EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — When RJ Davis grabbed his 10th rebound with less than a minute left in the game Thursday night, the moment felt inevitable.
The South Bay Lakers had put the Salt Lake City Stars on their knees and led for most of the night, but Davis’ final rebound — the final piece of his first career triple-double — was the punctuation mark of a performance that led to a 125-118 win.
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30 minutes. 10 assists. 10 rebounds. 11 of 22 from the field. 34 minutes of nonstop stress.
For Davis, the undrafted guard out of North Carolina, it’s more than just a statistic. This is verification.
“This is my first triple-double in my basketball career,” Davis said with a smile after the game. “Actually, I think I got one in high school — high school doesn’t count.”
On this stage, it is.
From the start, Salt Lake struggled with Davis’ downhill offense. He can get anywhere he wants — into the paint, into the teeth of the defense, or kicking the ball to an open teammate when his star collapses.
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That balance has become a defining characteristic of Davis’ game. When the defense keeps him honest, he can score. He facilitates while they load. On Thursday night, the stars tried everything, but nothing worked.
Davis scored 30 points for the second time this season and hit four 3-pointers, including the biggest of the night. After the Stars cut the Lakers’ 22-point lead to just three late in the fourth quarter, Davis calmly sank his fourth 3-pointer of the game — 4-for-7 — to put the game back out of reach.
That’s an exclamation point.
Although Davis ultimately wrote the title, the opening chapters belong to Anton Watson.
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The South Bay forward dominated the first half, scoring 18 points in just 18 minutes. Fourteen of those goals came in the second quarter alone, punctuated by back-to-back three-pointers. Watson went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc in the half and continued to punish mismatches in the paint.
Watson took his performance to another level Thursday with 14 points and seven rebounds against College Park. Salt Lake City didn’t have an answer for him early on, and his surge allowed Davis to adjust to the flow of the game rather than force the offense.
South Bay also made meaningful contributions throughout the lineup. Kobe Bufkin followed up his stellar performance on Tuesday with another big night, finishing with 25 points, four rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes. Kyler Kelly provided solid performance in the midfield and every Lakers starter scored in double figures again.
Just as important: South Bay runs the ball. Eight turnovers all night. The Stars were forced into the 16th. That discipline allowed the Lakers to withstand Salt Lake City’s late offense and end the game on their own terms.
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Still, the night belonged to Davis — not just because of the triple-double, but because of what it represented.
North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament at Feather Forum.
Jeff Harnisch – Image
North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament at Feather Forum.
After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Davis joined the Lakers’ Summer League roster, earning appearances in training camp, playing time in the preseason and steadily establishing his role in the South Bay. Doubt, waiting, the need to prove yourself again—this is familiar territory.
“My experience from high school to college and up until now has always been to be doubted, overlooked, and undershot,” Davis said. “This is nothing new to me.”
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His love for the game goes back even further.
“My favorite player growing up was Derrick Rose,” Davis said. “His intensity, his mentality — that’s when I started emulating my game a lot.”
This intensity is evident. So is hunger.
When asked about his goals for the season, Davis didn’t mince words.
“My main goal is to kill people,” he told The Sports Tribune.
In 13 games, Davis averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists – numbers that only hint at his impact. Nights like Thursday make it even clearer: He belongs on this team, and sooner or later someone at the NBA level will take notice.
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For now, the South Bay is reaping the benefits.
The Lakers improved to 8-6 and will have a rematch with the Stars (6-10) on Saturday night. If Salt Lake City hasn’t figured out how to slow down RJ Davis by then, it could be another long night — and another step forward in a journey that’s just begun.