Tag: Blake Hinson

Blake Hinson refutes report about Bronny James’ supposed special treatment

Lakers summer league guard Blake Hinson says the reports about the supposed preferential treatment Bronny James got is not true.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James has been the most talked-about incoming first-year NBA player, and some of the talk surrounding him has been negative.

While he appears to have some potential as a legitimate prospect, plenty have claimed the only reason the Lakers took him with the No. 55 pick in June’s draft is because of the influence of his father, LeBron James. In other words, people have been accusing the elder James’ camp of nepotism.

A couple of days ago, an unnamed member of the Lakers’ summer league team said some very unflattering things about the atmosphere surrounding the younger James. That player claimed the younger James received preferential treatment and that it had a detrimental effect on others. While none of it was personal, it could cast the 19-year-old guard in a negative light.

Blake Hinson, an undrafted guard on L.A.’s summer league squad, looked to refute the claims made by the other player.

Via Lakers Nation:

“No. Where is that at? Honestly, you know how it is. Stuff like that doesn’t really shock me,” Hinson said in an interview with Trevor Lane and Matthew Peralta of Lakers Nation. “But we need to figure out if that’s even true because to be totally honest with you, as far as his treatment, he was just a normal guy.

“He just played basketball, he really stays out of the way. He’s a cool dude. I don’t really understand how something like that came out. So that’s nonsense to me.”

One positive thing that has been reported about the younger James is his attitude and humility, something Hinson vouched for.

“Cool dude off the court, cool dude on the court. I don’t really understand that nonsense that you just informed me about. That’s not accurate, it shouldn’t be accurate,” Hinson added.

The University of Southern California product struggled in his first several summer league games, and at one point, he missed each of his first 15 3-point attempts. But he shot a very respectable percentage in his last two games, especially from the perimeter, which raised hopes that he can make something of himself when the real games start.

Lakers end summer league with third straight win

Although the Lakers won’t be playing for the summer league championship, they did end their trip to Las Vegas on a positive note.

Because of their 2-2 record in the Las Vegas summer league at the end of this week, the Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled for one more game: a “consolation” game on Saturday versus the Chicago Bulls.

Their coaching staff decided to sit out Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and Maxwell Lewis, arguably their three best players, which may have led one to think they would lose this final contest.

Instead, Los Angeles came out red hot, going 12-of-18 from the field while hitting all seven of its 3-point attempts in the first quarter as it took a 39-18 lead. Although it cooled off considerably over the next two quarters, it still ended the game with a 107-81 victory.

A number of unsung heroes played well for the Lakers and made this win possible.

Guard Blake Hinson started the day in excellent fashion, scoring 21 points in the first half thanks to some very hot outside shooting. Although he went cold in the second half, he still had 25 points in 26 minutes.

Quincy Olivari, a guard from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, ripped the nets for 20 points while going 6-of-13 from downtown. Grayson Murphy, a 6-foot-3 guard who went undrafted in 2022 out of Belmont University, registered 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Center Moses Brown once again did some admirable work on the boards. He finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 15 minutes.

Summer Lakers finally get a win against the Hawks on Wednesday

With their biggest headline-maker finally playing well, the Lakers’ summer league team finally got into the victory column.

This was starting to look like a rough summer for the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost each of their three games during the California Classic, and they started out the NBA’s main summer league with two losses to the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics.

On Wednesday, they took on the Atlanta Hawks without Dalton Knecht, who was sitting out for rest, and center Moses Brown, who has a non-COVID-19 illness.

Los Angeles got off quickly and took an early 12-2 lead, and although Atlanta came back to make things close and then take a double-digit lead in the third quarter, it didn’t fold.

It fought back down the stretch, and with the game on the line, L.A. stood tall defensively and got a stop on the final possession to preserve an 87-86 win.

A few of its players stepped up to finally get a victory in summer league play.

Colin Castleton: While Castleton may not have convinced people he deserves a spot in the big league Lakers’ center rotation, he has looked good for much of this summer, as he did last summer.

He made all but one of his nine field-goal attempts to score 17 points, and he also grabbed 12 rebounds. Castleton also dished off six assists in 24 minutes and showed his ability to facilitate in the set offense.

Blake Hinson: Hinson, who was an excellent 3-point shooter at the University of Pittsburgh (he shot 42.1% from downtown this past season), has been hit-and-miss during summer league play. But on Wednesday, he was able to get his shot to fall consistently.

He went 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, and overall, he scored 14 points in 19 minutes off the bench.

Maxwell Lewis: Lewis had another rough outing as he shot just 3-of-12 from the floor. In the third quarter, he put up a nifty spin move and looked to throw down a dunk on the fast break, but he had his attempt blocked by E.J. Liddell.

