Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd Show Out for G League Ignite in Week 3

Week 3 of the G League bubble in Disney World, Orlando has come to an end. It was another up-and-down week for G League Ignite, in many ways.

Wins, losses, and the exit of a few members of the team, Ignite finished the week 2-2. They moved onto a 7-4 record, which has them firmly in the playoff hunt.

Vs Long Island Nets, 109-97 (L):

A double-double from Donta Hall and 21 points from Jalen Green couldn’t combat a 23-turnover game, as the team fell to the Long Island Nets, 109-97.

Green notched his fourth 20-point outing of the season. Hall turned in his third double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. But the Nets scored 28 points off 23 Ignite turnovers for their third win of the season.

Brandon Ashley scored 16 points, just one point shy of his season-high, and Jonathan Kuminga added 10. As a team, Ignite shot 43.8%, with a season-low 35 field goals (35-80).

Jeremiah Martin (24 points) and Reggie Perry (21 points) led Long Island. BJ Johnson added 19, among five Nets players to notch double figures.

The Nets used a 24-20 first quarter to edge Ignite with 7 points apiece from Johnson and Perry. Isaiah Todd, who entered Monday’s match-up averaging 18.5 points in his last two appearances, was off to a hot start with 6 points of his own. This was despite Ignite shooting 33.3% (7-21) to open the game.

Green scored 9 points and Ignite shot 66.7 percent (10-15) in the fourth quarter. Ignite’s comeback attempt fell short as Long Island scored 11 points off Ignite’s eight fourth-quarter turnovers, outscoring the team 31-28.

Vs Memphis Hustle, 104-101 (W):

Down 11 points at halftime, G League Ignite rallied back for comeback win against the Memphis Hustle. The team relied on veteran play and a stalwart defense down the stretch to hold off Memphis, 104-101.

Jarrett Jack scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. The NBA veteran iced the game with a pair of crucial free throws with 3 seconds remaining. He was one of 7 Ignite players to finish in double figures. Jonathan Kuminga (17), Brandon Ashley (11), Daishen Nix (11), Isaiah Todd (10), Bobby Brown (10), and Jalen Green (10), being the others.

Bennie Boatwright scored 21 points on 7-15 shooting, including 5-13 from downtown, to lead the Hustle. Tyrell Terry added 19 points, plus 14 from Jontay Porter, 11 from Shaq Buchanan, and 10 from Ahmad Caver.

Neither team led by more than five points in the final stretch, and Terry’s driving layup with 35 seconds remaining made it a one-point game in Ignite’s favor, 102-101.

With 12.2 seconds remaining, Ignite was awarded with an out-of-bounds ball, Memphis issued a coach’s challenge and the call was overturned. Ignite’s defense held strong, forcing Memphis to foul, sending Jack to the line to put Ignite up 104-101 with 3.3 seconds on the clock.

Vs Salt Lake City Stars, 107-87 (L):

Jalen Green notched a career-high 24 points but G League Ignite fell to the Salt Lake City Stars, 107-87, in this one. Ignite shot a season-low 39.7% (29-73) and gave up 42 second-quarter points to the Stars, the most by any opponent this season.

In his first start for Ignite, Govan recorded 13 points, a first-half game-high, with three rebounds. It wasn’t enough to help Ignite withstand nine 3-pointers from the Stars, however. Salt Lake City shot 47.4% (9-19) from downtown and 55.3 percent (26-47) overall in the first half.

The Stars led by as many as 20 points, outscoring Ignite 42-27 in the second, to lead 65-47 at halftime. Ignite held Salt Lake City to 16 points in the third quarter, tied for the fewest by an opponent this year, to trim the lead to 81-68 entering the final 12 minutes.

The team connected on just 5 of 15 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter to confirm defeat. Green scored 14 of Ignite’s 40 second-half points.

Vs Canton Charge, 113-112 (L):

Isaiah Todd drained a buzzer-beater to hold off the Canton Charge, 113-112 in the final game of the week. Down 112-111 with 4.9 seconds remaining after a pull-up jumper by Canton’s Brodric Thomas, Ignite Head Coach Brian Shaw called a timeout.

Coming out of the timeout, Todd set up for a turnaround bank shot that lifted his team to its 7th victory of the season. Ignite improved to 7-4, firmly in the driving seat for a playoff birth.

