South Bay Lakers 2025-26 Roster and Statistics

Last Updated on September 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The South Bay Lakers’ 2025-26 season continued the franchise’s recent trend of pairing high-profile prospects with experienced G League contributors capable of carrying large responsibilities. As with many teams closely tied to NBA organizations, the roster evolved throughout the year as players moved between South Bay, Los Angeles, and opportunities elsewhere. Young Lakers prospects received extended minutes and prominent offensive roles, while veteran performers helped maintain stability amid the constant turnover. The result was a team that could look very different from one stretch of the season to the next, with player evaluation often taking precedence over continuity. While the season did not produce a defining championship run, it offered another snapshot of South Bay’s role as a proving ground for players seeking to turn strong G League performances into NBA opportunities.

Roster

NO.	PLAYER	POS.	HT.	WT.	DOB	COL.
0	Tyrese Hunter	G	6-0	175 lbs	Aug. 11, 2003	Memphis
1	Adou Thiero	G	6-7	220 lbs	May 8, 2004	Arkansas
2	R.J. Davis	G	6-0	180 lbs	Oct. 21, 2001	North Carolina
3	Augustas Marčiulionis	G	6-4	200 lbs	Mar. 21, 2002	Saint Mary’s
4	Dalton Knecht	F	6-6	215 lbs	Apr. 19, 2001	Tennessee
5	Tevian Jones	G	6-6	220 lbs	June 29, 2000	Southern Utah
6	Kobe Bufkin	G	6-4	195 lbs	Sept. 21, 2003	Michigan
7	William Hickey	G	6-5	203 lbs	Jan. 18, 1999	Illawarra
9	Bronny James	G	6-2	210 lbs	Oct. 6, 2004	Southern California
10	James Reese V	G	6-4	170 lbs	Dec. 8, 1998	South Carolina
11	Drew Timme	F	6-9	235 lbs	Sept. 9, 2000	Gonzaga
16	Zach Hicks	F	6-8	200 lbs	Apr. 22, 2003	Penn State
19	Keylan Boone	F	6-8	200 lbs	Nov. 30, 2000	UNLV
20	Nick Smith Jr.	G	6-2	185 lbs	Apr. 18, 2004	Arkansas
21	Luke Goode	F	6-7	210 lbs	Aug. 24, 2002	Indiana
22	Anton Watson	F	6-8	225 lbs	Oct. 6, 2000	Gonzaga
30	Chris Mañon	G	6-4	209 lbs	Dec. 9, 2001	Vanderbilt
34	Jarron Cumberland	SG	6-5	205 lbs	Sept. 22, 1997	Cincinnati
35	Kylor Kelley	C	7-0	230 lbs	Aug. 26, 1997	Oregon State
35	Malik Williams	C	6-11	250 lbs	Aug. 26, 1998	Louisville
43	Cheikh Mbacke Diong	PF	6-11	235 lbs	—	UCF
44	Kobe Bufkin	G	6-4	195 lbs	Sept. 21, 2003	Michigan
47	Arthur Kaluma	F	6-7	225 lbs	Mar. 1, 2002	Texas
55	Ethan Taylor	G	6-5	205 lbs	Jan. 6, 2002	Air Force

Tip-Off Tournament Per Game

PLAYER	POS.	AGE	GP	GS	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
RJ Davis	G	24	13	10	30.6	18.8	3.9	4.8	1.0	0.7	1.8	14.2	6.2	.432	7.6	2.7	.354	2.8	2.5	.892
Drew Timme	F	26	8	8	33.8	24.3	7.5	4.6	1.0	0.1	2.1	15.9	8.3	.520	5.0	1.5	.300	4.8	3.5	.737
Chris Mañon	G	24	13	10	31.1	14.8	6.8	2.9	2.5	1.4	2.6	9.6	4.9	.512	2.8	0.8	.306	3.2	2.5	.786
Kobe Bufkin	G	23	7	4	31.7	24.7	4.3	3.7	0.9	0.4	2.4	16.3	8.1	.500	7.3	3.1	.431	3.4	3.1	.917
Tevian Jones	G	26	13	1	23.6	12.7	2.5	1.3	0.8	0.1	1.5	8.4	4.5	.532	4.5	2.1	.466	1.1	1.1	1.000
Anton Watson	F	25	14	10	26.8	10.4	4.2	2.5	1.5	0.5	0.6	8.4	3.9	.462	4.4	1.4	.323	1.1	0.7	.667
Luke Goode	F	24	10	1	20.2	7.9	3.0	0.2	0.6	0.3	0.4	7.0	2.9	.414	5.6	1.9	.339	0.3	0.1	.333
Bronny James	G	21	6	6	30.8	9.5	3.5	4.5	0.7	0.5	3.8	9.8	3.5	.356	5.5	1.2	.212	1.2	0.8	.714
Nick Smith Jr.	G	22	3	3	31.3	19.7	3.7	2.3	0.3	0.3	2.3	16.0	7.0	.438	7.7	3.3	.435	2.7	2.3	.875
Dalton Knecht	F	25	1	1	37.0	30.0	5.0	2.0	2.0	1.0	2.0	17.0	10.0	.588	10.0	6.0	.600	3.0	3.0	1.000
Kylor Kelley	C	29	12	11	25.0	7.7	7.1	1.1	0.7	1.6	1.8	5.8	3.5	.609	0.0	0.0		0.9	0.4	.455
Adou Thiero	G	22	3	3	20.3	15.0	5.0	1.7	2.0	0.7	0.7	9.0	5.0	.556	2.0	0.3	.167	2.7	2.7	1.000
Augustas Marčiulionis	G	24	9	0	16.1	5.4	2.0	3.3	0.7	0.1	1.4	5.1	2.1	.413	1.7	0.7	.400	0.8	0.3	.429
Jarron Cumberland	SG	28	11	0	19.1	4.5	2.8	3.8	0.5	0.7	1.7	4.6	1.5	.333	2.4	0.8	.346	0.9	0.5	.500
Arthur Kaluma	F	24	5	0	10.2	7.6	1.8	0.4	0.2	0.0	0.6	5.0	3.0	.600	1.8	1.0	.556	0.6	0.4	.667
Dalton Knecht	F	25	1	1	37.0	30.0	5.0	2.0	2.0	1.0	2.0	17.0	10.0	.588	10.0	6.0	.600	3.0	3.0	1.000
Christian Koloko	C	26	2	2	26.0	8.5	8.5	0.0	0.5	1.5	1.5	7.0	4.0	.571	3.0	0.5	.167	0.5	0.0	.000
Cheikh Mbacke Diong	C	26	1	0	16.0	4.0	8.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	2.0	.500	0.0	0.0		1.0	0.0	.000
Jace Carter	G-F	23	4	0	8.0	0.0	0.8	0.8	0.5	0.0	0.3	1.8	0.0	.000	1.5	0.0	.000	0.3	0.0	.000

