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Lakers’ Nick Smith. Jr during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in November 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in the thick of a tightly contested Western Conference race, with postseason seeding hanging in the balance.
At 47-26, Los Angeles has surged at the right time, winning 10 of its last 11 games to climb into sole possession of the No. 3 seed.
They currently sit 1.5 games ahead of the Denver Nuggets in fourth, with little margin for error as the regular season enters its final stretch.
That momentum is not limited to the NBA level either. Down in the G League, the South Bay Lakers are putting together an equally impressive run of form.
Lakers G League Affiliate Continues Dominant Run
South Bay recently rattled off a franchise-record 12-game winning streak and now sits atop the Western Conference standings.
With a 25-10 record, they hold a narrow one-game lead over the Mexico City Capitanes as the race for the top seed intensifies.
A deep and talented roster has driven that success, with Lakers two-way players Nick Smith Jr., Drew Timme, and Chris Manon all playing key roles, alongside NBA assignees Adou Thiero and Bronny James.
Among them, Smith has emerged as one of the most intriguing and consistent performers.
The young guard has repeatedly delivered instant offense when called upon, both with South Bay and the Lakers, flashing the ability to impact games with flair.
He continued that trend on Thursday night in a dominant 137-114 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Coming off the bench, Smith exploded for a season-high 34 points in just 26 minutes, shooting 13-of-20 from the field and knocking down six three-pointers.
He also added five assists and two steals, finishing with a plus-17 rating in an all-around standout display.
Through 17 G League appearances this season, Smith is averaging 20.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, while shooting an efficient 50.8% from the field and 39.0% from beyond the arc.
Strong Supporting Cast Highlights South Bay Depth
Smith was not alone in making an impact.
Timme delivered another well-rounded performance, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block on 8-of-14 shooting.
James had a quieter night statistically with nine points, three rebounds, and five assists, but still produced a highlight-reel dunk that drew attention on social media.
The game also featured NBA assignments for Lakers guards Dalton Knecht and Kobe Bufkin, who experienced contrasting outings.
Knecht impressed with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, adding four rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block in 27 minutes, despite going just 1-of-5 from three-point range.
Bufkin, meanwhile, was limited to nine minutes off the bench, finishing with five points on 1-of-4 shooting in an uncharacteristically quiet performance at the G League level.
Still, the night ultimately belonged to Smith, whose continued dominance suggests he may be outgrowing the level.
With unrestricted free agency looming in the 2026 offseason, a rare situation for a current two-way player, his long-term future is becoming an increasingly intriguing storyline.
Whether that opportunity comes with the Lakers or elsewhere, Smith is making a strong case for a full-time NBA role.
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
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