One of the things that are going to define the 2023-24 NBA regular season for the Los Angeles Lakers is injuries. The team has had to battle through several to key players in their rotation, as head coach Darvin Ham has had his work cut out for him when it comes to making lineups.
The Lakers are already without Christian Wood, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt. All three are likely to miss the remainder of the regular season as they deal with ailments that have led to very disappointing seasons.
Now, you can add a fourth player that we likely won’t see much from the remainder of the season. Rookie point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy back procedure on Thursday according to NBA Insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Hood-Schifino was a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, being selected No. 17 overall. Alas, he hasn’t had much of an opportunity to showcase his talent on the court, as he has appeared in only 21 games, essentially all of which was garbage time. In only three games this season did he play double-digit minutes.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jalen Hood-Schifino & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
While Hood-Schifino wasn’t part of Ham’s rotation currently, losing depth is never a good thing, especially near the end of the season. With Vincent already sidelined, the Lakers’ backcourt depth is looking quite thin at the moment.
Behind starters D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles has Spencer Dinwiddie and Max Christie to soak up minutes should another injury occur. Deeper on the bench is Skylar Mays, who is on a two-way deal with the team.
The Lakers have had great luck when it comes to the health of their star players, as LeBron James and Anthony Davis have both avoided any serious ailments during the 2023-24 NBA season. But, their depth has been tested throughout, which has led to some inconsistent performance on the court.
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