on March 8, Manon scored 15 points in just 18 minutes while shooting 5-of-9 from the field and knocking down three three-pointers as South Bay defeated the Santa Cruz Warriors 113-104.
Nick Smith Jr. also played in the game, along with NBA assignees Bronny James and Adou Thiero, making Manon’s production stand out even more within a crowded lineup.
Manon’s approach aligns closely with how NBA organizations often evaluate young prospects at the G League level, where defensive effort, positional discipline and consistent hustle can be just as valuable as scoring production.
The South Bay Lakers are currently riding a nine-game winning streak and sit second in the Western Conference at 19-8, with Manon playing a key role in that success.