Four months ago, David Nwaba entered the Lakers' practice facility for a D-League tryout as one of a gym-full of local players looking for an opportunity.
Now, after a successful rookie season with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, he is a Los Angeles Laker, having been called up Tuesday on a 10-day contract.
A Defensive Player of the Year candidate for the D-Fenders, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound wing has built his reputation on that side of the ball.
In fact, it even provided the D-Fenders' last win on Friday when he forced a turnover with 4.2 seconds left to cap a night in which he collected 20 points, seven rebounds, two steals and three blocks.
“I love his defense,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said at Tuesday's shootaround. “As we continue to try to be a more defensive-oriented team, as far as making growth, I think it’s important that we get defensive-minded people around here.
"Going to D-League games and watching him on tape, I think he’s the type of guy that can really do that and help us build an identity that we want to play defense.”
Nwaba — whose only prior interaction with Walton was when the head coach complimented his defense — knows that the Lakers are interested in him because of that facet to his game.
But Walton said that the team began keeping an eye on him two months ago, which is when he really started to shine offensively.
Though Nwaba won't provide much in terms of outside shooting, his ability to dive to the rim and throw down a few highlight slams has shone through in the D-League, where he is averaging 13.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks.
He has been extremely efficient with his attempts, ranking fourth in the league in field goal percentage (64.3) and second in turnover percentage (26 turnovers in 38 games). And the D-Fenders' offense simply hits another level with him on the floor, as Nwaba sports the D-League's highest offensive rating (135.9 points per 100 possessions).
He became a much bigger part of the offense this month, averaging 21.1 points in February while still shooting a ridiculous 65.6 percent from the field.
Now the the first Cal Poly San Luis Obispo product in NBA history, Nwaba didn't think that his journey to the NBA would happen so soon.
In fact, when D-Fenders coach Coby Karl asked him to come by the Lakers' offices on Monday, he thought it was because Karl wanted him to attend a community event.
“I actually thought he wanted me to work this Boys and Girls (Club) clinic,” Nwaba said, laughing.
Instead, the Lakers' front office was waiting for the Los Angeles native to accept his spot on the roster.
“It’s pretty crazy,” Nwaba said. “Just growing up a Lakers fan and dreaming of this day. It finally happened.”