Shams Charania of ESPN dropped the news Friday morning: Zach Guthrie is officially an assistant coach under JJ Redick and the new head of player development for the Los Angeles Lakers. This isn’t just a simple promotion; it’s a massive signal from the Lakers that they are dead serious about building from within, especially with their squad reportedly getting way younger this season.
Guthrie’s G League Dominance Proved He Was Ready
Guthrie earned this shot, no doubt about it. He spent two seasons as the head coach for the South Bay Lakers in the G League, and let me tell you, the man delivered results. Last season, he guided South Bay to the G League’s best record at a phenomenal 26-10, even pushing them all the way to the Western Conference Finals. That’s serious winning. But it’s not just wins. Guthrie has been a certified player development wizard. We’re talking about guys like Bronny James, Adou Thiero, and Chris Mañon, who all honed their skills under his watch. Plus, players like Kobe Bufkin, Drew Timme, and Jordan Goodwin played their way right into NBA contracts after putting in time in the G League. When you’re looking to get younger, having a guy like that at the helm of player development just makes perfect sense, and it’s a well-deserved reward for the work he’s put in.
More Coaches, More Development, More Questions
This reshuffle is going to be interesting, especially with Ty Abbott already in the mix. Abbott was previously named director of player development, even though his title last season didn’t quite reflect that. He’s currently coaching the Lakers’ Summer League team, and they’ve been playing some impressive ball, so it’s pretty clear he’s not going anywhere. Maybe he sticks around as an assistant coach with a player development focus right alongside Guthrie. Mark Walter and the Lakers clearly aren’t afraid to flex some financial muscle when it comes to coaching staffs, and honestly, having multiple development coaches isn’t a bad thing at all. More eyes on more talent can only help. The big question now is who takes over the G League squad, now called the Coachella Valley Lakers. Lindsey Harding, an assistant on Redick’s staff, has G League head coach experience and could be an option.
It’s going to be wild to see how this coaching staff shakes out and how all this internal development pays off for a much younger Lakers squad. This focus on youth is a bold move, and everyone will be watching to see if it brings home the wins.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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