The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent guard Josh Akognon to a 10-day contract.
The Nigerian, who was in training camp with the Mavs, signed on Wednesday and was available for the team in Denver in Thursday game against the Nuggets.
After being one of the last cuts by the Mavericks last year, the 5-foot-11 Akognon played 36 games in the Chinese Basketball Association. He averaged 29 points, including four 40-point games, for the Liaoning Jiebao Hunters.
Akognon is the third guard in recent weeks Dallas has signed to 10-day contracts, following Chris Wright and Justin Dentmon.
Akognon said, "My wife is having our second baby in a week or two. I told my agent the only way I'd do anything to leave her is if I got an NBA contract – not D-League or overseas, but an NBA official contract. I didn't expect to hear back."
"I've achieved my dream, coming from Petaluma to a league where the best guys on earth play. It's still surreal now. Maybe when the season is over it will all make sense. But right now I'm on Cloud 9."
Akognon replaces Dentmon, who was released from his 10-day deal after playing only a combined four minutes in two games.
He was a high-scoring guard for Cal State-Fullerton in 2007-08 and 2008-09 after transferring from Washington State.
The Mavs will have three games left in the regular season after Akognon's 10-day contract expires, but it is not yet known if they plan to sign a fourth guard to a 10-day deal before the end of the season.