Todd finished with 17 points and matched his career-high 7 rebounds. Plus a career-high 3 blocks and two assists. After pouring in a career-high 24 points against Salt Lake City on Friday, Jalen Green upped his best to 26 points.

In another efficient performance, Green shot 9-14, including a 6-8 clip from 3-point range. Jonathan Kuminga notched his 3rd double-double of the season, with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Jack finished with 16 points and Johnson added 11, as Ignite shot 53%(44-83) on the game with a season-high 13 shots made from downtown. Devon Dotson and Sheldon Mac led Canton with 21 points apiece.

Ignite churned out 40 points in the second, the most in a single quarter all season, helped by 9 points from Johnson, 8 from Jack, and 7 from Kuminga. Daishen Nix dished out 7 assists across the 12-minute stretch, and Ignite’s defense allowed Canton just two 3-pointers.

The Charge’s fourth-quarter comeback effort saw them level the contest, 109-109, with 2:50 to go, helped by an 11-0 run. Mac scored 9 of Canton’s 11 points in that span. But G League Ignite snatched victory, thanks for Isaiah Todd’s buzzer-beater heroics.

Week 3 in Summary:

Once again another up and down week for G League Ignite, as they finish the week 2-2. The consistent effort issues that plagued the Ignite team last week have continued on. This is to be expected from such young players. The level of play is new to them and the adjustment period right now will serve them incredibly well in the future.

This team as a whole is ironing out the weaknesses on the fly and they are consistently improving as a unit. Head Coach Brian Shaw continues to put his team in the best position to be successful. With Donta Hall receiving a call up to the NBA, and Kai Sotto no longer a part of the team, the young players will have to continue to battle against adversity. Which once again will prepare them for the next level.

A serious amount of credit needs to be given to Coach Shaw and the Ignite set up for putting these young players in the best position to fully understand what will be expected of them at the NBA level.

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G League Ignite Have an Unsteady Week 2 in Orlando Bubble

Coming off the back of their first week in the bubble, G League Ignite sat at a perfect 3-0. Through week one, Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green lead the way. Whilst continuing to show the world that they are two of the best players in the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft.

So what did week two have in store for Ignite?

Vs Iowa Wolves, 97-90 (W):

Jalen Green poured in a career-high 22 points to extend G League Ignite’s win streak to four after topping the Iowa Wolves, 97-90. Green’s balanced stat-line also included new career highs in assists (5) and rebounds (6). It was also his third consecutive 20-point outing.

Donta Hall tallied his first double-double of the season, with 12 points and 16 rebounds. Along with 3 assists and 4 blocks. Fellow veterans Jessie Govan (10 points) and Jarrett Jack (12 points) also reached double figures.

Iowa’s Tyler Cook led all scorers with 24 points. Allonzo Trier added 17 points for the Wolves, who shot 41.2% (35-85) and forced 19 Ignite turnovers.

Neither team held the edge in the first half. Both shooting near the 40% mark and connecting on 17 field goals Ignite headed to halftime with a 4-point lead, 47-43, thanks to a perfect 5-5 performance at the free-throw line.

Green, who scored only 3 of his 21 points in the first half in the game prior, led all scorers with 13 points. Govan had 10 points off the bench. Although Green added another 8 points to his total in the third quarter, the Wolves outscored Ignite 31-20 to pull ahead, 74-67.

Iowa continued its charge, jumping out to an 11-point lead, 78-67, at 10:51 in the fourth quarter. But after Jack brought Ignite back within two points, 85-83 at 5:12, the rookies went to work, scoring 10 of Ignite’s final 14 points. This was led by Daishen Nix’s 5 points. Ignite outscored Iowa 30-16 in the final 12 minutes to claim victory.

Vs Erie BayHawks, 127-87 (L):

A wake-up call awaited the G League Ignite team, as they came up against the explosive Erie Bayhawks. After flying high to this point, Ignite got a punch in the mouth and respectfully, they were never in the game.

Jonathan Kuminga and Daishen Nix tallied their first career double-doubles in the loss. Kuminga scored 21 points and added a career-best 10 boards, with Nix putting up 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds off the bench.

Jalen Green also finished with 13 points, alongside 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. While fellow rookie Princepal Singh made his debut by pulling down 2 rebounds.

