The Los Angeles Lakers are packing up their G League squad and heading for the desert. On Thursday, the organization announced that their developmental affiliate will relocate to the Coachella Valley, rebranding as the Coachella Valley Lakers and tipping off at Acrisure Arena for the 2026-27 season. It's a fresh chapter for a franchise that has been nurturing NBA talent for nearly two decades.
This move shifts the team from South Bay to the Greater Palm Springs region, a vibrant and fast-growing sports market in Southern California. The Lakers have deep roots in the desert—think back to the Showtime era, when the squad held training camps there in the 1980s, or the more recent preseason games that kept the connection alive. Now, that bond becomes permanent.
The Coachella Valley Lakers will make their debut in November 2026 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert. This state-of-the-art venue, which opened its doors in 2022, already hosts the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds. It's a natural home for a team looking to make a splash in a community hungry for live sports.
"Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization," said Lon Rosen, the Lakers' president of business operations. "The Lakers have had a strong presence in the region for decades... We are looking forward to extending that experience and becoming a staple for Coachella Valley sports and entertainment."
The developmental pipeline remains a top priority. Over the past two decades, the team has produced 60 NBA call-ups across 38 players, including current Lakers guard Austin Reaves. That track record isn't going anywhere—the Coachella Valley Lakers will continue to serve as a direct feeder to the parent club, honing the next wave of talent under the Lakers' banner.
The franchise began its journey as the Los Angeles D-Fenders in 2006, playing at Staples Center before moving to the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. It was rebranded as the South Bay Lakers in 2017 and became one of the first G League teams directly owned and operated by an NBA franchise. Now, with this relocation, the team is writing its next chapter in the desert.
Team officials see this as a win-win: the Coachella Valley gains a professional sports anchor, while the Lakers expand their brand footprint beyond Los Angeles. Oak View Group senior partner Irving Azoff, whose company operates Acrisure Arena, summed it up best: "I am beyond thrilled to welcome the Lakers to the Coachella Valley." For fans of the game—and of Lakers gear—this move brings the purple and gold even closer to home.