Three Summer League Standouts for the Lakers
The young guys separating themselves from the purple and gold pack
Despite the Lakers going 0–2 in the California Classic, fans should remain optimistic heading into the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas. The purple and gold assembled a solid squad, which is led by assistant coach JD DuBois, and there are already a few names that have set themselves apart from the others.
Max Christie
Drafted 35th overall by the Lakers last year, Max Christie had limited opportunities with the team as a rookie, but he showed plenty of promise when his number was called. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, the 20-year-old was sound on defense while creating his own shot on offense. Those traits (and more) were on full display during the California Classic earlier this week.
Though it’s admittedly a small sample size, Christie has averaged 21 points per game while shooting 54% from the field, 62% from three (2.5 makes/4 attempts) and 91% from the free-throw line. Yesterday against the Spurs, he led the Lakers with 25 points on 7–13 shooting from the field and 4–5 from deep.
Christie has shown a willingness to attack the paint with crafty finishes — thanks to his new frame — and he’s made smarter decisions on his shot selection, either going for a floater or taking the available three. His three-point shot has improved significantly — particularly when shooting off the catch — and, as mentioned earlier, he’s drilling them at a respectable rate. Scoring aside, Christie has made some great reads on the offensive end, averaging four assists per game in Summer League so far while being tasked with running the brunt of the offense.
The young guard has also shown improvement defensively, using his length to his advantage. He’s tallied two steals and two blocks so far (in addition to three fouls), but he’s agile enough to stay in front of his assignment and make good reads for steals and blocks.
In a time when the Lakers need role players to step up, Christie is making an early case to be in Darvin Ham’s rotation.
Jalen Hood-Schifino
The Lakers’ 17th pick in this year’s draft has averaged 17.5 points, four rebounds and four assists per game in the California Classic, and he has shown his talents as a finisher and facilitator. Though Hood-Schifino is shooting 39% from the field, he is showing a preference for driving to the rim and, overall, doing most of his work inside the arc — which was also the case during his time at Indiana.
Hood-Schifino tallied 20 points on 8–17 shooting in Wednesday’s loss, showing off a creative array of moves to get to the rim while taking contact along the way.
His nose for the paint has also been helpful for making plays, as he draws defenders in before finding teammates for better looks. JHS also showed off his midrange jumper against the Spurs, proving that defenders at least have to respect his shot once in a while.
Defensively, JHS has only tallied a steal in each of LA’s two games, and his overall impact on that side has been meager so far. He tallied five fouls in that span and tends to get blown by on the defensive end, so improving his agility will be vital when the team plays in Vegas.
Though Hood-Schifino must improve on his three-point shot, defense, and ball security, he has shown an ability to get his buckets by any means necessary while setting his teammates up for success. There’s a reason the Lakers took a chance on JHS with their first-round selection, and his development will be critical heading into the rest of Summer League and the offseason.
Colin Castleton
Finally, a young Laker who is quickly winning fans over is Florida rookie Colin Castleton. The 6'11" big man recorded 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four blocks yesterday, proving his worth after a broken hand shortened his fifth and final year of college.
Castleton’s notable performance brought his averages up to 14.5 points, six rebounds, four assists, and 2.5 blocks in Summer League, all while shooting 73% from the field and 78% from the free-throw line. He’s turned heads with his agility and versatility at 231 pounds, showing a soft touch at the basket and excellent rim protection as well. Additionally, Castleton has been proficient at getting to the line, making seven of nine free-throws so far. He’s been very effective in pick-and-roll plays, and his array of finishes includes an impressive turnaround fadeaway.
Castleton has emerged as a promising young big for the Lakers, being agile enough to get to his spots on offense and roam the court well on defense. With the Lakers still looking to fill the 14th roster spot, he could very well be an option if he keeps this production up in Vegas and September training camp. For now, though, the Lakers have signed him to one of their three two-way contract spots, a good sign for an opportunity to grow with the franchise.
It remains to be seen if these three players can continue their hot starts in the heat of Nevada, but it’s clear they’ve made a good impression so far, with rising sophomore Christie showing tremendous signs of growth while rookies Hood-Schifino and Castleton introduce themselves to the Laker faithful.