Regular Season Per Game

PLAYER	POS.	AGE	GP	GS	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
RJ Davis	G	24	36	31	29.3	18.3	3.7	4.9	0.7	0.5	2.3	12.4	6.0	.484	5.7	2.6	.459	2.4	2.1	.852
Arthur Kaluma	F	24	35	0	26.4	14.6	5.0	1.6	0.9	0.5	1.4	9.5	5.2	.545	4.0	1.5	.364	2.0	1.7	.845
Kobe Bufkin	G	23	17	14	30.6	24.8	3.7	4.4	1.3	1.1	2.5	15.1	7.7	.512	6.9	2.9	.419	4.2	3.7	.875
Anton Watson	F	25	36	24	27.4	11.3	5.0	3.0	1.3	0.7	0.9	8.1	4.2	.519	3.4	1.2	.339	1.4	1.0	.706
Chris Mañon	G	24	33	26	25.2	10.3	5.6	2.2	2.0	0.6	1.1	7.5	3.8	.512	2.3	0.7	.320	1.6	1.1	.698
Drew Timme	F	26	13	13	28.7	23.7	8.5	4.9	0.8	1.0	3.0	16.0	9.0	.563	2.2	0.4	.172	4.1	3.2	.792
Nick Smith Jr.	G	22	15	7	28.8	19.7	3.5	5.6	0.8	0.3	2.1	15.1	7.7	.511	5.7	2.0	.353	2.2	1.4	.636
Tevian Jones	G	26	24	3	20.5	10.3	2.5	1.0	0.8	0.0	1.0	8.7	4.0	.462	4.1	1.4	.333	0.8	0.5	.667
Malik Williams	C	28	17	16	27.6	14.4	8.8	2.1	1.2	1.3	0.9	11.5	5.6	.487	6.1	2.2	.369	1.1	0.5	.500
Bronny James	G	21	14	13	26.7	15.6	3.1	3.7	1.3	0.5	2.1	10.6	6.0	.564	4.9	2.2	.456	1.0	0.8	.786
Augustas Marčiulionis	G	24	20	2	20.6	7.9	2.3	4.3	0.8	0.1	1.9	6.1	3.1	.512	1.9	0.9	.474	0.8	0.4	.500
Kylor Kelley	C	29	19	18	24.8	8.3	7.3	1.8	0.3	2.4	0.8	4.7	3.5	.733	0.0	0.0		1.4	0.8	.577
Luke Goode	F	24	31	3	16.9	5.0	2.6	0.9	0.5	0.4	0.5	4.8	1.8	.373	3.6	1.2	.336	0.2	0.1	.429
Adou Thiero	G	22	7	7	23.4	15.4	4.9	2.3	0.7	1.1	1.1	9.1	5.7	.625	2.0	1.3	.643	2.7	1.6	.579
Dalton Knecht	F	25	3	3	31.3	18.3	6.3	3.3	1.0	0.7	1.7	12.0	5.7	.472	4.3	1.0	.231	5.0	4.7	.933
Zach Hicks	F	23	15	0	12.7	2.8	1.7	0.6	0.9	0.2	0.7	2.6	1.0	.385	2.3	0.8	.353	0.0	0.0
Tyrese Hunter	G	23	10	0	7.9	3.5	0.7	1.1	0.4	0.1	0.4	2.4	1.1	.458	1.6	0.5	.313	0.7	0.6	.857
James Reese	G	27	2	0	18.0	5.0	2.5	4.0	1.0	0.0	2.0	4.0	1.0	.250	2.5	1.0	.400	1.0	1.0	1.000
Ethan Taylor	G	24	7	0	3.3	1.3	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.6	0.4	.750	0.6	0.4	.750	0.0	0.0
William Hickey	G	27	3	0	12.0	2.7	2.0	1.7	0.3	0.0	1.7	2.0	1.0	.500	0.0	0.0		0.7	0.3	.500
Jarron Cumberland	SG	28	1	0	19.0	6.0	2.0	4.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	2.0	.667	3.0	2.0	.667	0.0	0.0
Keylan Boone	F	25	1	0	7.0	6.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	2.0	.667	2.0	2.0	1.000	0.0	0.0
Cheikh Mbacke Diong	PF	—	3	0	4.0	0.0	1.3	0.0	0.3	0.7	0.7	0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0

