After a brief and limited exposure within the Los Angeles Lakers, Robbie Avila appears to be contemplating about possibly going back to college.
According to NBA insider Adam Zagoria, the fan-favorite big man is now weighing his options to return to collegiate basketball after being granted a fifth year.
Per ESPN, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney recently issued a nationwide preliminary injunction allowing all NCAA Division I athletes from the high school class of 2022 to play a fifth season.
As a result, Avila is among the many college basketball players who have been granted an additional year of eligibility. A special transfer portal window from August 3 to August 10 was created for him and other newly eligible fifth-year players to find new college teams.
Robbie Avila going back to college after limited NBA, Lakers opportunity?
After going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, Robbie Avila signed a Summer League contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, but the big man didn't generate much playing time and exposure throughout the tournament.
He appeared in four Summer League contests for Los Angeles, averaging 1.0 point, 0.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist in just eight minutes per contest.
He seized the most minutes he had during the Lakers' first game at the California Classic, logging 14 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs.
Avila has already agreed a training camp deal with the Lakers, but his participation is yet to be seen, as he is now mulling over a possible college return.
Avila spent the first two seasons of his college career at Indiana State (2022-24). He then transferred to Saint Louis.
He earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors last season after leading Saint Louis to a 27-4 record, averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in 35 appearances.