Los Angeles Lakers: Recapping the early seasons of the rookies
Josh Hart
The eldest rookie of the Los Angeles Lakers draft class, Josh Hart was selected as a guard that has a skill-set to complement Lonzo Ball and can impact the game without the ball in his hands. He missed parts of the preseason and Las Vegas Summer League nursing various injuries, which caused him to ease his way into the rotation. However, Hart is starting to carve out a larger role with his tough defense, hustle plays and growing confidence on offense.
Hart is averaging 9.3 points per game and shooting 40.7 percent from the field, numbers I’d expect to increase with his playing time. His offensive game is relatively the same as it was at Villanova University, attacking the rim hard and taking open 3-pointers.
His shot seems quicker than it was in college, and he’s shooting 34.0 percent from 3 this season — not too bad for a rookie with questioned range heading into this season.
My favorite aspect of his offensive game is his ability to make quick decisive decisions on or off the ball, and never making a move without a purpose. Players can get cute with the ball and dribble a couple times before passing or dribbling, but Hart knows what he wants to do before he catches the ball, resulting in him being a step ahead of a defense caught in rotation.
These quick decisions can catch defenses off balance, something that Hart makes them pay for with instant drives into the paint. He welcomes contact at the rim and finishes well through bigger bodies in the paint.
His defense was a positive coming into the season and he continues to take his turns guarding the opponent’s top scorers. He’s had his struggles with quicker guards, but can make things difficult with his strength and large frame. His defense will make him a pro for a long time even if his offense stagnates. He rebounds well, like most players on this Lakers team, and is a constant threat to steal a possession crashing the offensive glass.
Overall, there’s reason for optimism about Josh Hart 27 games into his rookie season. He’s playing well in the extended minutes he’s received recently, and is the type of hard-nosed player that fits perfectly next to Lonzo. Hart should see more playing time with the Lakers playing more three-guard sets, has a place on this team moving forward and presents good value as the 30th overall pick.