Playoffs Per Game

PLAYER NAME	POS	AGE	GP	GS	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Drew Timme	—	—	3	3	35.3	21.7	7.0	5.0	0.3	0.7	4.0	12.7	8.0	.632	1.3	0.7	.500	4.3	3.3	.769
Arthur Kaluma	—	—	3	0	32.3	13.0	4.7	1.3	0.7	0.0	0.7	11.0	5.7	.515	3.7	1.7	.455	0.0	0.0	—
RJ Davis	—	—	3	3	25.7	14.3	1.7	4.0	0.3	0.3	2.0	10.3	4.7	.452	5.7	2.0	.353	2.0	2.0	1.000
Kobe Bufkin	—	—	2	2	31.0	19.0	4.0	4.0	0.5	0.5	3.5	14.5	6.5	.448	6.5	2.0	.308	2.5	2.0	.800
Dalton Knecht	—	—	2	0	24.5	16.0	9.5	2.5	0.5	0.5	6.0	11.0	5.5	.500	3.5	0.5	.143	3.5	3.0	.857
Nick Smith Jr.	—	—	2	0	33.0	14.5	2.5	5.0	1.5	0.5	0.5	12.0	6.0	.500	4.5	1.5	.333	1.0	0.5	.500
Malik Williams	—	—	3	3	18.3	7.7	5.0	0.3	1.7	0.7	0.7	6.7	3.0	.450	5.0	1.7	.333	0.0	0.0	—
Chris Mañon	—	—	3	3	21.0	5.7	6.0	1.0	0.7	0.7	0.3	4.0	1.7	.417	1.7	0.7	.400	1.7	1.0	.600
Anton Watson	—	—	3	1	19.3	5.3	3.0	3.0	0.7	0.0	0.7	5.0	2.0	.400	1.7	0.7	.400	0.3	0.3	1.000
Adou Thiero	—	—	2	0	17.5	7.0	3.5	1.5	0.0	0.5	0.5	4.5	2.0	.444	0.0	0.0	—	1.5	1.5	1.000
William Hickey	—	—	1	0	12.0	8.0	5.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	3.0	1.0	.333	0.0	0.0	—	5.0	3.0	.600
Luke Goode	—	—	1	0	33.0	7.0	3.0	1.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	6.0	2.0	.333	4.0	1.0	.250	1.0	1.0	1.000
Tevian Jones	—	—	1	0	8.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	0.0	.000	0.0	0.0	—	0.0	0.0	—

Tip-Off Tournament Totals

PLAYER	POS	AGE	GP	GS	MP	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
RJ Davis	—	—	13	10	398	245	51	63	13	9	24	185	80	.432	99	35	.354	37	33	.892
Drew Timme	—	—	8	8	270	194	60	37	8	1	17	127	66	.520	40	12	.300	38	28	.737
Chris Mañon	—	—	13	10	404	193	88	38	33	18	34	125	64	.512	36	11	.306	42	33	.786
Kobe Bufkin	—	—	7	4	222	173	30	26	6	3	17	114	57	.500	51	22	.431	24	22	.917
Tevian Jones	—	—	13	1	307	165	33	17	10	1	20	109	58	.532	58	27	.466	14	14	1.000
Anton Watson	—	—	14	10	375	145	59	35	21	7	8	117	54	.462	62	20	.323	15	10	.667
Kylor Kelley	—	—	12	11	300	92	85	13	8	19	21	69	42	.609	0	0	—	11	5	.455
Luke Goode	—	—	10	1	202	79	30	2	6	3	4	70	29	.414	56	19	.339	3	1	.333
Nick Smith Jr.	—	—	3	3	94	59	11	7	1	1	7	48	21	.438	23	10	.435	8	7	.875
Bronny James	—	—	6	6	185	57	21	27	4	3	23	59	21	.356	33	7	.212	7	5	.714
Jarron Cumberland	—	—	11	0	210	50	31	42	6	8	19	51	17	.333	26	9	.346	10	5	.500
Augustas Marčiulionis	—	—	9	0	145	49	18	30	6	1	13	46	19	.413	15	6	.400	7	3	.429
Adou Thiero	—	—	3	3	61	45	15	5	6	2	2	27	15	.556	6	1	.167	8	8	1.000
Arthur Kaluma	—	—	5	0	51	38	9	2	1	0	3	25	15	.600	9	5	.556	3	2	.667
Dalton Knecht	—	—	1	1	37	30	5	2	2	1	2	17	10	.588	10	6	.600	3	3	1.000
Christian Koloko	—	—	2	2	52	17	17	0	1	3	3	14	8	.571	6	1	.167	1	0	.000
Cheikh Mbacke Diong	—	—	1	0	16	4	8	0	2	0	0	4	2	.500	0	0	—	1	0	.000
Jace Carter	—	—	4	0	32	0	3	3	2	0	1	7	0	.000	6	0	.000	1	0	.000

Regular Season Totals

PLAYER	POS	AGE	GP	GS	MP	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
RJ Davis	—	—	36	31	1053	657	133	178	26	17	84	446	216	.484	205	94	.459	88	75	.852
Arthur Kaluma	—	—	35	0	923	512	174	57	33	18	50	332	181	.545	140	51	.364	71	60	.845
Kobe Bufkin	—	—	17	14	521	421	63	74	22	18	43	256	131	.512	117	49	.419	72	63	.875
Anton Watson	—	—	36	24	987	407	181	108	48	26	31	293	152	.519	124	42	.339	51	36	.706
Chris Mañon	—	—	33	26	833	340	185	73	67	20	37	246	126	.512	75	24	.320	53	37	.698
Drew Timme	—	—	13	13	373	308	111	64	10	13	39	208	117	.563	29	5	.172	53	42	.792
Nick Smith Jr.	—	—	15	7	432	296	53	84	12	5	32	227	116	.511	85	30	.353	33	21	.636
Tevian Jones	—	—	24	3	491	248	61	23	19	1	25	208	96	.462	99	33	.333	18	12	.667
Malik Williams	—	—	17	16	469	245	149	35	20	22	15	195	95	.487	103	38	.369	18	9	.500
Bronny James	—	—	14	13	374	218	43	52	18	7	29	149	84	.564	68	31	.456	14	11	.786
Augustas Marčiulionis	—	—	20	2	412	158	45	85	16	2	38	121	62	.512	38	18	.474	16	8	.500
Kylor Kelley	—	—	19	18	471	157	138	35	5	46	16	90	66	.733	0	0	—	26	15	.577
Luke Goode	—	—	31	3	525	155	80	28	16	12	14	150	56	.373	113	38	.336	7	3	.429
Adou Thiero	—	—	7	7	164	108	34	16	5	8	8	64	40	.625	14	9	.643	19	11	.579
Dalton Knecht	—	—	3	3	94	55	19	10	3	2	5	36	17	.472	13	3	.231	15	14	.933
Zach Hicks	—	—	15	0	190	42	26	9	13	3	10	39	15	.385	34	12	.353	0	0	—
Tyrese Hunter	—	—	10	0	79	35	7	11	4	1	4	24	11	.458	16	5	.313	7	6	.857
James Reese	—	—	2	0	36	10	5	8	2	0	4	8	2	.250	5	2	.400	2	2	1.000
Ethan Taylor	—	—	7	0	23	9	1	1	0	0	1	4	3	.750	4	3	.750	0	0	—
William Hickey	—	—	3	0	36	8	6	5	1	0	5	6	3	.500	0	0	—	2	1	.500
Jarron Cumberland	—	—	1	0	19	6	2	4	1	0	0	3	2	.667	3	2	.667	0	0	—
Keylan Boone	—	—	1	0	7	6	0	1	1	0	0	3	2	.667	2	2	1.000	0	0	—
Cheikh Mbacke Diong	—	—	3	0	12	0	4	0	1	2	2	0	0	—	0	0	—	0	0	—

