The Los Angeles Lakers are promoting South Bay coach Zach Guthrie to the position of Lakers assistant coach and director of player development on JJ Redick’s staff.
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to add to JJ Redick’s coaching staff ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Lakers are promoting South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie to assistant coach, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He will also lead the player development organization.
Guthrie was promoted after leading the Lakers’ G League affiliate to a league-best 26-10 regular season record and first place in the Western Conference last season. South Bay also reached the Western Conference finals.
The team enjoyed a franchise-record 12-game winning streak during the campaign, and Guthrie was named NBA G League Coach of the Month for March after leading the South Bay to a 10–2 record.
Guthrie has extensive NBA experience
Guthrie was named head coach of the South Bay in September 2024 after serving several years on NBA coaching staffs.
He began his basketball career with the Austin Toros and later worked for the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant video coordinator. Guthrie later served as an advanced scout for the Orlando Magic.
He joined Quin Snyder’s Utah Jazz in 2016 and later served as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards before moving to the Lakers’ G League organization.
His promotion will strengthen the bond between the Lakers and their development program, while also adding an experienced coach to Redick’s staff.
The Lakers have updated their roster around Luka Doncic
Credit AP – Scanpix
Guthrie’s promotion comes amid major offseason changes in Los Angeles as the Lakers reshape their roster around Luka Doncic following the departure of LeBron James.
The Lakers’ biggest move was acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz via trade. Los Angeles signed the defensive center to a four-year, $130 million deal, eyeing him as a long-term frontcourt partner for Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Los Angeles also signed Reaves to a four-year, $180 million contract that includes a player option through the 2029-30 season, keeping their established backcourt partnership with Doncic intact.
The Lakers then made three significant free agent acquisitions, signing Quentin Grimes to a four-year contract worth $60 million, Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four-year contract worth $52 million, and Collin Sexton to a two-year contract worth approximately $19 million.
Los Angeles continued to add depth by signing three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney to a one-year deal worth $3.9 million. The veteran center is expected to serve as Kessler’s backup while providing rebounding, tackling and postseason experience.
The Lakers also signed Ziaire Williams to a one-year, $3 million contract after the former lottery pick averaged 10.2 points for the Brooklyn Nets last season.
Another addition came on the trade market as Los Angeles sent Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for young guard Jaden Hardy and second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032.
With Kessler, Grimes, Mamukelashvili, Sexton, Looney, Williams and Hardy joining the roster and Reeves on a new long-term deal, the Lakers have surrounded Doncic with more punch, defensive versatility, youth and frontcourt depth heading into the 2026-27 season.
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