Naji Marshall led the Bayhawks with 21 points as one of six Erie players to score in double figures. The G League’s top offensive team shot 53.8 percent from the floor and scored 36 points off Ignite’s 20 turnovers.

The BayHawks jumped out to a 21-point lead in the first quarter, capitalizing on 5 turnovers and connecting on 5 treys, while Ignite shot 0-7 from 3-point range. Erie led 35-16 after the first 12 minutes and continued their charge for the remainder of the half. They racked up 11 steals and shot 51.9% (28-54) to lead by as many as 30 points, for a 66-37 halftime score.

Kuminga, who had 15 points and 6 rebounds by halftime, was the lone Ignite player to connect on a 3-pointer. Meanwhile, 3 Erie players had reached double figures, paced by 13 points apiece from Marshall and Caleb Homesley. Plus 10 points and 8 rebounds from Jordan Bell.

The Bayhawks stretched their lead to 96-60 after the third and saw out the game with a dominant 127-87 victory. A humbling experience for the young Ignite team.

G League Ignite looked to rebound in its second game of a back-to-back. Their next opponent would be the Westchester Knicks.

Vs Westchester Knicks, 121-113 (L):

Ignite matched its season-best scoring total, set a season-high in assists and a season-low turnover totals, but the team effort wasn’t enough in this one. With the Knicks outscoring Ignite 11-3 in overtime to win 121-113.

Ignite showed improvement with a season-low 13 turnovers and season-high 27 assists, and every player who entered the game scored at least 5 points. Donta Hall scored 12 points in the second half to lead Ignite with 19 points, adding 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Isaiah Todd matched his career-high with 14 points and 7 rebounds. With Jalen Green (15 points), Amir Johnson (11), and Jonathan Kuminga (11) also scoring in double figures. Green added a career-best 6 assists. while Jarrett Jack dished out a season-high 9 assists.

Ignas Brazdeikis, who entered the matchup averaging 24 points per game, poured in 21 points. Six Knicks players scored 15 points or more. Louis King scored 9 of his 18 points in overtime, going 3-3 from beyond the arc, to seal the victory.

Ignite’s effort saw 8 players score before the end of the first quarter. With Bobby Brown, Johnson, and Todd each notched a team-best 6 points apiece. The team’s 37-33 lead matched its most points in a quarter this season.

By halftime Ignite also matched its highest point total for a single half, leading the Knicks 66-59. Green, who was scoreless in the first quarter, churned out 12 points in the second. Kuminga also reached double figures with 10 points. After averaging 21.6 turnovers per game through the first five games, Ignite chalked up only seven in the first half.

Despite a flurry of small runs by Ignite in the third quarter, the Knicks outscored their opponents 28-22 and contained Green to pull within a single point, 88-87. Westchester made up the difference in the fourth quarter, 23-22, to send the game into overtime, 110-110.

King hit 3 consecutive from beyond the arc to put the game away in 2 additional minutes, 121-113. After 6 games in 9 days, Ignite enjoyed their longest break of the regular season with 2 full days of rest. This was before taking on the Greensboro Swarm on Sunday.

Vs Greensboro Swarm, 122-109 (W):

Following back-to-back losses against the Erie BayHawks and Westchester Knicks, G League Ignite got back on track thanks to a 23-point effort from Isaiah Todd. The team surged past the Swarm, 122-109, to improve to 5-2.

Todd, who turned in a career-high 14-point performance in his last outing against the Knicks, poured in 23 points and 3 rebounds in this one. Amir Johnson tallied a season-high 18 points and also added 3 rebounds and a block. While Daishen Nix dished out a career-best 13 assists and pulled down 7 rebounds.

The trio helped Ignite to season-best totals in assists (34), field goals (49), and field goal shooting (52.7%). A trio of Swarm standouts finished with double-doubles, however. Kobi Simmons had a game-high 27 points and 10 assists, Nick Richards had 26 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and Vernon Carey Jr. dropped in 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Ignite dug itself into a deficit late in the first quarter, but outscored the Swarm 6-2 in the final two minutes to make it a two-point game, 35-33. Todd had 6 points and quickly reached double figures early in the second quarter, including a standout dunk and 3-pointer.

By halftime, Todd was one of two Ignite players with 11 points, tied with Jonathan Kuminga, as the team shot 56.5% to lead 63-60. Ignite then used a 26-18 third quarter, which included 11 points by Johnson, to pull away and the Swarm couldn’t recover.