Playoff Totals

PLAYER	POS	AGE	GP	GS	MP	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Drew Timme	—	—	3	3	106	65	21	15	1	2	12	38	24	.632	4	2	.500	13	10	.769
RJ Davis	—	—	3	3	77	43	5	12	1	1	6	31	14	.452	17	6	.353	6	6	1.000
Arthur Kaluma	—	—	3	0	97	39	14	4	2	0	2	33	17	.515	11	5	.455	0	0	—
Kobe Bufkin	—	—	2	2	62	38	8	8	1	1	7	29	13	.448	13	4	.308	5	4	.800
Dalton Knecht	—	—	2	0	49	32	19	5	1	1	12	22	11	.500	7	1	.143	7	6	.857
Nick Smith Jr.	—	—	2	0	66	29	5	10	3	1	1	24	12	.500	9	3	.333	2	1	.500
Malik Williams	—	—	3	3	55	23	15	1	5	2	2	20	9	.450	15	5	.333	0	0	—
Chris Mañon	—	—	3	3	63	17	18	3	2	2	1	12	5	.417	5	2	.400	5	3	.600
Anton Watson	—	—	3	1	58	16	9	9	2	0	2	15	6	.400	5	2	.400	1	1	1.000
Adou Thiero	—	—	2	0	35	14	7	3	0	1	1	9	4	.444	0	0	—	3	3	1.000
William Hickey	—	—	1	0	12	8	5	2	0	0	1	3	1	.333	0	0	—	5	3	.600
Luke Goode	—	—	1	0	33	7	3	1	2	0	0	6	2	.333	4	1	.250	1	1	1.000
Tevian Jones	—	—	1	0	8	0	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	.000	0	0	—	0	0	—

