The Los Angeles Lakers are locked in on one thing right now: closing out the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After dropping Game 5 at home on Wednesday to allow Houston to cut the series deficit to 3-2, the Lakers head back to Toyota Center for a pivotal Game 6 on Friday.
A team that once looked on the verge of a sweep now finds itself on the brink of a collapse, without Luka Doncic, against a Rockets team that has won two straight and regained all the momentum.
Amid the playoff run, the Lakers organization made a notable announcement.
Candice Ward-Imagn Images
On Thursday, the franchise revealed via an official press release that the South Bay Lakers, the franchise’s NBA G League affiliate, are being rebranded as the Coachella Valley Lakers.
“Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization,” said Los Angeles Lakers President President of Business Operations Lon Rosen.
It marks the end of a name that has been synonymous with Lakers player development since 2017. Notable alumni who came through the program include Alex Caruso, Gary Payton II, Josh Hart and Andre Ingram, who famously earned an NBA call-up at age 32 and scored 19 points in his Lakers debut.
This past season, the South Bay was one of the G League’s best teams. They finished 26-10, tied for the best record in the entire league, and claimed the top seed in the Western Conference. Lakers guard Bronny James played a central role in that run, averaging 15.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 14 games.
Before changing its name to South Bay, the Lakers’ affiliate debuted in 2006 as the Los Angeles D-Fenders, and was the first G League team fully owned and operated by an NBA franchise.