Todd finished strong with 12 second-half points and Nix dished out 10 of his 13 assists in the half. Kuminga finished with 18 points and 2 assists, and Green extended his double figure scoring streak to 7 games.

Green tallied 17 points to go along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Veterans Brandon Ashley (11 points) and Jessie Govan (12) also finished in double figures.

Weekly Summary:

It was an up-and-down week for G League Ignite. They dealt with adversity losing back-to-back games, and returned to finish the week strong.

While Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green have been the undeniable stars for Ignite so far, we’re seeing the emergence of Daishen Nix and Isaiah Todd. Both are players that will make some serious noise at the NBA level.

Nix and Todd are making plays that will help them being considered lottery talents. With a strong upcoming couple of weeks, they could solidify their place as elite NBA prospects.

With G League Ignite showing marked improvement in terms of turnovers and assists this week, it will be interesting to see if they can continue to step it up in other areas. All eyes are if they can continue to make noise in the G League bubble in Disney World, Orlando.

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Jordan Bell and His Historically Efficient Start With the Erie BayHawks

Erie BayHawks forward Jordan Bell has been dominant during the early stages of the 2021 G League bubble. Formerly of the Golden State Warriors, Bell is averaging 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2 blocks. These are impressive statistics, to say the least, but what makes it even more eye-catching is the 26-year-old’s field goal percentage.

Bell is shooting at an incredible 80% rate, and at present time, the BayHawks sit with a 5-1 record. Erie recently put together a dominant display to put an end to G League Ignite’s perfect record, with a 127-87 rout.

In the previous contest against the Long Island Nets, the 2018 NBA Champion put together a historic stat-line. One that few in G League history have been able or capable of mustering.

(Image/Erie BayHawks/Twitter)

He finished the night with 17 points (8-9 FG), 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks, in 30 minutes played. This came as his team recorded a 114-104 victory. The 6-foot-8 big man became only the 7th player in league history to notch at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks in a game.

This stat line alone shows off the well-rounded skill set that Bell possesses. This is what has endeared him to numerous NBA teams over the course of his career to date.

With big men, they usually fall into certain tiers. The stretch five, the low post bruiser, the rim protector, the floor runner, and the rare point center. In Jordan Bell, the Erie Bayhawks seem to have found a player capable of doing all of the above, in abundance.

While there may be players in the G League bubble putting up better numbers in terms of points, assists, and rebounds, few are putting together as efficient a season as Bell. Even fewer are making every player on their team better by simply being there.

At the time of writing, the promising big is currently the 3rd-highest player in the entire league in Player Impact Estimate, at 21.5. It doesn’t stop there. Bell is 11th in Net Rating (22.0) and is 13th in Offensive Rebounds percentage (12.8). He also occupies the 7th spot in Effective Field Goal percentage, at 81.7%.

Jordan Bell is putting a season together that will surely draw the attention of NBA scouts.

His Pre-NBA Journey:

Jordan Bell was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a school that to this very day he frequently visits to help out during the off-season. He has a passion for helping shape youngsters who grew up in the same environment in which he was in.

The California native then took his talents to the University of Oregon. As a freshman Bell averaged 5.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per contest. During the season, he was able to claim the single-season school record for blocks, with 94

As a redshirt sophomore, he averaged 7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. In his redshirt junior season, Bell’s averages jumped up to 10.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, as he led Oregon to the NCAA Final Four.

(Image/AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

His NBA Career to Date:

Jordan Bell entered the 2017 NBA Draft, where he was selected with the 38th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls would later trade Bell to the Golden State Warriors for significant cash considerations ($3.5m).

On December 22, 2017, against the Los Angeles Lakers, Bell scored a career-high 20 points, on 9-for-13 shooting, alongside a career-high 10 rebounds. To finish the regular season as a rookie, Bell averaged 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1 block, in 57 games.

He then made his debut in the NBA Playoffs, coming off of the bench with 3 points and 2 rebounds, in a 113–92 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Golden State made it to the 2018 NBA Finals, where they would sweep the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.

In the 2019 NBA Playoffs, the young prospect came off the bench and scored a playoff career-high 11 points to go with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and a block in a 114-111 win.