HeatingUp Impact Index: Tip-Off Tournament Team Impact Spotlight

PLAYER NAME	ROLE TIER	MPG	USAGE TIER	PPG	RPG	APG	STK	IMPACT INDEX	NOTES	AWARDS
Dalton Knecht	Primary Wing Scorer (1.1)	37.0	High (1.2)	30.0	5.0	2.0	2.0	97.68	A movement-oriented scoring wing who immediately became South Bay’s offensive focal point in his lone Tip-Off appearance. His 6-for-10 three-point shooting showed how quickly his perimeter gravity can stretch a defense, while the assignment itself was designed to give him meaningful game reps after a reduced NBA role. LakersNation: Dalton Knecht & Adou Thiero Assigned To South Bay Lakers	None
Drew Timme	Offensive Focal Point (1.1)	33.8	High (1.2)	24.3	7.5	4.6	1.1	86.86	Timme functioned as a scoring hub rather than a conventional interior finisher, using his touch and passing instincts to keep South Bay’s offense organized through the frontcourt. His Tip-Off run earned a Player of the Week award after a 3-0 opening stretch, and his expanded G League role helped turn him into a two-way NBA player. NetsDaily: Drew Timme’s development has been nothing short of remarkable for Long Island Nets	NBA G League Player of the Week (2025)
Kobe Bufkin	Lead Shot Creator (1.1)	31.7	High (1.2)	24.7	4.3	3.7	1.3	79.99	Bufkin played with the freedom of a lead guard, attacking gaps, creating his own pull-up opportunities and making enough reads to keep teammates involved. His South Bay stint became a springboard to multiple NBA call-ups, with his scoring bursts and downhill aggression making him one of the roster’s most prominent creators. Yahoo Sports: Kobe Bufkin, named after Kobe Bryant, drops 27 for South Bay Lakers	NBA G League All-Second Team (2025-26)
RJ Davis	Primary Guard Creator (1.1)	30.6	High (1.2)	18.8	3.9	4.8	1.7	64.42	Davis operated as a compact lead guard who could shift between scoring and table-setting without dominating every possession. His ability to generate offense from the perimeter became especially valuable when South Bay needed a secondary creator, and his later 30-point triple-double illustrated the broader playmaking ceiling behind this role. SI: NBA G League Announces 2025-26 All-Rookie, All-Defensive Teams	NBA G League All-Rookie Team (2025-26); NBA G League Next Up Game (2026)
Nick Smith Jr.	Combo Scoring Guard (1.05)	31.3	High (1.2)	19.7	3.7	2.3	0.6	60.48	Smith supplied a guard’s shot-creation package with enough three-point range to pull defenders away from the lane. The South Bay role gave him sustained on-ball responsibility, and his later NBA roster conversion reflected how the organization valued his ability to create offense while still developing his efficiency and defensive consistency. Yahoo Sports: Lakers’ 22-Year-Old Guard Officially Lands With New Team	None
Chris Mañon	Defensive Disruptor (1.05)	31.1	Medium (1.1)	14.8	6.8	2.9	3.9	58.91	Mañon’s identity was built around pressure rather than volume scoring: he could hound ball-handlers, jump passing lanes and create extra possessions while still supplying useful rebounding from the guard spot. His defensive activity translated directly into recognition, with a second-place finish in G League Defensive Player of the Year voting and an All-Defensive Team selection. SI: Lakers Make Defensive-Minded Guard Chris Manon a Restricted Free Agent	NBA G League All-Defensive Team (2025-26); Defensive Player of the Year Voting — 2nd (2025-26)
Adou Thiero	Two-Way Slashing Forward (1.05)	20.3	Medium (1.1)	15.0	5.0	1.7	2.7	52.44	Thiero brought downhill athleticism and defensive energy, attacking the rim instead of waiting for touches to develop. His G League opportunities were particularly useful because they let him play through possessions and showcase the high-motor wing defense that had been difficult to feature consistently in limited NBA minutes. LakersNation: Adou Thiero Shines In G League Debut For South Bay	None
Christian Koloko	Rim-Running Center (1.05)	26.0	Low (1.0)	8.5	8.5	0.0	2.0	39.90	Koloko’s value came from vertical spacing, length and rim protection rather than offensive creation. The G League gave him room to run the floor, finish around the basket and recover defensively, continuing the developmental path that had previously highlighted him as a lob threat and weakside shot blocker. LakersNation: 2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers Player Review: Christian Koloko	None
Tevian Jones	Scoring Wing Reserve (1.05)	23.6	Medium (1.1)	12.7	2.5	1.3	0.9	37.19	Jones provided size on the perimeter and was most useful when attacking as a scorer rather than functioning as a primary organizer. His 6-foot-6 frame allowed South Bay to use him as a bigger wing option, while his later CEBL opportunities reinforced the scoring-oriented profile he had developed through several G League seasons. CEBL: Brampton Sign CEBL Veteran Tevian Jones	None
Kylor Kelley	Rim-Protecting Centerpiece (1.05)	25.0	Low (1.0)	7.7	7.1	1.1	2.3	35.91	Kelley was a classic interior specialist, providing vertical size, rebounding and shot-blocking without needing plays called for him. His established G League reputation as a rim protector included an earlier All-Defensive Team selection and multiple NBA call-ups, making his defensive presence the clearest part of his lineup value. NBA G League: South Bay Lakers Center Kylor Kelley Earns NBA Call-Up With New Orleans Pelicans	None
Anton Watson	Starting Two-Way Forward (1.05)	26.8	Low (1.0)	10.4	4.2	2.5	2.0	34.86	Watson operated as a connective forward, comfortable moving between perimeter defense, secondary passing and interior work without demanding the offense. His ability to contribute across several categories made him a natural complementary piece alongside higher-usage creators such as Timme and Bufkin. SI: 4 Former Gonzaga Stars Currently Tearing It Up in the NBA G League	None
Bronny James	Developmental Two-Way Guard (1.0)	30.8	Medium (1.1)	9.5	3.5	4.5	1.2	31.24	James was being developed as a guard who could contribute without monopolizing the ball, with off-ball movement, point-of-attack defense and secondary playmaking central to the assignment. The South Bay environment gave him substantially more live-game responsibility and was explicitly part of the Lakers’ effort to build confidence around a small NBA role. Los Angeles Times: Lakers continue retooling of organization with plans for more hires	None
Cheikh Mbacke Diong	Interior Energy Reserve (1.0)	16.0	Low (1.0)	4.0	8.0	0.0	2.0	28.00	Diong was essentially an energy big: protect the paint, attack the glass and finish simple opportunities rather than stretch the offense. His limited sample makes the evaluation tentative, but his 6-foot-11 frame and prior reputation as a defensive-minded center fit that narrow interior role. NBA G League: South Bay Lakers Acquire Returning Player Rights to Center Cheikh Mbacke Diong	None
Luke Goode	Spot-Up Wing Reserve (1.0)	20.2	Low (1.0)	7.9	3.0	0.2	0.9	23.60	Goode’s natural fit was as a spacing wing, using his perimeter shooting threat to create room rather than serving as a primary ball-handler. The small Tip-Off sample makes the defensive and connective parts of his role harder to judge, so his value here is best viewed as a developing off-ball option. NBA G League: Luke Goode Player Profile	None
Arthur Kaluma	Frontcourt Scoring Reserve (1.0)	10.2	Low (1.0)	7.6	1.8	0.4	0.2	19.20	Kaluma worked as a compact frontcourt scorer, using his strength to attack closeouts and finish possessions without needing a large offensive workload. His later progression into a two-way contract was helped by the broader body of G League work, suggesting that his value extended beyond this brief scoring sample. LakersNation: Lakers Sign Arthur Kaluma To Two-Way Contract, Waive Peter Suder	None
Jarron Cumberland	Veteran Secondary Handler (1.0)	19.1	Low (1.0)	4.5	2.8	3.8	1.2	17.00	Cumberland’s role leaned toward steady secondary organization, using his experience to keep possessions moving and create chances for younger scorers. The 2025-26 South Bay stint came after a long G League career in which he had already accumulated more than 100 games, so his value was as much composure and decision-making as scoring. NBA G League: South Bay Lakers Acquire Guard Jarron Cumberland	None
Augustas Marčiulionis	Reserve Floor General (1.0)	16.1	Low (1.0)	5.4	2.0	3.3	0.8	16.40	Marčiulionis functioned primarily as a reserve organizer, looking to advance the ball and create for teammates rather than hunt shots. That pass-first identity followed him from St. Mary’s, where he finished his college career as a high-level assist producer and 2025 WCC Player of the Year. Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers Sign RJ Davis, Eric Dixon, Arthur Kaluma and Augustas Marčiulionis	None
Jace Carter	Deep-Rotation Wing (1.0)	8.0	Low (1.0)	0.0	0.8	0.8	0.5	2.60	Carter had too little offensive responsibility in this sample to project a meaningful creation role, functioning mainly as depth on the perimeter. With only four appearances and 8.0 minutes per game, the sensible read is a developmental rotation piece rather than a player entrusted with a defined offensive package. NBA G League: Jace Carter Player Profile	None

HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight

PLAYER NAME	ROLE TIER	MPG	USAGE TIER	PPG	RPG	APG	STK	IMPACT INDEX	NOTES	AWARDS
Drew Timme	Offensive Focal Point (1.1)	28.7	High (1.2)	23.7	8.5	4.9	1.8	102.70	Frontcourt hub with unusually strong passing instincts, Timme gave South Bay a half-court organizer who could score from the post while also finding cutters and shooters. He opened the season with a 30.0-point, 7.0-rebound, 4.7-assist stretch that earned G League Player of the Week honors, then finished the regular season as an All-G League Second Team selection. The Spokesman-Review: Drew Timme earns G League Player of the Week honors	G League Player of the Week (2025); NBA G League All-Second Team (2025-26)
Kobe Bufkin	Lead Shot Creator (1.1)	30.6	High (1.2)	24.8	3.7	4.4	2.4	93.19	Dynamic lead guard who consistently put pressure on the rim before flowing into pull-ups and kick-outs. Bufkin’s South Bay run became an NBA audition in its own right: he scored 41 points in one January win and ultimately earned a two-year Lakers contract after repeatedly producing as the team’s primary perimeter creator. Yahoo Sports: Lakers filling 15th roster spot, signing Kobe Bufkin	NBA G League All-Second Team (2025-26)
Nick Smith Jr.	Combo Scoring Guard (1.05)	28.8	High (1.2)	19.7	3.5	5.6	1.1	75.35	Smith operated as a scoring guard with real secondary point-guard responsibility, particularly when South Bay needed another player to initiate offense. His shooting gravity mattered because defenses had to respect him well beyond the arc, while the Lakers’ development program specifically used South Bay to expand his decision-making and on-ball responsibilities. ClutchPoints: Nick Smith Jr. looks like mini-JJ Redick after 3-point barrage	None
RJ Davis	Primary Guard Creator (1.1)	29.3	High (1.2)	18.3	3.7	4.9	1.2	74.18	Davis functioned as a compact offensive organizer, alternating between downhill scoring, pull-up shooting and pick-and-roll playmaking. His season included a 45-point explosion, a triple-double and a G League Player of the Week award, while his steady creation earned him All-Rookie recognition and a Next Up Game selection. Tar Heel Times: RJ Davis Named to 2025-26 All NBA G League Rookie Team	NBA G League All-Rookie Team (2025-26); NBA G League Next Up Game (2026); G League Player of the Week (2026)
Dalton Knecht	Movement Shooting Wing (1.05)	31.3	Medium (1.1)	18.3	6.3	3.3	1.7	68.38	Knecht’s assignment was built around giving a natural scorer more offensive freedom than he was receiving in Los Angeles. The move to South Bay came after inconsistent NBA defensive minutes had pushed him out of the rotation, making the G League a chance to rediscover his movement shooting and attacking instincts. LakersNation: Dalton Knecht & Adou Thiero Assigned To South Bay Lakers	None
Malik Williams	Stretch Interior Scorer (1.05)	27.6	Medium (1.1)	14.4	8.8	2.1	2.5	64.22	Williams gave South Bay a modern big-man option who could space the floor while still supplying real interior size. His arrival during the season materially strengthened the frontcourt, and he became an important piece of the playoff push after beginning the year with College Park and earning an NBA two-way opportunity before moving on. Yahoo Sports: How Malik Williams addition has helped South Bay Lakers surge	None
Adou Thiero	Two-Way Slashing Forward (1.05)	23.4	Medium (1.1)	15.4	4.9	2.3	1.8	56.36	Athletic slasher whose value came from attacking closeouts, finishing through contact and using his length defensively. South Bay was particularly useful for Thiero because the Lakers wanted him to develop his perimeter shooting while preserving the defensive versatility and explosive rim pressure that made him a second-round investment. The Sporting News: Lakers make roster decision with Adou Thiero development in focus	None
Bronny James	Developmental Two-Way Guard (1.0)	26.7	Medium (1.1)	15.6	3.1	3.7	1.8	53.24	James was used as a genuine development guard rather than simply a spot-up reserve, with South Bay giving him extended possessions to handle, defend and make reads. The Lakers repeatedly moved him between the NBA and G League, and the development program identified him alongside Thiero, Timme and Smith as part of its main young-player group. FOX 11 Los Angeles: Bronny James assigned to G League after All-Star break	None
Arthur Kaluma	Frontcourt Scoring Reserve (1.05)	26.4	Medium (1.1)	14.6	5.0	1.6	1.4	52.21	Kaluma served as a physical scoring forward who could attack mismatches without needing the offense built around him. His 2025-26 South Bay season became a springboard: he scored in double figures 29 times across regular-season and Tip-Off play and later earned a Lakers two-way contract after carrying that scoring confidence into Summer League. LakersNation: Arthur Kaluma earns Lakers two-way consideration	None
Chris Mañon	Defensive Point-of-Attack Specialist (1.05)	25.2	Medium (1.1)	10.3	5.6	2.2	2.6	47.82	Mañon was the pressure valve defensively, chasing guards over screens and creating possessions with anticipation rather than relying on size. His defensive activity was significant enough to earn All-Defensive Team honors and a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while South Bay finished with the Western Conference’s top regular-season record. Sports Illustrated: NBA G League Announces 2025-26 All-Rookie, All-Defensive Teams	NBA G League All-Defensive Team (2025-26); Defensive Player of the Year Voting — 2nd (2025-26)
Anton Watson	Glue Guy Forward (1.05)	27.4	Low (1.0)	11.3	5.0	3.0	2.0	44.73	Watson filled the connective-forward role: defend multiple positions, move the ball, make the extra pass and bring energy without demanding touches. He described himself as a glue player, and his South Bay development specifically centered on becoming more comfortable finding shots and creating open looks for teammates. The Spokesman-Review: Anton Watson keeps grinding in his quest to get back to NBA	None
