LA Lakers sign Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis

The Los Angeles Lakers signed their 2023 NBA draft selections, guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and forward Maxwell Lewis. Rob Pelinka, Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, was very impressed by Hood-Schifino at Indiana University during his lone year. Lakers selected Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall draft pick in the 2023 NBA draft and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year impressively earned All-Big Ten Third team honors that currently had him ranked ninth in the country with 117 total assists. The Lakers are excited to bring in Hood-Schifino into a roster that will allow his skillset to flourish under a heavy ball-sharing offense. He will develop under the guidance of veterans that will benefit from Jalen’s positive assist to turnover ratio.

Maxwell Lewis was drafted with the 40th overall selection, and eventually would be acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-team trade. Lewis has tremendous range and his ability to knock down shots will help the Lakers. Lewis was a 2022-2023 All-WCC Second Team honoree at Pepperdine University, where he averaged 14.6 points per game and shot for 35% from three-point range during his two seasons with the Waves.

Both Hood-Schifino and Lewis will have the ability to compete in training camp fighting for minutes in the regular season. Los Angeles has had two back-to-back draft years creating a foundation for the future, Max Christie last year, and now Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis in 2023.