He finally made his first career playoff start in a series-clinching win against the Portland Trail Blazers, contributing 7 points, 2 assists, and a steal. The Warriors reached the 2019 NBA Finals, but were defeated in 6 games by the Toronto Raptors.

After his time with the Warriors, Bell would initially sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But there began a time in which he would bounce from team to team, unable to find a long-term home.

Minnesota to Memphis. Memphis to the Capital City Go-Go. Capital City to Cleveland. Cleveland to Los Angeles. Los Angeles to Washington. Finally, Washington to the Erie Bayhawks.

To date, Bell has made 157 NBA appearances, with career averages of 3.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. This has been on 55.6% shooting from the field and in an average of 12.1 minutes per contest.

The G League Bubble has proven to be the perfect proving ground for Bell who has shown his versatile skillset to all.

It is a matter of when, then if, Jordan Bell will be picked up by an NBA team.

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The G League Ignite “Experiment” Is in Full Flow, as They Go 3-0 in Week 1

The first week of the NBA G League bubble in Disney World, Orlando has drawn to a close. For the G League Ignite, it was going to be interesting to see how they fared in their first competitive game as a team.

On February 2, ahead of the bubble season, Ignite Head Coach Brian Shaw gave his initial assessment for the newly formed team.

“Our team, for the most part, obviously we want to try to win anytime we step on the floor,” Shaw said. “But it’s not really about wins and losses for us. It’s about the development of our young guys.”

After a week in which the Ignite team went 3-0. It begs the question, why not both?

(Image/Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

Game 1, Vs Santa Cruz Warriors:

A 108-104 victory over the Jeremy Lin-led Santa Cruz Warriors greeted the young Ignite team in the inaugural game of the 2021 G League bubble.

Ignite’s elite youngsters combined for 44 points. The winning effort was steered by Jonathan Kuminga’s 19 points, 4 assists, and 2 rebounds. Daishen Nix added 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Jalen Green scored 9 of his 11 points in the second half. Green also finished with 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

It wasn’t a strong start for the consensus top 5 pick Jalen Green. Although, he did show flashes of elite talent which will have NBA teams salivating.

.@JalenGreen came to play today pic.twitter.com/NhF3s4A57K

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 10, 2021

Jarrett Jack led all scorers with 23 points, on 9-10 shooting, and fellow starter Brandon Ashley scored 17 points, to go along with 9 rebounds.

Santa Cruz built early leads but Ignite settled in to pull the game back each time. With the Warriors up 43-33, Ignite erupted with an 11-0 run over a three-minute span to take the lead. After Bobby Brown’s 3-pointer at 4:20, the team pulled away for good to go up 65-50 at the half.

Ignite ended up leading by as many as 20 points in the second half. However, Nico Mannion did help Santa Cruz cut the deficit to just 3 points with 1:41 remaining in the game.

A basket from Jack and a highlight reel block from Kuminga then put an end to the Warriors’ comeback. G League Ignite closed the game out and took the win, 108-104.

Santa Cruz’s Mannion finished the game 17 points, with Jordan Poole dropping 22 points and NBA veteran Jeremy Lin adding 18 points in his highly anticipated return to action. Axel Toupane finished with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Kuminga had a dazzling performance, showing off his well-rounded skill set. It was a presentation that will have scouts focusing in on his abilities moving forward, with the 2021 NBA Draft looming.

Game 2, Vs Oklahoma City Blue:

With a win in their debut, it was onto the next challenge for Brian Shaw and Ignite. The challenge waiting, the Oklahoma City Blue. A pair of 20-point performances by Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga lifted the G League Ignite to their second consecutive victory, 109-103.

In a game that featured 18 lead changes, Ignite’s youth took firm control of the game. In what was truly a coming-out game for Jalen Green, he notched 21 points (8-12 FG) and added 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block.

It was also another standout game for Jonathan Kuminga who led the way with 24 points. Whilst grabbing 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a single block, on 7-15 shooting.

Green and Kuminga are making a name for themselves early in the bubble. Both have shown clear chemistry, highlighted in this one by Kuminga threading the needle with a bounce pass to find Green who emphatically threw it down.

Jonathan Kuminga finds Jalen Green for the flush. 🔥

(🎥: @nbagleague) pic.twitter.com/HbFqrb2PJR

— theScore (@theScore) February 10, 2021

Isaiah Todd found his rhythm in the second half to produce 12 points and 7 rebounds. Jarrett Jack also scored in double figures, for the second consecutive contest, with 16 points and a game-high 9 assists.

