The Los Angeles Lakers announced that rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino has been diagnosed with a right patella contusion and will be re-evaluated on Nov. 3.
Hood-Schifino sat out the Lakers’ final two preseason games with the knee contusion. He got evaluated prior to the team’s regular season opener and now is expected to miss at least the first couple weeks of his rookie season.
It is not the most ideal to start to the career for Hood-Schifino to be dealing with an injury, but it at least is something that shouldn’t keep him out for too long. While he isn’t expected to be a part of the rotation for this Lakers team with championship aspirations, it does keep him from valuable practice and developmental time.
At 6’6 and 215 pounds, Hood-Schifino has excellent size for the point guard position. He is not an explosive athlete, but has solid athleticism and is very poised for being just 20 years of age. He is more of a project than a ready-made NBA player, but one who the Lakers see a lot of potential in.
His preseason play, especially in terms of offensive efficiency, left a lot to be desired as he shot just 17.9% from the field in four games. Despite his shooting struggles, he did also average 4.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds, showing that he is someone who will be able to affect the game in a number of ways.
Whenever Hood-Schifino is able to get healthy then he should be able to benefit from game reps at the G League level to furth develop his game.
Lakers’ Anthony Davis says Jalen Hood-Schifino ‘can really play’
He may have had his struggles in the preseason, but Hood-Schifino certainly turned some heads during his first NBA training camp with the Lakers. Superstar Anthony Davis mentioned him personally when talking about players who stood out early on.
“Jalen [Hood-Schifino] is one that stands out,” Davis said of the rookie. “I’ve said a couple times to a couple players and coaches that he can really play. He can play. He’s shifty with the basketball, reads the floor very well. He’s a solid player. So Jalen is probably the one that stands out the most.”
He is unlikely to make a major impact on the Lakers this season, but Hood-Schifino has the tools to be a difference maker down the line and all those within the organization see what he is capable of. It will simply be a matter of him putting in the work to develop into the player he can become.
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