EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- In the 2024-25 season, the South Bay Lakers boasted a star-studded roster. In terms of names, the one heading the squad was of course Bronny James Jr., with other notable names on the roster including Quincy Olivari, Jordan Goodwin and Christian Koloko.
All four of these players saw significant playing time with both the South Bay Lakers, and had successful seasons, despite the 16-18 record and 9th place finish in the Western Conference.
Now in his second season at the helm, Coach Zach Guthrie and the Lakers have named the official 2025-26 roster, in hopes of seeing more success from this team than he did a year ago.
Koloko remains on the team under a two-way deal, as does rookie Chris Manon who signed with the Lakers after shining in the summer league, and 21-year-old Nick Smith JR who has already scored 25 points in the big leagues this season, after he was cut by the Hornets in September.
Outside of Manon, the Laker roster features five rookies. Among them include guard RJ Davis who scored over 2,700 in his storied career at the University of North Carolina, and Augustas Marčiulionis, son of Hall of Famer Sarunas Marčiulionis also at the guard spot.
The other three rookies include former Texas A&M guard and forward combo Jace Carter, the versatile former University of Indiana forward Luke Goode, and Arthur Kaluma, the 6’7 Ugandan who last played for the Texas Longhorns.
The ‘veterans’ of this Laker roster are two players entering their fourth years in the association, with guard Jarron Cumberland and towering 7’0 center Kylor Kelley.
Cumberland spent his first three years with the Delaware Blue Coats, where he averaged just under seven points. Kelley enters his fourth season with his fourth different team, looking to build himself a home in LA.
6’6 guard Tevian Jones was acquired by South Bay in a trade, and will bring many things to the squad, including his 40% shooting ability from beyond the arc last season on 6 attempts per.
Rounding out the squad are a pair of former Gonzaga Bulldogs, in former second round pick Anton Watson and perhaps the biggest name on this years squad, Drew Timme, the former 3x consensus All-American in college.
In the South Bay Lakers’ pair of games on opening weekend, the team looked great, outscoring the Valley Suns 267-218, led by Timme averaging 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Though it is early, Coach Guthrie seems to have done an excellent job selecting this roster, seemingly full of playmakers with bright futures.