On a positive note, he did display some defense on Wednesday by blocking two shots

Lewis appears to have some trouble finishing near the rim. But his raw skills are apparent, and if he puts in enough work, perhaps he will become a rotation player in the NBA before long.

Bronny James: Finally, James showed some of the potential he displayed in high school. He made each of his first three shots of the contest, and he even hit his first 3-pointer after going 0-of-15 from that distance prior to Wednesday in summer league play.

The 19-year-old finished with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from downtown.

Blake Hinson says he joined the Lakers because of head coach JJ Redick

Blake Hinson apparently thinks highly of new Lakers head coach JJ Redick.

There have been plenty of people skeptical about the Los Angeles Lakers’ hire of JJ Redick as their head coach. Critics point to his lack of coaching experience, as well as the fact that he hosted the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James, as reasons why he won’t succeed and why players may not want to play for him.

But Blake Hinson, an undrafted guard the Lakers recently signed, said in an interview with Lakers Nation that Redick is a big reason he chose the Purple and Gold.

Via Lakers Nation:

“As soon as JJ Redick got hired, first of all. Being a great catch-and-shoot person, being an awesome ACC player. I wanted to see if I could be a part of a program he was in control of, that he was the head of,” Hinson said. “So when he first got announced for the job, I thought in my head I really wish I could get an opportunity to be coached under one of the greatest catch-and-shooters ever.

“And then being in a place with such a playmaker like one of the best players ever in LeBron James. It would be a dream come true for a catch-and-shoot shooter like me to be coached by JJ Redick and play with the best playmaker ever. It was a no-brainer for me. So now I’m here trying to work my tail off to get to that point and hopefully I can provide some help.”

While Hinson played poorly in his last two summer league games, he did very well in his first such contest on Saturday. Versus the Sacramento Kings, he went 5-of-8 from the field and 5-of-7 from 3-point range, giving him 17 points in just 19 minutes.

Outside shooting is his one strength, so it is no wonder he was attracted to L.A. by Redick, who was one of the NBA’s better 3-point shooter during his playing career.

One undrafted member of the Lakers is playing better than Bronny James

Uncontroversial take: Blake Hinson, who was not drafted, is a better Laker player than Bronny James right now.

When people wonder which players could have, or should have, been picked ahead of Bronny James in the 2024 NBA draft, we only need to look at specific players who are thriving in NBA summer basketball. One such player is playing for the Lakers in summer ball. Blake Hinson clearly looks like a player who is a lot more advanced in his development than Bronny James. That’s not a knock on Bronny, just a basic observation that Hinson is better right now.

LeBron Wire has more on Blake Hinson:

Hinson is an undrafted 6-foot-7, 235-pound guard the Lakers signed to a two-way contract. He made a curious comment when he said he feels he “could be like a Klay Thompson” if he reaches his ceiling.

His one skill is 3-point shooting, and he excelled in that area on Saturday. He went 5-of-7 from that distance, resulting in 17 points in 19 minutes.

The Lakers need more accurate volume 3-point shooters, and if Hinson turns out to be their latest undrafted gem, it would greatly help their chances of going deep in the playoffs this coming season.

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New Laker Blake Hinson: I feel like I could be like a Klay Thompson

Blake Hinson, an undrafted free agent guard the Lakers signed on Thursday, certainly doesn’t seem to lack confidence in himself.

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.

Lakers sign Armel Traore and Blake Hinson to two-way contracts

The Lakers have added two undrafted free agents to their roster following the 2024 NBA Draft.

Now that the 2024 NBA Draft is officially over, there are a number of undrafted players who are free agents and free to sign with a team of their choice.

The Los Angeles Lakers, of course, took Dalton Knecht, a sharpshooter from the University of Tennessee, with the No. 17 pick. He was expected to go much higher in the draft, and therefore, many experts feel they got an absolute steal.

Then on Thursday, as just about everyone expected, they took Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, with the No. 55 pick.

Shortly afterward, Los Angeles signed Armel Traore and Blake Hinson to two-way contracts.

Traore, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound power forward, played for Blois in France this season. He’s a capable rebounder and strong finisher around the basket, and he reportedly possesses a robust 7-foot-3 wingspan. However, his 3-point shooting efficiency and volume need lots of work.

Hinson is a bulky 6-foot-7, 235-pound guard who spent the last two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. He shot 42.1% from 3-point range on 7.9 attempts a game this year, and overall, he averaged 18.5 points a game on 45.4% overall shooting.

The 24-year-old had to redshirt two of his college seasons due to an unspecified medical issue.

All-American Caleb Love headlines list of invitees for G League Elite Camp

Arizona senior Caleb Love was among the 45 players invited to participate in the G League Elite Camp on May 11-12 in Chicago, Illinois.

Arizona senior Caleb Love was among the 45 players invited to participate in the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp May 11-12 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

Love was voted a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and the Pac-12 Player of the Year after averaging 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals on 41.3% shooting from the field with the Wildcats. He finished fourth in the conference in scoring.

