Report: South Bay Lakers head coach Coby Karl won’t return next season

The Los Angeles Lakers have undergone shakeups with the coaching staff this offseason, and it appears the South Bay Lakers are following suit.

The G League was also cut short last season when the coronavirus pandemic hit, and though there was a small bubble for a limited number of teams to participate in, the Lakers weren’t involved.

The NBA is planning to bring back the G League in its usual format next season, which means teams will have to prepare full rosters and a coaching staff for the new campaign.

For South Bay, the team is expecting turnover, starting with Coby Karl, according to Harrison Faigen of SB Nation:

Karl, son of prominent NBA coach George Karl, has coached the Lakers’ G League team since 2016.

In the 2019-20 season, the Lakers posted a 19-25 record, fourth in the Pacific Division, before the pandemic cancelled the season.

South Bay also finished last in the Pacific Division in 2018-19, but in the season prior, the Lakers went to the conference finals before losing.

Karl was also involved in helping multiple players receive call-ups with the L.A. Lakers, including guard Alex Caruso.

Now, Nick Mazzella, general manager of South Bay since 2014-15, and the Lakers need to find a replacement.