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The Los Angeles Lakers have signed David Stockton, son of Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton, to a training camp deal. The team’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, traded two first-round picks and the returning player rights to Derrick Griffin Jr. for Stockton and Reggie Hearn last month.
Because the Lakers’ roster was already at the maximum of 20 players, they had to waive University of Nevada forward Jordan Caroline. While it’s likely Caroline will end up with the South Bay Lakers because of the $50,000 he can get per the terms of the Exhibit 10 contract he signed in July, he won’t be back on the floor for at least another three months after undergoing surgery on his left foot.
Stockton will also spend his season in the G League with the South Bay Lakers barring a few jaw-dropping performances from the 28-year-old in the preseason.
Stockton, a 5’11” point guard, has spent the last year overseas with Medi Bayreuth in the German Bundesliga. In 35 games, Stockton averaged 8.7 points, 3.6 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game.
Prior to going overseas, Stockton played in the G League for four years. His most recent G League stop was with the Stockton Kings during the 2017-18 season. In 39 games for the Kings, Stockton averaged 16.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 28.2 minutes.
His breakout season with the Kings earned him a call-up from the Utah Jazz, the team that his dad spent the entirety of his 19-year-career with. He appeared in five games for the Jazz, including two postseason games.
While Stockton might not move the needle for the Lakers, he could fill the void left by Alex Caruso on the South Bay Lakers. Expect Stockton and Lakers two-way player Zach Norvell Jr. to soak up the bulk of the minutes at point guard next for South Bay next season, especially after the team traded away Joel Berry II.
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