NCAA's No. 1 scorer not joining Lakers, instead signing with Eastern Conference team

The Eric Dixon journey to start his professional basketball career has been a bit odd.

The former Villanova star was reported after the 2025 NBA Draft to have signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

It turned out to instead by an Exhibit 10 deal, though, a much-lesser contract than a two-way.

Dixon missed Summer League with a foot injury, and that may have impacted his contract status.

The Lakers waived Dixon in September, which would set him up to join the G League's South Bay Lakers.

But on Wednesday, the Charlotte Hornets announced that they have signed Dixon.

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Why is Dixon so significant? Because he led the entire country in scoring in 2024-25.

For Villanova, Dixon put up 23.3 points per game and shot 40.7% from 3-point range. He's a 6-foot-8 lefty who simply knows how to put the ball in the basket.

Dixon is 24, which is a knock against him for most NBA teams compared to younger prospects. But he's also proven a key skill, which could help him stick around the pro ranks.

There must've been something from the Hornets' offer or organization that Dixon wanted more than he was getting from the Lakers.

It still seems likely that Dixon will end up in the G League, instead with the Greensboro Swarm. But maybe he sees a better path to a promotion to the NBA in Charlotte. 

Wherever Dixon goes, buckets will likely follow, even if not quite to the extent that he filled it up at the collegiate level.

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