Lakers' G League coach is now an assistant under JJ Redick

Over the last couple of years since they hired coach JJ Redick, the Los Angeles Lakers have emphasized the development of young players more than they previously did. They have brought in personnel to handle that part of their program, and they have looked to streamline how they function along with their G League affiliate.

Zach Guthrie became their G League head coach in 2024, and this past season, he took the team to the Western Conference finals. This coming season, Guthrie will now be an assistant coach under Redick for the big-league club, as well as the head of player development, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

"The Los Angeles Lakers are promoting South Bay coach Zach Guthrie to a Lakers assistant coach and head of player development on JJ Redick's staff, sources tell ESPN," Charania wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Guthrie guided South Bay to the G League's best record last season."

Over the last two years, the Lakers organization has found gems in the G League, such as Jordan Goodwin and Arthur Kaluma. Kaluma has been doing well this month during summer league play, and Goodwin is now a key member of the Phoenix Suns' rotation.

With the collective bargaining agreement featuring a hard salary cap that gets triggered in certain situations, having rotation players on cost-controlled contracts is more integral to team success than ever before. Therefore, finding gems in the G League is becoming more of a necessity, and the Lakers are set up pretty well to do just that.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers' G League coach is now an assistant under JJ Redick