Donta Hall was just one point shy of a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds. Jessie Govan made his Ignite debut in the second quarter, chipping in 8 points (3-3 FG), including two 3-pointers, to keep the game tight.

Following a half that saw 5 lead changes and 12 ties, the Blue led 48-43 going into the break. Oklahoma City built its largest lead of the game, 78-69, with 32.1 seconds left in the third quarter. But a 3-pointer by Amir Johnson at the 19-second mark kept the lead within single digits.

Todd poured in 7-straight points early in the 4th and Johnson added a layup to power an Ignite run that brought the team back within a single point. The teams then continued to trade blows through the final stretch.

Following a pair of free throws by Kuminga, Ignite led by three points with 1 minute remaining. The team never relinquished that lead.

While Kuminga and Green grabbed the headlines, the efforts of Trinity International product Daishen Nix then attracted attention. The young point guard was solid through 2 games but, he saved his best performance for game 3.

(Image/Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

Game 3, Vs Raptors 905:

Back-to-backs can be difficult for any team. With a quick turn around, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see the Ignite team fall for the first time. Nonetheless, the team improved to 3-0, as the rookies took control and contributed with 83 points.

On his 19th birthday, the night belonged to Daishen Nix. He celebrated his birthday in style, pouring in 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, in 27 minutes. From the field, he converted 8-15 and knocked down a pair from beyond the arc.

For those who have Daishen Nix as a fringe 1st-round talent, check the tape. This kid is a lottery pick.

Daishen Nix had 25 points in another Team Ignite win tonight 🔥 @djfromveg @nbagleague pic.twitter.com/rjzaFjeenA

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) February 14, 2021

Kuminga earned his first career double-double, on a 23 point, 13 rebound performance, and Green tallied his second consecutive 20-point outing. He had 21 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals.

Isaiah Todd’s emergence continued with a near-perfect 4-5 shooting performance from 3-point range. This was as he went 5-8 overall to contribute 14 points and 6 rebounds.

Despite 18 first-half turnovers, Ignite led the Raptors 63-59 going into half-time. Through solid defense, they limited the 905 to 36.2% shooting from the floor (21-58).

At the end of the third quarter, each of the team’s rookies had reached double figures. Nix had 19 points, and Green, who scored just 3 points in the first half, went 4-6 in the quarter to bring his total to 15 points.

The Raptors got within 3 in the 4th quarter, however, Kuminga then powered his way to a 10-point, 4-rebound stretch. While Green and Nix added 6 points apiece to help Ignite pull away and win 113-105.

Nik Stauskas led 5 Raptors in double figures with 23 points. Former Washington Wizards point guard Gary Payton II followed with 15, Breein Tyree and Henry Ellenson each had 14, and Malachi Flynn totaled 11. Payton also notched 13 rebounds and 7 steals for a double-double, with Ellenson adding 10 rebounds for his own double-double.

Week 1 in a Nutshell:

You can summarize the G League Ignite teams 3-0 week in 5 words. These words perfectly fly in the face of what not only critics thought, but what fellow G Leaguers within the bubble thought of the Ignite team “experiment”.

This team is for real.

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Meet the Top-5 Selections in the 2020-21 NBA G League Draft

On January 11, 2021, the NBA G League held a 3-round draft, where a large number of the big-names did not find a team. Including Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley, and LiAngelo Ball.

Only 25 players were selected in the 57-pick draft, with circa 200 draft eligible players available. The undrafted players will now enter a free agency pool and be available for selection should a team have roster space.

Former Washington Wizard, Admiral Schofield, led the way, being selected with the 1st overall pick by the Greensboro Swarm.

(Image/Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

#1: Admiral Schofield

In 33 games in the 2019/20 season with the Washington Wizards, Admiral Schofield averaged 3 points per game. He had a standout 18-point, 6-rebound, and 2-assist effort against the Orlando Magic.

In the G League with the Capital City Go-Go (33 G), Schofield averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2 assists, in an average of 30.9 minutes per contest.

The Greensboro Swarm are getting themselves a well-rounded prospect in Schofield. One who has proven himself to be a “do it all” type of player.

