The Los Angeles Lakers have built a roster that has dreams of competing for a championship. Luka Doncic and LeBron James make for an almost unrivaled duo at the top of the pecking order, Austin Reaves is knocking on the door of All-Star status, and the team beyond them certainly isn't short on talent.
As the Lakers search for ways to put the finishing touches on a productive offseason, however, there's one free agent making a surprising appeal for a training camp invite: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Los Angeles has made four key additions to its roster during the 2025 offseason: Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, and Adou Thiero. They all stand to have an opportunity to secure significant playing time, especially with Dorian Finney-Smith departing to join the Houston Rockets.
As the Lakers look to round out the group they plan to bring in for training camp, however, Hollis-Jefferson has made an intriguing plea via social media for an opportunity to change perceptions.
Good morning @NBA , I was wondering if any teams had a training camp spot for an kind chap like myself . I’m like a SUV got a lot of travel miles but for the long haul(long season) you can count on me. I also keep good air flow amongst the team. I also can guard just about anyone
— R.HollisJefferson (@IAmCHAP24) July 27, 2025
Hollis-Jefferson added that he isn't looking for guaranteed playing time, and is even willing to provide value in practice as a player who helps his teammates work at their craft.
I also don’t mind getting guys better in practice. Pushing them to the next level. Make it tough in practice scrimmage when necessary for the core guys to be elite in game situations!
— R.HollisJefferson (@IAmCHAP24) July 27, 2025
It's a unique audition for a training camp appearance, and for a Lakers team in need of athletic wing defenders, it's worth kicking the tires and extending an invitation.
Lakers should invite Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to training camp
Hollis-Jefferson was selected at No. 23 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He last played in the Association in 2020-21, when he saw the court 11 times with the Portland Trail Blazers. Since then, he's made a living overseas.
During that time, Hollis-Jefferson has become a three-time Philippine Basketball Association champion and three-time PBA Best Import of the Conference award-winner.
The key to Hollis-Jefferson's success is exactly what got him drafted: The capacity for lockdown defense and physically-overwhelming drives to the basket. A lackluster three-point shot ultimately cost him minutes in the NBA, but he appears to have made improvements in that area of the game.
During an interview with Cyro Asseo of HoopsHype, Hollis-Jefferson explained that his improved jump shot and championship experience overseas make him an NBA-worthy addition.
"I won three back-to-back championships. So you can ask those guys, every single one of my teammates, the guys that are in their 15th, 20th season, they play with multiple different imports. Like who is their favorite import? Who worked the hardest? Who wants to win more than anyone? And those are the things that I feel like really matter, along with working on my jump shot as well."
Hollis-Jefferson shot just 30.8 percent from beyond the arc during the 2024-25 PBA season, but he knocked down 74.8 percent of his free throws—up from his 56.3 percent mark during his final NBA campaign.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would be a no-risk training camp addition
In terms of what he can offer an NBA team, Hollis-Jefferson made an accurate case for himself. He's a skilled midrange scorer who can defend at a high level, boasting a muscular 6'7" frame and a massive 7'2" wingspan that permits positional versatility.
If nothing else, that should help Hollis-Jefferson provide value on the practice court, where he can push opponents on both ends of the floor.
The fact that the 30-year-old has made that a selling point, rather than demanding a spot in a rotation, is an undeniable plus. His defense is a strength that should help the Lakers' isolation scorers and off-ball shooters simulate in-game moments in a way that's conducive to growth.
The fact that Hollis-Jefferson can take opponents off the bounce and convert from midrange with a crafty southpaw shot should push the Lakers' forwards, as well.
Perhaps nothing will materialize from a potential training camp invite, but that's truthfully irrelevant. There's no harm in inviting a player to work out with the team and see if there's value to extract come the 2025-26 season.
The best-case scenario, however, is that the Lakers would have a player who can help ensure that the players around them are given the circumstances within which they can actively improve.