Who is Blake Hinson, Lakers’ two-way player who is shining in the Summer League?

All the hype and excitement in the Chase Center focused around one player in Los Angeles Lakers the Summer League debut on Saturday in San Francisco. That player was not Blake Hinson, but that’s who many were talking about after Bronny James and the Lakers opened the California Classic against the Sacramento Kings.

Hinson steals the show

There were plenty of fans who showed up to the Chase Center to get a first glimpse at Bronny James in a Laker uniform just days after getting drafted by the team his dad plays for. Both he and Dalton Knecht, LA’s first round pick, made their Laker’s debut, but it was an undrafted, unknown player who made the most noise against the Sacramento Kings in Day 1 of the Lakers Summer League tour.

Bronny scored just four points on 2/9 shooting, while Knecht had 12 on hitting 3/12 field goals but it was Blake Hinson who came off the bench and stole the show, at least for the Lakers in their 108-94 loss. Hinson had 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists and went 5/7 from three point range in his first taste of NBA action.

Lakers fans everywhere rejoiced in seeing Hinson catch fire from long range, seeing as Los Angeles has been one of the worst three point shooting teams in the league for the last few years. Knecht was brought in to help stretch the floor, but if Hinson proves himself the rest of the way he could have a shot at making a roster that is short of three point specialists.

Hinson a three point specialist

The undrafted rookie was signed by the Lakers on a two-way contract after a senior year that saw him score 18.5 points, and dish 4.4 rebounds a game for the Pitt Panthers. He shot 42.1% from downtown for the Panthers last year and is a career 37.8% shooter. There are

The 6′8″, 230 pound forward has had a long and difficult path on his way to a two-way deal with the Lakers. He left college as a 24 year old senior after suffering injuries and transferring twice. He starting his career at Ole Miss in 2018, but then transferred to Iowa State but never played a game with the Cyclones because of injury. He left Iowa State following a two year spell without playing a game and joined Pitt where he played his junior and senior years.

He made the ACC second team in his first year with Pitt and then was a First Team All-ACC last year after being one of the top three point shooters in the country. It’s not going to be an easy road to the Lakers squad considering they just brought in two rookies who are likely going to take up roster spots, but if he continues to make threes, JJ Redick is going to have something to think about.