My Two Cents: For Jalen Hood-Schifino, It's All About Getting Better in Summer League

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — It's never easy making the transition from college basketball to the NBA, even for the most talented players. It's ramped up a notch for the one-and-done ''kids'' who only had 30-something college games — or oftentimes less — to impress the NBA executives.

Jalen Hood-Schifino is going through that right now. After just one season at Indiana, the talented 6-foot-6 guard was the No. 17 overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft last month. He's been thrown right into the fire, starting at point guard for the Lakers' summer league team. He played two games with them in the California Classic in Sacramento, then played Friday night in Las Vegas, leading the Lakers to a 103-96 win over the Golden State Warriors.

The crash course to the NBA game has been intense, and he's getting more comfortable every day. He's getting plenty of help too, mostly from teammate Max Christie, who did the same thing last year after playing just one season at Michigan State.

Christie just went through what Hood-Schifino is about to do. All that knowledge is priceless, especially for two athletes on similar paths.

"Max and I, we're both one-and-dones and he was a Big Ten player as well, so we kind of have that connection, too,'' Hood-Schifino said during an interview after the game at the Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV's campus. "The main thing he said was just take it day by day and keep working, control what you can control. I think those are the two main things.

“I think we’re getting better every single game. Obviously, we haven’t been around each other that long, but just bonding off the court, practices, watching film together. I think today we showed that we could play together. We got better from the last two games.”

Hood-Schifino has played well, for the most part, especially considering the new surroundings and all new teammates. Lakers summer league coach JD DuBois said he's pushed defense the most with Hood-Schifino.

It showed a lot Friday, when he had five steals in the win over the Warriors, and was. disruptor most of the game. He also had five rebounds and three assists.

Offensively, he was just 3-for-11 from the field but, to be honest, got knocked to the floor twice on drives to the basket with no fouls called. He has been able to penetrate well though, gettin good looks and finding open shooters.

So far, he, 17-for-48 from the field, and he's 0-for-10 from three-point range.

“I didn’t hit shots, but I was able to rebound, get players involved, defend,'' Hood-Schifino said. "Max (Christie) had a big-time game. Cole (Swider), other guys stepped up It was just a go-with-the-flow type game. Lead guys, things like that.”

Being a leader and keeping everyone organized has been a point of emphasis for DuBois, too. He's getting that from Hood-Schifino.

"I think with Jalen, keeping the main things the main things. Keep defending at a high level, keeping us organized, and then make the right play,'' DuBois said. "He's going to make some mistakes. This is his third professional game and we know that's going to happen. Can he have the same approach every day, and it starts with the mindset defensively to guard like we know he can guard.

"He's getting downhill and he's keeping us organized. We've challenged him and Max to take the big defensive matchups, and guard and attack and get after the ball without fouling. We have enough guys on the Lakers who can score, so you can get minutes by playing defense. I'm happy (with his defense) but he can always get better. He's only three games in.''

The game is certainly different from college, and finding that comfort level is important for Hood-Schifino. But he's loving this, of course, living out that childhood dream every time he slides on his No. 11 Lakers jersey. He signed his four-year guaranteed contract on Saturday too, which makes it even better. Terms weren't disclosed, but it's expected to be around the $18 million range.

Signed ✔️ pic.twitter.com/wVFAcdyEpD
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 8, 2023

“We've had three games already, and the main thing is now I’m kind of playing at my pace a little bit more,” Hood-Schifino said. “"I'm a little more relaxed, and that comes with time. I’m always pretty even-keeled, comfortable, but it’s a new game for me, new adjustments.

"Once I get to play a little bit, get my feet under me out there, kind of take a deep breath, kind of relax a little bit, now I feel like I’m playing more at my pace.”

Maybe the most relaxing moment of his night was just after we started our interview. That's when Trayce Jackson-Davis, his former Indiana teammate, came up from behind and grabbed him. ''We've got a superstar right here,'' Jackson-Davis said. They clasped hands and Hood-Schifino said, ''Look who it is, look who it is.''

Christie, who averaged 9.3 points per game at Michigan State during his one season with Tom Izzo, is flourishing in his second summer season, which sets a great example for Hood-Schifino. Christie is averaging 21.3 points per game.

“It’s always good to see a player in their second summer league, just their disposition on both ends of the floor,” DuBois said. “I’m continuing to challenge him to defend and rebound. And then the offense will continue to take its steps as well.”

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