The Los Angeles Lakers are dealing with a growing injury crisis at the worst possible time.
Both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, with their absences expected to stretch into the playoffs.
As a result, the Lakers’ postseason outlook has taken a significant hit. The ripple effect has also been felt at the G League level.
The South Bay Lakers, Los Angeles’ affiliate, saw their own playoff run come to an end after a depleted roster fell to the Stockton Kings in the Western Conference Finals on Sunday night.
Still, amid the disappointment, there was recognition for two standout performers.
Lakers Duo Earn All-NBA G League Honors
On Tuesday, Lakers guard Kobe Bufkin and two-way big man Drew Timme were named to the 2025-26 All-NBA G League Second Team.
Bufkin has been one of the most productive guards in the league this season. Across 24 games, he averaged 24.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and two stocks, while shooting an efficient 50.8% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range.
The 22-year-old scored in double figures in 23 games, including five 30-point performances and three outings of 40 or more, emerging as both a high-level scorer and an NBA-ready contributor.
His performances earned multiple opportunities at the next level. Bufkin signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in November before joining the Lakers on another 10-day deal in January.
Following the trade deadline, he secured a standard NBA contract with Los Angeles on February 9.
Timme was equally impactful. In 21 G League appearances, he averaged 23.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, shooting 54.6% from the field.
The 25-year-old recorded 17 games with at least 20 points and surpassed the 30-point mark three times, while also adding five double-doubles.
After his strong start, Timme earned a two-way contract with the Lakers and helped guide South Bay to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
NBA Call-Ups Leave South Bay Short-Handed
Injuries at the NBA level have forced the Lakers to lean heavily on their G League pipeline.
With Doncic, Reaves, and Marcus Smart all ruled out ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, the team recalled guards Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr., Dalton Knecht, and rookie forward Adou Thiero.
Each had played a key role in South Bay’s late-season surge, which included a franchise-record 12-game winning streak and a strong postseason push.
However, those call-ups left South Bay significantly short-handed for their conference finals matchup against Stockton.
Despite still having key contributors like Timme, Chris Manon, RJ Davis, and Arthur Kaluma available, South Bay fell 101-97, bringing their season to an abrupt end.
Davis led the short-handed Lakers affiliate with 28 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Timme added 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and two blocks.
Manon recorded a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Kaluma chipped in 16 points and four rebounds off the bench.
South Bay looked in control midway through the fourth quarter, holding a nine-point lead. However, Stockton responded with a decisive 21-8 run to close the game, punching their ticket back to the Finals after winning the championship last season.
Meanwhile, the impact of the call-ups at the NBA level was minimal. Thiero and Knecht did not see the floor against Dallas, while Bufkin and Smith combined for just five minutes of action.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lakers Duo Receive Major Announcements After G League Playoff Exit appeared first on Heavy Sports.