The Los Angeles Lakers have proved it’s never too early for a G League call-up. The team has added Coachella Valley Lakers head coach Zach Guthrie as an assistant to JJ Redick, while also naming him the head of player development.
Lakers Make Crucial Investment With Promotion of G League Coach
The move comes months after Guthrie guided the then South Bay Lakers to the Western Conference Finals on the heels of a league-best 26-10 season. He assumed the role in 2024 after stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz. 2025-26 also marked South Bay’s first conference finals appearance since 2018, thanks in part to the Lakers’ two-way players—Drew Timme, Chris Mañon and Nick Smith Jr. Guthrie has also mentored current Lakers throughout their various G League assignments while helping other promising players earn their shots in the NBA.
In a February interview with ClutchPoints, Guthrie opened up about the synergy between South Bay and LA:
“We’re in lock step in terms of understanding what JJ, Rob [Pelinka], the front office, what everyone wants out of South Bay. . .our communication is excellent. We have clear standards of what we want and what we want to accomplish, and having the same communication systems. We might not necessarily run every play the same. We don’t have a LeBron James, we don’t have a Luka Doncic or an Austin Reaves. So we run things slightly different. But the language is the same.”
For a franchise that’s leaned heavily on its G League affiliate over the years, adding the lead architect behind its recent success is an excellent sign for the future.
Addition of Zach Guthrie Comes Amid Summer League Success
The Lakers’ hiring of Guthrie also comes at a perfect time, as the LA’s Summer League squad carries a 4-0 showing into the semifinals. Some of Guthrie’s former players—Mañon, Adou Thiero and Arthur Kaluma—have turned heads in the last week.
Thiero has averaged 14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals in Vegas, mixing his elite athleticism and energy with impressive ball-handling and defense. The 36th pick of last year’s draft, he’s shown more discipline and control heading into year two, showing off his strength and smarts in half-court actions while always being counted on to finish fast-breaks. That sort of growth will be vital to Thiero’s development as he eyes a true rotation spot with LA’s wing depth in flux.
Mañon has proven himself as a solid defender and rebounder while continuing to grow his offensive game. Throughout Summer League, the 24-year-old has averaged 11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.7% from the field and 33.3% from deep. Named to the G League’s All-Defensive Team and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, the Lakers have continued to invest in the young guard, re-signing him to a two-way deal on July 3.
But perhaps the biggest surprise from the Lakers is the play of forward Arthur Kaluma, one of South Bay’s standouts who’s made the most of his new opportunity. The 24-year-old has led the purple and gold in scoring with 20.3 points per game on astounding efficiency—63.9% from the field, 54.5% from deep and 86.7% from the free-throw line. He’s also tallied 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in the process.
Kaluma introduced himself to Lakers Nation with a 34-point outburst last Saturday, nailing six 3-pointers en route to an 11-of-16 showing from the field. Since then—and after other productive performances off the bench—fans have called for Kaluma to earn a two-way contract, likely replacing one of LA’s undrafted rookies in AK Okereke or Peter Suder. With Kaluma beginning to break out and his former coach now joining the main staff, his future will be one to watch as LA’s summer stint goes on.
The Last Word
Guthrie is joining the Lakers’ coaching staff at the beginning of an exciting era, as the team has surrounded Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with young and athletic two-way players. Adding a familiar face to the sidelines will only strengthen LA’s depth, furthering their commitment to developing younger talent into standout rotational contributors.
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