The 6-foot-4 guard transferred to Arizona in May 2023 after spending three years at North Carolina. He finished with 1,476 career points in 101 games with the Tar Heels and made 200 3-pointers, which ranks eighth in program history.

The full list of players invited to the G League Elite Camp:

Player Previous
Mark Armstrong Villanova
Taran Armstrong Cairns Taipans (NBL)
Adama Bal Santa Clara
Keion Brooks Jr. Washington
Terrell Burden Kennesaw State
Branden Carlson Utah
Walter Clayton Jr. Florida
Isaiah Crawford Louisiana Tech
Yongxi Cui Guangzhou (China)
Clarence Daniels New Hampshire
Thierry Darlan G League Ignite
Garwey Dual Providence
Sean East II Missouri
Jesse Edwards West Virginia
Boogie Ellis USC
Tristan Enaruna Cleveland State
Aaron Estrada Alabama
Allen Flanigan Mississippi
Enrique Freeman Akron
Blake Hinson Pitt
Jaelen House New Mexico
Isaac Jones Washington State
Arthur Kaluma Kansas State
Chaz Lanier North Florida
Jaedon LeDee San Diego State
Xaivian Lee Princeton
Jalen Lewis Overtime Elite
Malique Lewis Mexico City Capitanes (G League)
Caleb Love Arizona
Baba Miller Florida State
Emanuel Miller TCU
Judah Mintz Syracuse
Matthew Murrell Mississippi
Baye Ndongo Georgia Tech
Jameer Nelson Jr. TCU
Ugonna Onyenso Kentucky
Wooga Poplar Miami (Fla.)
Zyon Pullin Florida
Mantas Rubstavicius NZ Breakers (NBL)
Babacar Sane G League Ignite
Isaiah Stevens Colorado State
Jarin Stevenson Alabama
Nae’Qwan Tomlin Memphis
Bryson Warren Sioux Falls Skyforce (G League)
Anton Watson Gonzaga

The 45 prospects invited to the G League Elite Camp were voted on by team executives. The list of players typically indicates those with the highest odds of being selected or signed as undrafted free agents with teams after the draft on June 27.

The event will feature 5-on-5 games, strength and agility testing, shooting drills, measurements and other related on-court exercises. Prospects will have the opportunity to improve their draft stock in a competitive environment against their peers.

The top players from the G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in the draft combine on May 12-19. The event has helped several players advance to the combine and eventually make it to the NBA, including Jose Alvarado, Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Terance Mann.

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Duke Wire’s early All-ACC team

With five games left on the ACC calendar, we took an early look at what the All-ACC teams could end up looking like this season.

March draws closer every day, and while most of the excitement around that centers around the NCAA Tournament, there are also end-of-year awards to be handed out.

The Atlantic Coast Conference is one of the most traditionally successful conferences in men’s basketball with historic programs like Duke and North Carolina winning multiple championships over the past 25 years.

The ACC may not be as deep as its best years this season, with most bracket projections only including four teams in March Madness at the moment. There are still stars galore in the conference, however, and as per usual, there aren’t enough all-conference spots to go around.

Here is Duke Wire’s current projection for the All-ACC teams with five games left on the conference schedule.

Notre Dame’s struggles continue in loss to Pittsburgh

Another road defeat for the young Irish.

Notre Dame has had great recent success against Pittsburgh, winning eight of the previous nine meetings entering Saturday. For much of the first half in the Steel City, it looks like that success would continue. But the Irish were reminded that this is a rebuilding season, and the Panthers recognized that early enough to come away with a 70-60 victory.

Neither team shot well at first, and the Irish (7-15, 2-9) took advantage of that by going up seven a couple of times in the opening half. But the Panthers (14-8, 5-6) overcame missing their first nine 3-point shots and found their stroke, which contributed to them going into halftime on a 16-3 run.

The Irish bounced back from a six-point deficit to tie it early in the second half. The Panthers responded to that by making three consecutive 3s, proving that their early struggles from that distance were ancient history.

The Irish kept the deficit from reaching double digits for a little bit longer, but the deficit did get to that point, there was no recovering. The saving grace is that once they got down 17, they outscored the Panthers, 16-6, over the final few minutes.

Blake Hinson led the Panthers with 17 points with all four of his field goals coming from 3. Carlton Carrington was just behind with three 3s as part of the 16 points he scored before fouling out. Ishmael Leggett scored 12 points off the bench, and Jaland Lowe added 11 points as well as a game-high five assists.

[autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] led the Irish with 17 points and three steals. [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag] scored 16 on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. But the Irish couldn’t counter the Panthers’ 3-point attack as they shot 5 of 19 from that range.

[autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] picked up a technical foul late after coming onto the court to yell at the officials.

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