While the Los Angeles Lakers are locked in on the present in their quest for another NBA championship, they also have an eye on the future.
Rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, who they took at No. 17 in June’s draft out of Indiana University, is thought to have the ability to become a valuable player. The 6-foot-6 20-year-old likely will not play much this season, but he will have opportunities to grow and prove his worth during practice and scrimmages.
Buy Lakers TicketsHis first opportunity to do so came on Tuesday, which was the Lakers’ first full day of training camp. Reportedly, he stood out, something D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves relayed to the media.
Both D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves shouted out rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino as having a strong Day 1 of training camp
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 3, 2023
Via Lakers Nation:
“If I could give everybody on the team credit, I would,” said Russell. “I will give you one actually. Jalen (Hood-Schifino) played really well today. He made shots and got after it.”
“Obviously it’s a new group, but those guys are super talented and super willing to buy into what we’re doing and it showed today,” Reaves said. “I think there were a lot of teaching moments. You mentioned playing on the go, you can see their reaction to what they’re being told, so it was great. Everybody looks good, the new guys looked good, Jalen (Hood-Schifino) had a really good day for his first day. So we’re super excited.”
Hood-Schifino is a big guard who can handle the ball, facilitate for teammates, score from the mid-range and (occasionally) hit from 3-point range. Improving his outside shooting, defense and overall consistency will be a big key to his chances of sticking around in the NBA.
