The Los Angeles Lakers have a bit of a history of finding diamonds in the rough. In the last decade, they have taken Ivica Zubac and Max Christie in the second round of the draft, and both have become useful players.
In terms of undrafted free agents, they have been even better. Alex Caruso turned into a key role player on a championship team for them, and Austin Reaves has become a bona fide starter.
On Thursday, just after the conclusion of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Lakers signed guard Blake Hinson out of the University of Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent. If there is one thing Hinson seems to excel at, it is outside shooting — he shot 42.1% from 3-point range on 7.9 attempts a game this season.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pound guard said if he becomes the best version of himself, he could become a Klay Thompson-type player.
Via Ahn Fire Digital:
“If I was to try to reach my ultimate ceiling, I feel like I could be like a Klay Thompson if I met my just utmost ceiling in this basketball stuff,” Hinson said to Ahn Fire Digital in an exclusive interview. “I would love to affect the game like he does. The gravity of his shootin’ without many dribbles is somethin’ I feel like I could do.”
Thompson, of course, was a major cog in the four NBA championships the Golden State Warriors have won in recent years. He has also been a strong defender, and he has some ability to create for himself off the dribble, especially when attacking closeouts.
It seems ludicrous for an undrafted rookie to compare himself to Thompson, who will surely be a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer after he retires. But one at least has to like the confidence, and if he matches it with work ethic, coachability and desire, perhaps he can become the Lakers’ latest fantastic undrafted find.