Lakers Make Major Decision on Emerging Duo’s Immediate Future

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to make headlines at the NBA level, riding an eight-game winning streak at a crucial point in the season.

Now sitting at 45-25, Los Angeles has climbed to third in a tightly packed Western Conference and holds a 2.5-game cushion over the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves in fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

That success has also translated to the G League, where the Lakers’ affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, recently put together a franchise-record 12-game winning streak.

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Lakers Assign Key Duo to South Bay Amid Playoff Push

South Bay saw that record streak come to an end with a 133-126 loss to the Rip City Remix on Tuesday.

However, the team responded quickly, returning to winning ways with a 111-98 victory over the Grand Rapids Gold on Friday night.

With the Mexico City Capitanes suffering a loss, South Bay has now moved into first place in the Western Conference with a 23-9 record as the season enters its final stretch.

With games coming in quick succession, including the second night of a back-to-back against Grand Rapids on Saturday, the Lakers made roster moves to reinforce their G League squad.

Ahead of the matchup, Los Angeles have assigned guard Kobe Bufkin and rookie Adou Thiero to South Bay.

Both players are expected to feature in Saturday’s contest as South Bay looks to strengthen its grip on the top seed and solidify its postseason positioning.

Bufkin was a regular presence for South Bay earlier in the season before earning a 10-day contract with the Lakers in January.

At the time, he was averaging a league-leading 25.2 points per game while on a non-guaranteed G League contract, leaving him free to sign with any NBA team without compensation.

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Kobe Bufkin and Adou Thiero Continue Development in South Bay

Following the expiration of his 10-day deal, Bufkin returned to South Bay but was later rewarded with a two-year NBA contract after the trade deadline.

The former first-round pick filled the Lakers’ final roster spot despite speculation linking the team to several high-profile buyout candidates.

Through 22 G League games this season, Bufkin is averaging 26.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting an efficient 51.8% from the field and an impressive 42.9% from three-point range.

Since signing his NBA deal, the 6-foot-4 guard has appeared just once for South Bay, recording 16 points in a win over the Iowa Wolves on March 13.

Thiero, meanwhile, has been a consistent presence for South Bay in recent months, continuing to show flashes of the two-way potential that led to the Lakers selecting him in the second-round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Injuries have slowed his ability to build sustained momentum, with offseason knee surgery sidelining him early in the campaign and an MCL sprain keeping him out throughout January.

The Lakers have taken a cautious approach with the rookie’s development, but his recent performances have been encouraging.

Through nine G League appearances this season, the 21-year-old is averaging 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting an efficient 62.5% from the field.

He has also connected on nine of his 18 three-point attempts, good for an impressive 50% from beyond the arc.

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