Blake Hinson draws first NBA start, then heads back to the bench as Jazz keep the late-season spotlight on him
blake hinson is getting a longer look from the Utah Jazz as the NBA season winds down, with minutes opening up for end-of-the-bench and G-League players. On Saturday (ET), blake hinson drew the first NBA start of his career against the Pelicans, then on Monday (ET) he was not in the starting lineup against Denver. The move underscores how Utah is rotating lineups late while continuing to evaluate who can help beyond this stretch.
What happened: first start Saturday, reserve role Monday
Utah put blake hinson into the starting lineup Saturday (ET) against the Pelicans, marking the first start of his young NBA career. The two-way player’s start pushed John Konchar to the bench.
Two days later, the Jazz shifted again. On Monday (ET) against Denver, blake hinson was not in the starting five as Utah went with Keyonte George, Elijah Harkless, Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, and Kyle Filipowski. After that first start, Hinson returned to a reserve role as the Jazz continued to mix combinations.
Why the Jazz are giving Blake Hinson real minutes now
With the season winding down, teams — especially those involved in tanking efforts — are giving longer looks to end-of-the-bench players and G-League guys, and the Jazz are no exception. In Utah’s case, the roster has needed contributions and lacks depth at present, with third-year pro Brice Sensabaugh mired in a shooting slump.
blake hinson, a 26-year-old forward, has bounced around the G-League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Rip City Remix, and Salt Lake City Stars. He has shown the three-point range he flashed at Pitt and Ole Miss in college, and that shooting has translated into early production during his time with Utah.
Numbers snapshot: what blake hinson has produced so far
Across his early NBA appearances this season, Hinson’s minutes and efficiency have stood out in a small sample. Over three appearances, he averaged 8. 7 points and 1. 7 rebounds in 19. 7 minutes per contest. Through four games, he has averaged 8. 5 points and 2. 5 rebounds while shooting 54. 2 percent from the field and 50. 0 percent from beyond the arc in 18. 8 minutes per contest.
In the broader late-season stretch described by team usage, since being called up he has been averaging 9. 0 points, 2. 4 boards, and 19. 9 minutes per game while shooting nearly 49% from the field and 45% from deep.
Quick context and what’s next for blake hinson
March has historically been a month where Hinson has produced big scoring outputs at the G-League level, including a 44-point game a year ago with the Santa Cruz Warriors that featured 10 made three-pointers. With the Salt Lake City Stars, he averaged 20. 7 points, 5. 3 boards, and 1. 6 assists per night.
What comes next is more evaluation time. With Utah doing its best to stay in the “tankathon” and keep its first-round pick this summer, the late-season rotation suggests continued opportunities for blake hinson in the lineup — even if the role shifts between starting and coming off the bench from game to game.
