The Los Angeles Lakers' 2023-24 campaign fell short of expectations, plagued by a series of setbacks that included coaching challenges, front office controversies, player underperformance, and a slew of injuries. 

Recently, the spotlight shone particularly harsh on rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Lakers' first-round draft pick in 2023, whose debut season left much to be desired.

A 20-year-old point guard, Hood-Schifino struggled to make his mark in the NBA, leading to his teammates to make fun of his on-court performances, as reported by The Athletic's Jovan Buha on his podcast Buha's Block:

"One kind of running joke internally was that he was just gunnin' when he was out there in blowout situations. He was just looking to shoot, and I think sometimes kind of plays with blinders on, and he needs to address that."

– Jovan Buha via Buha's Block

Despite being given opportunities during less critical moments of games, his contributions were minimal and often critiqued by those within the organization. Over 21 games, he averaged a mere 1.6 points, 0.4 assists, and 0.6 rebounds, with a shooting accuracy of 22.2 percent from the field and an even more dismal 13.3 percent from three-point range. 

However, Hood-Schifino's stint in the G-League with the South Bay Lakers told a different story. There, he managed to average 22.0 points per game with a 47.3 percent shooting success rate. The question now is whether he can translate that G-League success to the NBA stage in the upcoming summer league and subsequent seasons.

The Lakers' decision to draft Hood-Schifino at No. 17 overall has been called into question, especially as players selected immediately after him, such as Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat), Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors), and Cam Whitmore (Houston Rockets), have become significant contributors to their respective teams. This comparison has only intensified the scrutiny on the Lakers' draft choice.

While it's too soon to definitively label Hood-Schifino's selection as a draft bust, the early signs have been less than promising. The young guard faces a challenging road ahead if he is to prove his worth and justify the Lakers' investment in him.