Jalen Hood-Schifino Hits 2 Threes, Scores 15 In Lakers' Win Over Hornets in Summer League

Former Indiana standout Jalen Hood-Schifino made his first two three-pointers of the summer in the Los Angeles Lakers' 93-75 win over the Charlotte Hornets, but no one really wanted to talk about it. The Lakers are more concerned with his floor leadership as a point guard and his improvement as a defender. Shooting is far down the list.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — It's just the summer, so Los Angeles Lakers' first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino hasn't been the least bit concerned about that fact that he's missed all of his three-point attempts over three games in the past week.

So on Sunday, when he hit his first three after 10 straight misses, it was at least a load of his shoulders. He hit another one in the fourth quarter, too, and was a perfect 2-for-2 from deep, so he's definitely trending in the other direction.

Now we can all quit talking about it. Lakers summer league coach JD Dubois didn't even care to comment on his two made threes when asked about it after the game. 

They have other priorities for him, and shot-making is not a concern, not in July. Whether he makes shots or not, there are bigger fish to fry here in toasty Las Vegas.

"I was happy to see him guarding and impacting the ball and pursuing,'' Dubois said when asked about the made threes. "Obviously, shots will come because he works hard and will continue to develop in that area. 

"His defense, his leadership, his living in the paint, that's going to be his calling card. And then, shot-making is just additional icing on the cake.''

Hood-Schifino had another solid day in the Lakers' 93-75 win over the Charlotte Hornets, their second straight here in the Las Vegas Summer League. He had 15 points, five assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes, and had just one turnover.

He's played most of the point guard minutes for the Lakers in their first two games of the summer last week in Sacramento, and has done the same here. Through four games, he's averaging 14.8 points a game. He was 5-for-10 from the field Sunday.

What the Lakers have loved about him so far is his floor leadership. Summer league teams get thrown together quickly, without a lot of time to prepare for games.

"He's done a really good of setting the tone,'' Dubois said. "We want him to continue to grow and build out his ability to communicate and bark out calls, whether it's play calls or coverages. But he's continuing to develop in his, what, fourth game as a pro. We're just getting started, so as long as he continues to develop, we'll be happy.''

Hood-Schifino was not available to the media after the game. The Lakers play again on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET, when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jackson-Davis hopes to play by Wednesday

Former Indiana star Trayce Jackson-Davis won't play in the Golden State Warriors' Las Vegas Summer League game on Sunday, still bothered by a right hamstring injury. But he told the San Francisco Chronicle at the Warriors' morning workout that he hopes to play Wednesday or Thursday, at the latest.

“It was just a little nip in my hamstring, it was nothing too crazy,” Jackson-Davis told The Chronicle. “The team doctors and trainers have done a really good job, but we’re just trying to take it slowly. 

"It’s summer league. Obviously we’re trying to win games, but at the same time we don’t want anything lingering. That’s the biggest emphasis.''

Jackson-Davis participated in a few team workouts prior to games on Monday and Wednesday in Sacramento. The Warriors played Friday night, and he sat out that game, too.  Golden State plays Dallas on Wednesday (NBATV) and Houston on Thursday. (ESPN). The full summer league schedule is below.

"My right hamstring is honestly probably better than my left right now, just the impact of how much work they’ve done on it,'' he said. "Hopefully I’ll be on the court soon.

“I’m ready to go out there. I’m ready to start playing, but I’m also going to listen to what they say, and hopefully I’ll be cleared for Wednesday or Thursday.”

Race Thompson out for summer

Former Indiana forward Race Thompson won't play for the New York Knicks' summer league team. this week, knocked out by a right knee injury, according to the team. 

Thompson, an undrafted free agent, was signed for the summer league by the Knicks, so his professional future is now up in the air. It will be interesting to see if he gets invited to an NBA camp, or if he might have to look overseas for professional opportunities.

Thompson spent six years in Bloomington, redshirting a year when he arrived and taking advantage of the bonus COVID year in 2022-23. During his injury-riddled career, he finished with 997 points, 718 rebounds and 107 blocks.

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• TOM BREW COLUMN: Jalen Hood-Schifino is just three games into his pro summer league career, and he's doing a lot of good things, according to Los Angeles Lakers coaches. His shot isn't falling yet, but he's been disruptive defensively and has led well from the point guard spot. He's also getting help from fellow Big Ten one-and-done star Max Christie in the learning process. CLICK HERE 
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• NEW CONTRACT FOR JACKSON-DAVIS: Trayce Jackson-Davis was looking for the right fit in the NBA, and he's found it with the Golden State Warriors. Despite being a late second-round pick, he got first-round guarantees in the four-year deal he agreed to with the Warriors on Wednesday. CLICK HERE
• BIG TEN SUMMER LEAGUE PLAYERS: A total of 43 basketball players produced by the Big Ten will be participating in the 2023 NBA summer leagues for the next two weeks. Here's the complete list from all 14 schools. CLICK HERE