Standing at 6-foot-5, the 23-year-old at times plays significantly larger and is adept at using his body along with his athleticism to get to the rim.

Still relatively young, Admiral Schofield has a lot of untapped potential that the Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate will attempt to unlock.

(Image/Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports)

#2: Freddie Gillespie

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, Freddie Gillespie out of Baylor, was the 2nd pick in the G League Draft.

The 6-foot-9 power forward previously linked up with the Dallas Mavericks on a training camp deal, but was unable to make the final roster. Therefore, his sights were firmly set on making a G League impact.

Gillespie had an accomplished college career. In the 2019-20 season alone, he was named the Big 12 Most Improved Player of the Year, and was selected to the 2nd Team All-Big 12, and the All-Defensive team.

An impressive shot blocker for his size, he averaged 2.2 blocks per game during his final year with Baylor. He also has a low-post and mid-range game, but really excels at scoring on the move and in transition.

A well-rounded defender and rebounder, with a solid motor and great intangibles, Freddie Gillespie could very well be a diamond in the rough.

(Image/VCG via Getty Images)

#3: Antonio Blakeney

With the 3rd pick in the G League Draft, the Canton Charge selected Antonio Blakeney.

The former LSU shooting guard has some solid experience in the professional ranks, having been a member of the Chicago Bulls between 2017-19. In 2019-20, Blakeney took his talents to China and played with the Jiangsu Dragons.

With the Dragons he featured in 16 CBA games, with averages of 34.8 points, 8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. He shot 50% from the field and converted at a 39.2% rate from 3-point range.

He is also no stranger to the G League. Having previously played with the Windy City Bulls, Blakeney was named the 2018 NBA G League Rookie of the Year. Additionally, he was named to the G League All-Rookie team and 2nd Team All-NBA G League.

The Charge will be getting a player who is going to hit the ground running. The 24-year-old will certainly be bringing a polished, well-rounded offensive skill set. With one of his strengths being his ability to be a dynamic scorer.

His ability to score off the dribble and in transition is great to watch. For a 6-foot-4 guard, he’s a strong rebounder as well. It’s safe to say, that it can be expected to see Antonio Blakeney contributing instantly, in a big way.

(Image/Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

#4: Allonzo Trier

What many considered to be one of the more highly sought after players in the G League Draft, Allonzo Trier landed with the Iowa Wolves at number 4.

Trier has the potential to be a prolific scorer at the G League level. Capable from scoring from all over the floor, the former New York Knicks guard can convert off the dribble and get to the paint with ease.

Additionally, he has a nice looking shot from deep and is a beat at getting to the free-throw line. Trier went undrafted in 2018, but soon after found himself on the Knicks’ roster on a two-way contract.

The young guard showed out in his NBA debut, as he recorded 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks, in a win over the Atlanta Hawks. Over his debut season (2018-19), Trier averaged 10.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, in 64 games.

As a sophomore, he only featured 24 times for the Knicks in the NBA. Posting averages of 6.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, this was on an average of 12.1 minutes per contest.

Trier is certainly NBA caliber. The G League bubble will be a fantastic proving ground to show the world what he is capable of.

(Image/Michelle Farsi/NBAE/Getty Images)

#5: Tahjere McCall

Tahjere McCall, a 26-year-old shooting guard, was selected with the 5th overall pick, by the Lakeland Magic.

The former Long Island Nets and College Park Skyhawks standout is no stranger to a G League roster. McCall’s story is that of a player very close to making an NBA roster, but just not quite. The G League bubble will give him an outlet to showcase his talent.

For the College Park Skyhawks in the 2019-20 G League season, McCall posted averages of 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals. This was through 42 contests and on 46% shooting from the field,

He was unlucky not to find himself on the Atlanta Hawks’ roster, after having a stellar performance in the 2019-20 NBA Summer League. To many in attendance, McCall was the standout performer. This was on a team that featured the likes of De’Andre Hunter, Bruno Fernando, Jaylen Adams, and Omari Spellman.

The most translatable and ready-made trait that McCall possesses is his defense. His footwork, size, length, and energy jump off the screen, and he immediately puts his opposition under pressure, making life extremely difficult.

Tahjere McCall will look to make more eye-popping defensive plays in the Orlando Bubble.

