Lakers News: Jalen Hood-Schifino Undergoes Surgery on Back Injury; Timetable TBD

Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino underwent a successful lumbar microdiscectomy, the team announced on Thursday.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin also reported that the procedure involved a bulging disk in his back being shaved and the Lakers expect Hood-Schifino to make a full recovery in the offseason, though the exact timetable is not yet known.

Hood-Schifino, who the Lakers drafted with the 17th pick in the 2023 NBA draft, averages 1.6 points per game in limited minutes this season. Hood-Schifino has also spent time with the Lakers' G-League affiliate South Bay Lakers, putting up 22 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 15 games.

After a few weeks in the G-League, the Lakers brought Hood-Schifino back to Los Angeles earlier in March. The Indiana product has seen very few minutes with Los Angeles in recent weeks and has not played double-digit minutes since November.

Whether Hood-Schifino will be back on the court before the playoffs is unclear, but Los Angeles will look to continue its late-season push without the added support from him on the bench.

The Lakers currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference at 37-32. They have half a game on the 10th-place Golden State Warriors, but sit three games back from the eight-seeded Phoenix Suns. If Los Angeles wants to avoid the Play-In tournament, it will need a big surge to close out the season.