Los Angeles Lakers Player Will Be First In Franchise History To Wear No. 94
![Nov 30, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Nov 30, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_8001,h_4500,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastbreak/01j5kj861xakfgs1b3zh.jpg)
Armel Traoré is coming off a season where he averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest while shooting 54.1% from the field and 26.2% from the three-point range in 33 games for Betclic Élite.
However, the 21-year-old went unselected in the 2024 NBA Draft earlier this offseason.
The intriguing forward ended up signing with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract.
The Lakers are signing French forward Armel Traore on a two-way NBA contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2024
On Sunday, Etienne Catalan reported that Traoré will be the first player in Lakers history to wear No. 94.
Via Etienne Catalan: "UPDATE: 2-Way contract Armel Traoré (@Armel_Traor35) will wear No. 94 instead of No. 37 with the #Lakers. Number never worn in franchise history.
Traoré becomes the 3rd NBA player to wear No. 94 after Evan Fournier (DEN, 2013 & BOS, 2021) and George King (DAL, 2022). #NBA
Traoré was born in Créteil, Val-de-Marne, France - which has 94 as area code."
UPDATE: 2-Way contract Armel Traoré (@Armel_Traor35) will wear No. 94 instead of No. 37 with the #Lakers. Number never worn in franchise history.
— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) August 18, 2024
Traoré becomes the 3rd NBA player to wear No. 94 after Evan Fournier (DEN, 2013 & BOS, 2021) and George King (DAL, 2022). #NBA… pic.twitter.com/erJGw6EY9M
Traoré played for the Lakers at NBA Summer League.
He averaged 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 48.7% from the field and 22.2% from the three-point range in eight games (three starts).
Being on a two-way deal will give him time to develop in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.
LA,
— South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers) July 26, 2024
Get to know @Lakers Two-Way, Armel Traore 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/Mtd6hQlC8w
The Lakers finished the 2023-24 season as the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 47-35 record.
They beat the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament but lost to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs (in five games).