Lakers Quietly Add ‘Star’ Guard to Boost Developmental Pipeline

The Los Angeles Lakers are surging at the right time, extending their winning streak to eight games with a 134-126 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Luka Doncic led the way with 60 points, tying the second-highest scoring output of his career, while LeBron James added a 19-point, 15-rebound and 10-assist triple-double.

The win lifted the Lakers to 45-25 on the season, firmly placing them in the third seed in the Western Conference.

Away from the NBA spotlight, however, the organization quietly made a move that could strengthen its long-term development system.

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Lakers Add International Guard to South Bay Roster

On Thursday, the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, announced the signing of William Hickey from the NBA G League Player Pool.

Hickey arrives following a stint in Australia’s National Basketball League, where he averaged 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 138 career games over six seasons.

The 27-year-old most recently played for the Illawarra Hawks, LaMelo Ball’s former team, where he delivered 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help secure the 2025 NBL Championship.

He has also represented the Australian national team across 2024 and 2025, averaging 9.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 21.1 minutes per game over 10 appearances.

The signing comes during a period of transition for the Lakers’ G League roster.

In February, the team confirmed that center Kylor Kelley had left via buyout to pursue an opportunity in the Philippines, while earlier this month guard Augustas Marciulionis also departed via buyout to return to Lithuania.

South Bay addressed its frontcourt by acquiring Malik Williams in a midseason trade to replace Kelley, but initially opted not to add another guard following Marciulionis’ departure due to existing depth at the position.

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South Bay Reinforce Crowded Backcourt With Hickey Addition

Lakers two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. continues to anchor the South Bay backcourt, while RJ Davis has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable contributors throughout the season.

With Chris Manon and Bronny James making periodic appearances, and additional depth options including Tevian Jones, Tyrese Hunter and Ethan Taylor, South Bay already had strong guard depth even after Marciulionis’ exit.

The addition of Hickey, however, provides another experienced option and could prove to be more than a short-term solution.

According to Fox Sports AU, the Australian guard is expected to spend the offseason with the Lakers, though he remains under contract with Illawarra through the 2026-27 season.

Hickey went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft but most recently featured for the Chicago Bulls during the 2025 Summer League, where he averaged 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.6 minutes across three games.

South Bay recently saw its franchise-record 12-game winning streak come to an end in a 133-126 loss to the Rip City Remix on Tuesday.

Despite the setback, the Lakers’ affiliate remains second in the Western Conference with a 22-9 record, level with the Mexico City Capitanes at the top.

With strong form and continued roster additions, South Bay appears well positioned to push for a deep G League playoff run.

Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans