Amid a season plagued by a plethora of injuries to key players, the Philadelphia 76ers recently took a flier on a young guard looking to revitalize his career.
Former first round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino joined the team on a two-way contract on February 28 after spending just over a year with the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted him 17th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
His time with the Lakers came to an end in early February when he was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade that sent shockwaves around the league. The 21-year-old guard was subsequently waived by the Jazz and landed on the free agent market for the first time in his young career.
During Hood-Schifino’s time in Los Angeles, he appeared in just 23 total games, averaging 1.7 points per game while shooting a meager 23 percent from the field in limited action. His struggles combined with the Lakers immediate need to compete for a championship with an aging roster led by Lebron James was a major reason for the team’s willingness to part ways with him.
Jalen Hood-Schifino is out to prove himself with the 76ers
With injuries to Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre and several other major contributors, Hood-Schifino has found a home in Philadelphia, at least to end the season. He has gotten extended minutes for the first time in his career in both the NBA and the G League, and has flashed glimpses of potential during his brief tenure.
With the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers’ G-League affiliate, he has appeared in three games, averaging an impressive 27 points per game while shooting 57 percent from the field. He has demonstrated a willingness to fire off from three-point range with more volume in Delaware and it has paid off so far, as he is converting at a 50% rate across eight attempts per game. His performance in Delaware has given him the opportunity to earn extended minutes with the 76ers.
In six games so far with Philly, he is averaging nine points per game to go along with 2.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds while playing around 24 minutes a night. His best game of the season came on March 16 against Dallas when he posted 19 points on 55 percent shooting in the Sixers 130-125 win over the Mavericks.
While Hood-Schifino’s future with the 76ers is up in the air, he has a good opportunity to show general managers around the league what he is made of if he plays well down the stretch.
With the availability of much of the roster in question , he will likely be given valuable minutes at the guard position as the Philadelphia 76ers wind down their regular season schedule. For Hood-Schifino, this stint with the franchise could be the turning point he needs in revitalizing his career.