Former Pitt basketball fan favorite Blake Hinson is entering his first season of professional basketball.
Hinson has now played 16 games for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G-League and is averaging 12.4 points per game. He plays just over 23 minutes per contest for his team and shoots 40% from the field. Hinson is shooting 30.9% from three-point range this year, at the same volume he shot against Pitt. He is currently shooting 6.9 three-pointers per game and averaging 2.1. Hinson also grabs 4.3 rebounds per game.
In his last game against the Windy City Bulls, Hinson came off the bench for the Warriors and scored 16 points.
Hinson signed with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors in late September, after beginning his professional career as a Los Angeles Laker. The Warriors then waived him.
Hinson went undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, but quickly signed a two-way deal with the Lakers and new head coach JJ Redick. Hinson played in the NBA Summer League for the Lakers alongside Bronny James and company. In the Summer League, Hinson had two games where he hit at least five three-pointers. In his final game on July 21, Hinson torched the Chicago Bulls for 25 points, three rebounds and two assists in a dominant victory for his Lakers team.
Hinson — a 6-foot-8 forward from Deltona, Fla. — is coming off a final season in Pittsburgh where he averaged 18.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, shooting 45.4% from the field, 42.1 % from beyond the arc (on 261 attempts) and 66.9% from the free throw line. He hit the 20-point mark 14 times last season — erupting for a career-high 41 points in a win against Louisville.
