People love a good jersey swap. If you’ve spent any time on sports Twitter or TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen the edits of North Carolina star RJ Davis rocking the purple and gold. It looks right. The scoring gravity, the confidence, the way he carries himself—it feels like a "Laker" brand of basketball. But honestly, the distance between a viral Photoshop edit and a guaranteed roster spot in the NBA is massive.
The buzz around the RJ Davis Lakers connection isn't just coming out of thin air, though.
It’s born from a specific need. Los Angeles is always hunting for elite shot-making, and Davis is arguably the best pure bucket-getter in college basketball right now. After returning to Chapel Hill for a fifth season, he’s solidified himself as a Tar Heel legend. But for the Lakers, a team currently balancing the "win-now" timeline of LeBron James with a desperate need for young, cheap talent, Davis represents a very specific type of gamble.
Is he a lottery pick? No. Most scouts have him in that murky second-round or undrafted free agent (UDFA) territory. But that is exactly where the Lakers have done some of their best work in recent years. Think Austin Reaves. Think Alex Caruso.
Why the Lakers are watching the ACC Player of the Year
The Lakers' backcourt situation is... complicated. D'Angelo Russell’s future always feels like it’s written in disappearing ink, and Gabe Vincent has struggled to stay on the floor consistently. Rob Pelinka needs guards who can navigate screens and hit triples at a high clip without demanding a $30 million salary.
Davis fits the statistical profile perfectly.
Last season, he averaged 21.2 points per game. He didn't just score; he carried. He’s a guy who can pull up from the logo or weave through a crowded paint. In the NBA, especially playing next to a gravity-well like Anthony Davis, that kind of spacing is oxygen.
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The knock? It’s the size. Always the size.
Standing at 6'0" (and that might be generous depending on which tape you're watching), Davis doesn't fit the "big wing" archetype that JJ Redick and the coaching staff seem to value. But you can't teach the "clutch gene." You can't teach the ability to hunt a shot when the shot clock is at two seconds and the season is on the line.
The LeBron James Factor and the 2025 Draft
Let’s be real for a second. Every personnel move the Lakers make is viewed through the lens of LeBron.
If the Lakers hold a late pick or look to move into the early second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, they aren't looking for a project. They want someone who has played in big games. Davis has played in a National Championship game. He’s played in the toughest environments in the ACC. He’s 23 years old. In NBA draft terms, that’s "old," but for a contender, that’s "ready."
The RJ Davis Lakers narrative also picks up steam because of the agency world and the general gravity of the UNC-to-Lakers pipeline. From James Worthy to Rick Fox to Danny Green, there is a long history of Tar Heels finding success in Hollywood.
There's a specific nuance here that casual fans often miss. The NBA has moved toward "positionless" basketball, but you still need a floor general who can beat a drop coverage. When you watch Davis play, his pick-and-roll efficiency is elite. He’s not just a chucker. He reads the third defender. He knows when to kick to the corner.
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Breaking down the fit: Would he actually play?
If the Lakers actually pulled the trigger, where does he sit on the depth chart?
Probably at the end of the bench initially. That’s just the reality for undersized guards. However, the Lakers' G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, has become a premier finishing school. If Davis doesn't crack the rotation immediately, he’s the exact kind of player who would average 30 in the G-League and force a call-up by January.
Scouts I've spoken with point to his lateral quickness. Can he guard Ja Morant? Probably not. But can he be a pest against backup point guards? Absolutely. He’s got that "dog" in him—a cliché, sure, but in the NBA, if you're 6'0", you either have it or you're out of the league in two years.
Comparing Davis to previous Lakers' targets
Think back to the 2023 draft. The Lakers took Jalen Hood-Schifino. He was the "upside" play—tall, young, raw. It hasn't exactly panned out yet.
Then you look at the successful moves. Dalton Knecht was a "win-now" senior. He stepped in and immediately looked like he belonged because he had the reps. RJ Davis has more reps than almost anyone in the country.
- Shot Creation: Davis is in the 90th percentile in off-dribble jumpers.
- Experience: Over 140 games started in a high-pressure environment.
- Contract: As a late pick, he’d be on a team-friendly deal, which is vital under the new CBA "apron" rules.
The Lakers are currently suffocated by the salary cap. They cannot afford to just sign mid-level vets anymore. They have to hit on these late-round guys. Davis is a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect who provides exactly what the Lakers' second unit often lacks: a pulse.
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The NIL and "Super Senior" Reality
There’s a reason Davis stayed for his fifth year. NIL money at a school like North Carolina is significant. Sometimes, it’s more than a player would make on a two-way NBA contract.
This changes the math for the Lakers. They aren't just competing with other NBA teams; they are competing with the financial stability of college. But for Davis, the Lakers represent the ultimate stage. If you're going to try to prove the doubters wrong about your height, there is no better place to do it than under the bright lights of Crypto.com Arena.
Critics will point to his defensive metrics. It’s true, he can get hunted in switches. If he’s on the floor with a defensive liability like D-Lo, the Lakers' perimeter defense would be a sieve. But if you pair him with a defensive stopper like Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt, you can hide his deficiencies and let him cook on the other end.
What needs to happen for this to become reality
First, Davis has to finish this season strong. He needs to show that his shooting percentages can hold up even when he's the primary focus of every scouting report.
Second, the Lakers' draft positioning needs to align. If they keep their picks, they'll likely look for a wing first. But the second round is where things get interesting. Teams often trade into the 35-45 range for "their guy." If the Lakers see Davis as the next great undrafted or late-round steal, they won't hesitate.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
Keep an eye on the following indicators as the draft cycle approaches:
- The Combine Measurements: If Davis measures at a true 6'0" or 6'1" with a decent wingspan, his stock rises. If he’s 5'10.5", it becomes a much harder sell for a team like the Lakers that struggled with size last year.
- Workout Reports: The Lakers often host private workouts for 4-year and 5-year seniors. If Davis's name pops up in the El Segundo facility, the smoke is real.
- The "Third Star" Trade: If the Lakers trade away multiple rotation players for a star this offseason, they will need to fill out the roster with 3-4 rookies on cheap deals. This is the most likely path for Davis to end up in LA.
- Summer League Performance: Should he go undrafted, expect a bidding war for his Summer League services. The Lakers are usually aggressive here, offering a clear path to a roster spot.
The RJ Davis Lakers talk isn't just a fantasy. It’s a reflection of how the NBA is changing. Teams want proven winners, and they want guys who can shoot the lights out. Davis does both. Whether he ends up in the purple and gold or somewhere else, he’s going to make a front office look very smart—or very foolish—within the next twelve months.
Focus on his catch-and-shoot numbers over the final month of the college season. If those stay above 40%, he’s an NBA player. Period. The Lakers know it, and so does the rest of the league. It's just a matter of who blinks first on draft night.