Lakers announce new G League relocation, name change from South Bay

As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for a pivotal Game 6 against the Houston Rockets on Friday night, the organization announced a significant off-court move involving its NBA G League affiliate.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the Lakers confirmed they will relocate their G League team from South Bay to the Greater Palm Springs region and rebrand the franchise as the Coachella Valley Lakers. The move will take effect beginning with the 2026-27 G League season, with the team set to play its home games at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.

“The Los Angeles Lakers are relocating their NBA G League team to the Greater Palm Springs region in California, where it will be renamed the Coachella Valley Lakers. Beginning with the 2026-27 NBA G League season, the Coachella Valley Lakers will play their home games at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert.”

Oak View Group Senior Partner Irving Azoff highlighted his longstanding ties with the organization while welcoming the team to its new venue.

“I have enjoyed a long-time relationship with Jerry and Jeanie Buss, Lon Rosen and Linda Rambis,” Azoff said. “And I am beyond thrilled to have the Coachella Valley Lakers call OVG’s Acrisure Arena their home. Go Lakers.”

Lakers President of Business Operations Lon Rosen described the relocation as an opportunity to strengthen the franchise’s regional footprint.

“Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization,” Rosen said. “The Lakers have had a strong presence in the region for decades, from the Showtime Lakers holding training camp in the 1980s to more recent preseason games. We are looking forward to extending that experience and becoming a staple for Coachella Valley sports and entertainment.”

Coachella Valley Lakers era begins as franchise builds on strong development history

Season ticket deposits for the new franchise opened to the public immediately, with packages starting at $100 per account and remaining fully refundable at the time of seat selection.

The Lakers’ G League affiliate has played a key role in player development, producing multiple NBA contributors over the past two decades, including current Lakers guard Austin Reaves. The team has recorded 60 NBA call-ups across 38 players and posted a 26-10 record during the 2025-26 season, securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Originally established as the Los Angeles D-Fenders in 2006, the franchise played at STAPLES Center before relocating to El Segundo. It was rebranded as the South Bay Lakers in 2017 and has since operated out of the UCLA Health Training Center.

The Lakers were the first NBA franchise to own and operate their G League affiliate, a model that has since become standard across the league.

While the organization focuses on closing out its playoff series against Houston, the relocation signals a long-term investment in both player development and expanding the Lakers’ presence in Southern California.

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