The 'flow state', when a basketball player gets in the zone and seemingly can't miss a shot, is a real thing. Just ask RJ Davis. The former North Carolina guard, now in his first professional season in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, reached that pinnacle by dropping a career-high 45 points by the end of the month of January.
For a player who was known for racking up points during his days as a Tar Heel, being in that state of flow led Davis to shooting hoops alone in his backyard while growing up.
"The way I describe it is it's like when you're in the park or just in your backyard," Davis told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. "It's just you and you're out there shooting. You're just counting like five, four, three, two, one, and you're alone. The zone feels like that, but you feel like every time you shoot, you're going to make it."
That game was special for Davis. He has led South Bay all season as the primary point guard and ball-handler, and when he was moved to the bench several times between assignments with the Los Angeles Lakers, he took it in stride.
One of the key areas of his game that he has made a point of showcasing is his ability to be a lead playmaker and initiate the offense. That's what South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie asked of him. While he's working on finding the right balance between scoring and facilitating, this was a good reminder that he can add points in a hurry if the game calls for it.
He thrashed the South Bay rival Salt Lake City Stars in that game with a flurry of jumpers and strong takes to the basket. They did most of their damage by getting to the free-throw line only four times. He missed only seven shots (15 of 22 from the field, 6 of 9 from 3-point range).
Davis said, "Every shot I hit, I knew it was going to go in. The release felt good, and my mindset, I think I was just in the zone. I was in a state of flow." “I wasn't thinking too much about whether the shot would go in or whether I would make the shot or miss, it was really about flowing within the offense.”
RJ Davis finding balance in the G League
When RJ Davis ends his college career at North Carolina after the 2024–25 season, he will remain as No. 2 on the program's all-time scoring list, behind only Tyler Hansbrough. He had a college career-high 42 points in February 2024, which was a UNC home record for most points scored at the Smith Center.
When it comes to the ACC's all-time scoring list, Davis ranks No. 3 behind Hansbrough and former Duke star JJ Redick, respectively. He left UNC with an average of 15.6 points per game, with his highest mark being 21.2 points during the 2023–24 season.
Davis has always been a big scoring threat, but to succeed at the professional level and get to the NBA, he knows he has to show the ability to be a facilitator. It's something that has always been a part of his game and he's grateful that he's getting the chance to showcase it.
Davis said, "It's come a long way. I think everyone knows me for scoring. Coming into training camp right now for both the Lakers and South Bay, I wanted to show that I'm more than just scoring, that I can play, especially for my size." "You're going to play with other guys that also know how to score. So just try to take on the role of being a playmaker, be a role player, just be another dog on the floor."
Davis has had double-digit assists in two games this season, and he had 10 assists in both of those games. His second game of double digit assists was part of the first triple double of his career as a professional. He had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He also has some explosive scoring games. He has scored 20 or more points in 18 of the 32 games he has played for South Bay.
Davis played alongside Kobe Bufkin for most of the season before signing a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, so he's gotten used to playing with another ball-handler and someone who can definitely put the ball in the basket. For him, the key is to adapt to what the team needs at the guard position, knowing when to be a playmaker, and knowing when to hunt for his shot.
Davis said, "I think for me, it's about staying aggressive. I think it's helped me determine if I'm able to shoot, pass, find open guys or create things for myself. I think being aggressive creates open spaces not only for me, but for my teammates." "You're just understanding the flow of the offense, understanding if this guy hasn't got a shot, trying to see him. Also, just taking what the defense gives me and staying aggressive at all times."
RJ Davis' path to the NBA
Like most players in the G League, RJ Davis has dreams of reaching the NBA. He went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft and linked up with the Lakers during Summer League. He played a total of seven summer league games with the Lakers between Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Davis averaged 6.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He didn't shoot particularly well overall, connecting on only 38.1 percent of his shots. But in a departure from his performance in Las Vegas, he scored 42.3 percent. His summer league stint was enough for the Lakers to invite him to training camp, where he played five preseason games.
He looked more comfortable during the preseason, averaging 8.6 points and shooting exactly 50 percent overall and from the 3-point line. During his time with the Lakers in training camp, the organization identified key aspects of Davis' game that he would need to focus on in order to move into the NBA.
Davis said, "I've been known to score my whole life, so now it's just about doing the little things that other guys don't want to do. Coming into training camp with the Lakers, you have Lucas, LeBron, AR, so being kind of a pest to my size, using my size as an advantage, getting up 94 feet, fighting through screens, doing the dirty work." "At the same time, just being able to make plays. I feel like I'm doing that ... I just have to keep doing it consistently. Just show teams that I'm able to both score and pass."
In 32 games with South Bay, Davis averaged 19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He shot 44.9 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from the 3-point line and 87.6 percent from the free-throw line.
His play earned him a spot in the 2026 G League Next Up game as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend. Davis will suit up for Team White, coached by Salt Lake City Stars head coach Isaiah Fox. Each player selected for the Next Up game has substantial G League experience either as a two-way contract player, assigned by their NBA team, or has played in the league on a regular basis.
For Davis, his early experience in the G League has shown him that it is a good place for development and the ultimate goal of getting his name on the radar of NBA teams.
Davis said, "I think Gee is perfect. It's a dog fight every night. The competitiveness is at an all-time high. You have two ways to go, the assignments are less and sometimes you have to make a little bit of a change and adjustment." “Even if you're playing a lot of minutes and then your role changes a little bit, adjusting to that gives you a little preview of what the league looks like.”
Davis added, "But at the same time, I think G will humble you." "You can be 30 and then a team comes back and now it's a tie ball game. It's a never-ending game. It's up and down, it's a fast-paced game, but that's what you need. That's what you want. Because at the end of the day, it brings out the best in you."