Kylor Kelley	Rim-Protecting Centerpiece (1.05)	24.8	Low (1.0)	8.3	7.3	1.8	2.7	42.21	Kelley was the classic vertical interior specialist, anchoring possessions around rebounding and shot blocking while keeping the offensive menu simple. His G League career had already produced NBA call-ups with Dallas and New Orleans, and his return to South Bay continued that rim-protection pathway. ClutchPoints: Kylor Kelley’s G League journey to the NBA	None
Tevian Jones	Scoring Wing Reserve (1.0)	20.5	Low (1.0)	10.3	2.5	1.0	0.8	29.20	Jones operated as a bigger scoring wing, using his 6-foot-7 frame to attack selectively while spacing the floor and running the lanes. His 2025-26 South Bay season was his third G League campaign, and he helped the club reach the Western Conference Finals before moving into another CEBL opportunity. CEBL: Vancouver Bandits sign Tevian Jones	None
Augustas Marčiulionis	Reserve Floor General (1.0)	20.6	Low (1.0)	7.9	2.3	4.3	0.9	30.80	Marčiulionis was primarily a distributor, looking to organize the second unit and keep the ball moving rather than chase scoring volume. His South Bay role followed the pass-first profile developed at St. Mary’s, where he established himself as a high-level creator before entering the professional game. The NBA G League: Augustas Marčiulionis profile	None
Jarron Cumberland	Veteran Secondary Handler (1.0)	19.0	Low (1.0)	6.0	2.0	4.0	1.0	26.00	Cumberland brought veteran ball-handling and half-court organization to a young roster, making him more useful as a stabilizer than as a volume scorer. He entered the season with 103 prior G League games and a history of international experience, giving South Bay a seasoned secondary creator in its developmental environment. NBA G League: South Bay Lakers acquire Jarron Cumberland	None
James Reese	Instant-Offense Reserve (1.0)	18.0	Low (1.0)	5.0	2.5	4.0	1.0	25.00	Reese was a short-burst guard whose main utility was getting into the offense quickly and creating for others without requiring a long rhythm-building stretch. His South Bay arrival followed international stops in several countries and a Tip-Off appearance with Birmingham, so this was primarily a late-season opportunity to re-establish a G League role. South Bay Lakers: Acquire Keylan Boone and James Reese	None
Luke Goode	Floor-Spacer Wing (1.0)	16.9	Low (1.0)	5.0	2.6	0.9	0.9	18.80	Goode’s clearest function was perimeter spacing, with most of his offensive value coming from being ready beyond the arc and keeping driving lanes open. His South Bay stint also served as a developmental bridge after entering the Lakers organization as a young wing with a reputation for shooting. ClutchPoints: NBA Summer League 2026 rosters	None
Keylan Boone	Stretch Forward Reserve (1.0)	7.0	Low (1.0)	6.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	16.00	Boone’s role was necessarily narrow in this tiny sample, leaning toward perimeter spacing and mobile forward defense rather than creation. Before joining South Bay, he had developed as a versatile college forward and earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors at UNLV, providing some context for the broader skill set behind the reserve role. South Bay Lakers: Acquire Keylan Boone and James Reese	None
William Hickey	Veteran Playmaking Reserve (1.0)	12.0	Low (1.0)	2.7	2.0	1.7	0.3	13.40	Hickey arrived as a seasoned Australian guard rather than a conventional G League newcomer, bringing passing experience and championship pedigree to the backcourt. He had just posted career highs across the board for Illawarra and had been part of the Hawks’ 2025 NBL championship team before joining South Bay. NBL: Hawks star William Hickey signs G League deal with South Bay Lakers	NBL Champion (2025)
Zach Hicks	Stretch-Forward Specialist (1.0)	12.7	Low (1.0)	2.8	1.7	0.6	1.1	12.40	Hicks was used as a low-usage spacing forward, with his main offensive appeal coming from the threat of the three rather than self-created scoring. He entered the G League after a professional stint in Spain and a Penn State senior season in which he made 41.3% of his threes. South Bay Lakers: Acquire Zach Hicks	None
Tyrese Hunter	Backup Point Guard (1.0)	7.9	Low (1.0)	3.5	0.7	1.1	0.5	11.60	Hunter supplied quick guard minutes with an emphasis on ball pressure and simple creation, rather than carrying a major scoring load. South Bay acquired him late in the season after his college career included All-AAC First Team recognition at Memphis, where his role had been much larger. NBA G League: South Bay Lakers acquire Tyrese Hunter	All-AAC First Team (2024-25)
William Hickey	Veteran Playmaking Reserve (1.0)	12.0	Low (1.0)	2.7	2.0	1.7	0.3	13.40	Hickey’s brief South Bay run came after he had already established himself as a veteran NBL playmaker. His 2025-26 Illawarra season included career highs of 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists before he crossed over to the G League. Basketball.com.au: Showtime for Hickey in 2026 Summer League	NBL Champion (2025)
Ethan Taylor	Defensive Energy Guard (1.0)	3.3	Low (1.0)	1.3	0.1	0.1	0.0	3.00	Taylor’s limited South Bay sample was about finding a defensive foothold rather than creating offense. Before arriving, he had been a full-time starter at Air Force and earned 2025 All-Mountain West Third Team honors after a senior season built around two-way guard production. The NBA G League: Ethan Taylor joins South Bay after Air Force career	All-Mountain West Third Team (2025)
Cheikh Mbacke Diong	Interior Energy Reserve (1.0)	4.0	Low (1.0)	0.0	1.3	0.0	1.0	4.60	Diong was an interior depth option whose defensive instincts and length mattered more than offensive involvement. His professional profile was built around paint defense and rebounding, and he had previously earned Mountain West All-Defensive First Team honors at UNLV. Coupe de France: Cheikh Mbacke Diong profile	Mountain West All-Defensive First Team (2020-21)
Jace Carter	Deep-Rotation Wing (1.0)	0.0	Low (1.0)	0.0	0.8	0.8	0.5	4.20	Carter had an extremely limited offensive role, functioning mainly as developmental perimeter depth rather than a player entrusted with regular creation. With the sample this small, the meaningful takeaway is simply that his minutes were used to provide another athletic wing option without shifting the offense toward him.	None

HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoffs Team Impact Spotlight

PLAYER NAME	ROLE TIER	MPG	USAGE TIER	PPG	RPG	APG	STK	IMPACT INDEX	NOTES	AWARDS
Drew Timme	Primary Playmaking Big (1.1)	35.3	High (1.2)	21.7	7.0	5.0	1.0	91.61	As South Bay’s offensive hub, Timme blended interior scoring with unusual ball-handling freedom for a big, often initiating offense himself and creating from the elbows. He reached 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the semifinal before adding 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal and two blocks in the Western Conference Finals. Drew Timme closes G League finale	All-NBA G League Second Team (2026)
Kobe Bufkin	Primary Backcourt Creator (1.1)	31.0	High (1.2)	19.0	4.0	4.0	1.0	73.92	Bufkin gave South Bay another downhill creator and secondary point guard, with enough scoring responsibility to attack defenses while still finding teammates. His playoff run ended after two games because the Lakers recalled him before the Western Conference Finals, following an 18-point, four-rebound, three-assist semifinal performance. Kobe Bufkin recalled from South Bay	All-NBA G League Second Team (2026)
Dalton Knecht	Secondary Scoring Wing (1.05)	24.5	Medium (1.1)	16.0	9.5	2.5	1.0	66.99	Knecht functioned as a scoring wing with unusually strong rebounding responsibility during his brief playoff assignment. After a quiet opening round, he exploded for 24 points and 13 rebounds against Rio Grande Valley, scoring 13 in the second quarter as South Bay built its early cushion before being recalled by Los Angeles. Knecht shows renewed rhythm with South Bay	None
Nick Smith Jr.	Lead Shot-Creation Guard (1.05)	33.0	High (1.2)	14.5	2.5	5.0	2.0	60.48	Smith supplied South Bay with instant perimeter creation and was comfortable shifting between scorer and primary ball-handler. His 18-point, five-assist, two-steal playoff opener illustrated that dual role, while his heavy 33-minute workload shows how much offensive responsibility he carried when the roster was reshuffled for the postseason. Nick Smith Jr. navigates Lakers-G League shuffle	None
RJ Davis	Franchise G League Lead Guard (1.1)	25.7	High (1.2)	14.3	1.7	4.0	0.6	47.59	Davis became South Bay’s principal late-game creator by the conference final, repeatedly probing for his own shot while keeping the offense organized. He scored 28 points against Stockton, with 19 coming in the first half, and finished the three-game run as a steady four-assist playmaker despite battling foul trouble in the finale. Tar Heels in pros: Davis hits 28 in playoff loss	All-NBA G League Rookie Team (2026); G League Next Up Game (2026); G League Player of the Week (Jan. 26–Feb. 1, 2026)
Arthur Kaluma	Two-Way Slashing Forward (1.05)	32.3	Medium (1.1)	13.0	4.7	1.3	0.7	45.51	Kaluma operated as a physical wing-forward who could attack mismatches, space the floor and absorb difficult defensive assignments. He came off the bench during the playoff run but still supplied useful scoring punch, reaching double figures in the first two rounds and finishing the Western Conference Finals with 16 points as South Bay’s reserve forward. Arthur Kaluma carves pathway to the NBA	None
Malik Williams	Interior Enforcer (1.05)	18.3	Medium (1.1)	7.7	5.0	0.3	2.4	32.34	Williams gave South Bay a true interior presence, allowing Timme to operate more freely away from the five while Williams handled rebounding and physical work around the rim. His playoff debut showed the value of that role: 21 points, five rebounds, four steals and two blocks against San Diego in a high-possession game. How Malik Williams helped South Bay surge	None
William Hickey	Emergency Ball-Handler Reserve (1.0)	12.0	Low (1.0)	8.0	5.0	2.0	0.0	30.00	Hickey was used as a situational veteran guard after arriving from Illawarra, bringing experience as a secondary initiator rather than functioning as a featured scorer. His Australian season had already established him as a capable rebounder and passer, making the late-season addition useful when South Bay needed extra backcourt depth. Hawks star Will Hickey signs G League deal	None
Chris Mañon	Defensive Disruptor Guard (1.05)	21.0	Medium (1.1)	5.7	6.0	1.0	1.4	29.61	Mañon’s value came from defensive activity, rebounding outside his position and connective offense rather than volume scoring. He closed the run with 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal against Stockton, reinforcing the disruptive, high-motor role that defined his season. Chris Mañon grabs 11 boards in G League finale	All-NBA G League Defensive Team (2026); 2nd in G League Defensive Player of the Year voting (2026)
Adou Thiero	Transition Forward (1.0)	17.5	Low (1.0)	7.0	3.5	1.5	0.5	26.25	Thiero supplied athletic frontcourt energy in a short playoff stint, attacking space in transition and giving South Bay a physical option around the rim. His assignment ended after two games when Los Angeles recalled him, limiting his opportunity to settle into a larger postseason role. Lakers recall Knecht and Bufkin before NBA playoffs	None
Luke Goode	Spot-Up Wing Reserve (1.0)	33.0	Low (1.0)	7.0	3.0	1.0	2.0	26.00	Goode was a perimeter-oriented reserve whose value came primarily from floor spacing and activity away from the ball. His playoff opportunity was extremely brief, with South Bay using him as an emergency depth piece after he had entered the organization through a late-season tryout. Luke Goode joins South Bay’s late-season group	None
Anton Watson	Offensive Connector Forward (1.05)	19.3	Medium (1.1)	5.3	3.0	3.0	0.7	25.20	Watson filled a connector role, moving the ball, attacking gaps and providing frontcourt versatility instead of demanding possessions. His five assists in the conference final were particularly useful alongside Davis and Timme, while his ability to handle and defend multiple positions gave South Bay lineup flexibility. Anton Watson drives during G League playoff semifinal	None
Tevian Jones	Deep Reserve Wing (1.0)	8.0	Low (1.0)	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	4.00	Limited contemporary playoff coverage was available for Jones, whose postseason role was confined to a brief appearance. His broader 2025-26 season was built around wing scoring and spacing, but the playoff sample offered little opportunity to establish that offensive role. Tevian Jones joins Brampton after South Bay season	USA Basketball Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team (2026)