Thursday night, long after the 2024 NBA Draft concluded, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (the end all, be all of NBA reporting) shared that Oregon’s beloved center N’Faly Dante signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets.
Dante’s offseason was a rollercoaster throughout the spring of 2024, after an incredible run in the NCAA Tournament and winning the Pac-12 Tournament title.
Despite suffering repeated injuries throughout his collegiate career and appearing in fewer games than many returning players, Dante’s request and subsequent appeal for another year of NCAA eligibility were both declined.
Dante attended the NBA Draft Combine in May, just in case his collegiate career had ended, but didn’t stand out amongst his peers throughout the drills and scrimmages.
A vivacious personality and a consistent player on the court, the former Duck would make a perfect fit on any team but the concerns around his physical health were a massive sore spot on his draft stock.
After the two days of the draft, Dante had gone unselected, which wasn’t necessarily a surprise for anyone, even for loyal Oregon fans.
However, as free-agency contracts were shelled out by teams across the country (and the one organization in Canada), Dante’s name was finally called by the Rockets.
Undrafted Oregon center N'Faly Dante has agreed on a two-way deal with the Rockets, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2024
A two-way contract entails a spot on both the big leagues roster and the G-League roster for a team. In other words, Dante could play for both the Houston Rockets and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2024.
Next on Dante’s calendar will be the NBA Summer League, where rookies, younger players, and G-League talent take to the courts to show off their skills.
This year, the summer league is set to start on July 8, and last through July 10.