INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers signed forward Enrique Freeman to a two-way contract.
The Pacers made the Akron standout the No. 50 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He was one of three players Indiana selected in the second round; the team took Kansas’ Johnny Furphy at No. 35 and UConn’s Tristen Newton at No. 49.
Freeman is a great story. He attended an open tryout at Akron and was offered a roster spot. By his second season, he cracked the starting lineup and averaged a double-double in three straight seasons. He was the MAC player of the year last year and earned All-MAC honors in three straight seasons.
Known for his defense and rebounding, Freeman led Division I in rebounding nationally (just ahead of Purdue’s Zach Edey) and made the MAC All-Defense team in four straight seasons. Now, he’s with the Pacers in the NBA.
The two-way contract means Freeman will appear on the roster for the Pacers and their G League affiliate, the Mad Ants. Teams can have up to three two-way players who can be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team.
Players signed to two-way contracts must have three or fewer years of NBA service to be eligible.
The team previously signed rookie Tristen Newton to a two-way contract. The team’s remaining two-way deal went to Quenton Jackson. The signing could leave Oscar Tshiebwe, the G League Rookie of the Year, as the odd man out.