The Lakers have always been close with their G League team, South Bay, and now JJ Redick wants to make that connection even stronger.
New Leadership and Vision
Many players like Alex Caruso, Gary Payton II, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, and Thomas Bryant started in South Bay before becoming NBA stars. This summer brought changes as the Lakers replaced South Bay’s head coach Dane Johnson with
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JJ Redick emphasized how important Guthrie is for building a better G League path. He sees Guthrie as part of his NBA staff. On "The Lowe Post" podcast, Redick said they want to create a seamless connection between the two teams. He insists the G League isn’t a step down but rather an integral part of their system.
Developing Future Stars
Redick has called Bronny James a "developmental player", hinting that he might spend much time in the G League this season.
South Bay is also expected to help Jalen Hood-Schifino, Colin Castleton, Armel Traore, and Christian Koloko grow since they’re on two-way contracts. It’s uncertain if Dalton Knecht will play in the G League after being drafted 17th by the Lakers in 2024.
Fans are excited about these young talents getting more opportunities!
Kylor Kelley leads those signed for training camps and aims to fill South Bay’s roster for the upcoming season. Known for his blocking skills (averaging 2.9 per game), Kelley was named to the All-Defensive Team last year and could make an exciting duo with Castleton and Koloko.
Coaching Staff Expansion
Recently reported changes include three new assistant coaches joining Zach Guthrie: Perry Huang, Barbara Turner, and Mo Charlo. They join Alex Cerda and video coordinator Joshua Townsend to round out South Bay’s coaching team.
Sometimes we wonder if all these changes will lead to more wins or just more headlines!
