South Bay Lakers Clinch No. 1 Seed in G League Playoffs

The Lakers' G League affiliate caps historic late-season run with playoff berth

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:40pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of color representing the players, ball, and court.The South Bay Lakers' dynamic, team-first approach has fueled their historic run to the G League playoffs.Sioux Falls Today

The South Bay Lakers, the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs after a dominant finish to the regular season. The team set a franchise record with a 12-game win streak, going 17-4 over the final two months to secure the top spot. Led by point guard RJ Davis and key contributions from Lakers assignment players like Bronny James and Drew Timme, South Bay has proven itself as one of the G League's elite teams heading into the postseason.

Why it matters

The South Bay Lakers' success this season is a testament to the strong development system the Los Angeles Lakers have built, with seamless integration of NBA-level talent and a focus on team-first, gritty basketball. Their playoff berth showcases the depth of the Lakers organization and the bright future of their young prospects.

The details

Over the final two months of the regular season, the South Bay Lakers compiled a 17-4 record, including a franchise-record 12-game win streak. Head coach Zach Guthrie credited the team's togetherness and sense of urgency as key factors in their late-season surge. Point guard RJ Davis has been the steady hand running the offense, averaging 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. The team has also benefited from the inclusion of Lakers assignment players like Bronny James, Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr., Drew Timme and Chris Mañon, who have provided an infusion of NBA-caliber talent.

  • The South Bay Lakers clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 140-132 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on the final day of the regular season (March 29, 2026).
  • Over the final two months of the regular season, the South Bay Lakers compiled a 17-4 record.

The players

Zach Guthrie

The head coach of the South Bay Lakers, who has emphasized a team-first, gritty style of play that has led the team to the No. 1 seed in the G League playoffs.

RJ Davis

The steady point guard for the South Bay Lakers, who has led the team's offensive attack and been the floor leader, especially when Lakers assignment players have been absent.

Arthur Kaluma

A key bench player for the South Bay Lakers, providing versatility and anchoring the second unit with his size, strength and ability to space the floor.

Bronny James

A Lakers assignment player who has split time between the NBA and G League, continuing his professional development with the South Bay Lakers.

Drew Timme

A Lakers assignment player who has stayed sharp by playing with the South Bay Lakers when not active with the main team.

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What they’re saying

“'I'm feeling good about it. We talked about how we need to peak at the end of the year. We just got to keep building day by day.'”

— Zach Guthrie, Head Coach, South Bay Lakers

“'I think our togetherness has been working, our sense of urgency. I think our intent coming into games has been to be aggressive, be the aggressor. Make the first punch.'”

— RJ Davis, Point Guard, South Bay Lakers

“'We're just full of crazy talent. When we get working together, I feel like there's too many options on the court for teams to really stop.'”

— Arthur Kaluma, Forward, South Bay Lakers

What’s next

The South Bay Lakers will begin their G League playoff run next week as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They will look to translate their regular season success into a deep postseason run.

The takeaway

The South Bay Lakers' historic late-season surge and playoff berth as the top seed in the West showcases the strength of the Lakers' development system. By seamlessly integrating NBA-level talent with a gritty, team-first mentality, South Bay has emerged as one of the G League's elite teams and a prime example of the Lakers' commitment to building a winning culture at all levels.