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NBA G League roundup: South Bay Lakers score season-high in drubbing

By Jason Reed

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Cole Swider (L) #20 and Thomas Bryant #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers are greeted by fans as they take the court for warmups before a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at T-Mobile Arena on October 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 114-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Cole Swider (L) #20 and Thomas Bryant #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers are greeted by fans as they take the court for warmups before a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at T-Mobile Arena on October 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 114-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers have graduated several legitimate role players from the South Bay Lakers in recent years. While the Lake Show has its flaws if there is one thing the organization is great at it is finding hidden gems and developing them into legitimate role players.

Because of that, the South Bay Lakers are absolutely worth monitoring. There very well could be the team’s next great role player playing in the G League right now. There are already several familiar faces that fans got to see either in the preseason or the Summer League.

South Bay played two games this past week, splitting them both against the Santa Cruz Warriors. Here are the highlights that you can be excited about.

Several South Bay Lakers shine in this week’s NBA G League roundup:

Friday, January 27:

South Bay dropped the first of two games against the Santa Cruz Warriors with a final score of 119-117. Familiar face Moses Moody played in this game for Santa Cruz, leading all scorers with 26 points.

The Lakers may have lost but they had two players score 20+ points of their own. Notable undrafted free agent Scotty Pippen led the way with 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists. Bryce Hamilton, who was also an undrafted free agent in 2022, dropped 20 points of his own.

Jay Huff cleaned up on the glass, reminding LA that he can contribute to the NBA club if they need a depth center. Huff finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Sunday, January 29: 

After losing a close game to Santa Cruz two days earlier, South Bay made sure that this game was not even close. The team exploded for 152 points, beating the Warriors by 34. It is the most points that South Bay has scored this season.

South Bay had eight players score in double figures with three players scoring 20 or more. Hamilton scored exactly 20 for the second game in a row to join Cole Swider and JaVante McCoy, who both scored 23.

Swider was the biggest standout of the Summer League and looked well on his way to etching out a role in the Lakers’ rotation. He looked like his Summer League self, knocking down four of seven threes in the game. The Syracuse grad is averaging 13.2 points a game while shooting 38.2% from three this season.

South Bay has three games this upcoming week against the Mexico City Capitanes, the G League Ignite and the Ontario Clippers. Top draft prospect Scoot Henderson is on the G League Ignite, so that is a must-watch game on Saturday, February 4.

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