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Jeremy Lin to Play in G League Bubble for Santa Cruz Warriors

Former NBA point guard Jeremy Lin has agreed to a deal with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team has confirmed. Santa Cruz are the G League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors.

This move had been a number of weeks in the making, as Lin had planned to sign with the Golden State Warriors. However, the Warriors didn’t receive Lin’s Letter of Clearance from FIBA on time. This led to a delay in proceedings.

The 32-year-old spent the 2019-20 season playing in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Beijing Ducks. Where he averaged 22.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, on 49.1% shooting. From 3-point land he shot at a 33.8% rate.

(Image/Fred Lee/Getty Images)

He had initially agreed to a move that would allow him to be signed and waived by the Warriors, through an Exhibit-10 contract, so that he could land with Santa Cruz. Which he has ended up doing anyway, through the new NBA veteran exception rule.

The former Knicks standout joins Santa Cruz in the hope of resurrecting his once-promising NBA career. He will join the team in an Orlando-based bubble that commences on February 9. The bubble will be based in Disney World, on the same campus that the end of the 2019-20 NBA season took place

The Return of Linsanity?:

Most NBA fans will remember Lin from his time with the New York Knicks when “Linsanity” was born. During a six-game span in 2012, he exploded for an average of 26.8 points and 8.5 assists. This short span catapulted Lin into worldwide fame and created the well-renowned phrase.

The 6-foot-3 guard has had a healthy NBA career to date, but was never able to recreate the perfect storm that occurred in New York. Aside from the Knicks, Lin has also featured for the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Brooklyn Nets.

His return to the Warriors, where his career in the NBA started, is a bittersweet moment. In addition, it marks a homecoming for the 2019 NBA Champion.

Lin was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. He played high-school basketball at Palo Alto High school, before playing at the college level with Harvard. He holds the illustrious honor of being the first American, of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, to play in the NBA.

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G League Ignite Suffer Blow Out in Second Scrimmage, 125-99

On December 17, the G League Ignite team for elite prospects faced-off for a second time against a G League alumni team. The scrimmage took place at the Ultimate Fieldhouse in Walnut Creek, California.

“A good old fashioned butt-whooping,” was Head Coach Brian Shaw‘s brief assessment after Ignite suffered a heavy 125-99 loss.

Experience over youth was the tale of the tape. With Ignite well and truly second best throughout the contest against a seasoned and veteran-laden alumni team.

(Image/Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jonathan Kuminga once again led the way with 21 points. The young forward finished strong at the rim and kept opposing defenses guessing with a selection of shots from the outside. He followed up with 4 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. Kuminga was 6-13 from the field to cap off another well-rounded performance.

Another player who has stood out for the Ignite team in the last two contests has been guard Jalen Green. The 18-year-old finished the game with 20 points. His athleticism, speed, and strength showed throughout. as he was able to get to the rim at will and put away easy shots.

In addition to his 20 points, Green grabbed 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block. and 2 steals. While Green’s 3-point shot was not falling, he was competitive on the defensive end. Showing even more caveats to his already well-rounded game.

“It was a butt-whooping today. But it was good for us to once again have to recognize the physicality and intensity that you’re going to have to play with on this level,” said Coach Shaw in a post-scrimmage media availability. “Our guys didn’t back down. It just shows that we have a lot of areas where we need to improve on.”

Isaiah Todd had 13 points and 6 rebounds in the contest, on 4-11 shooting. Daishen Nix recorded 10 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists, on 4-13 shooting. While Kai Sotto put down 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block, on 1-3 shooting.

Ryan Taylor led the way for the alumni team, with 20 points on a scorching 63% from the 3-point line. It was a well-rounded performance by the veterans, with 7 players scoring in double digits. As a team, the alumni shot an eye watering 46.3% from 3, with Ignite converting at a 21.7% rate.

“The team that we were playing against were really really good. They had some really good shooters on their team,” Coach Shaw said. “It’s a really good team, mature team, physical. It allowed our guys to understand what its going to take and what its going to be like day-in day-out.”

With two wins from two, the alumni team gave the young Ignite team some valuable experience ahead of their potential futures in the NBA.

The Ignite will now take a break over the holidays. They will return to Walnut Creek in early 2021 to continue practices.

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Skal Labissière Signs with Westchester Knicks

The former 1st round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Skal Labissière, has joined the New York Knicks’ G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks. According to Marc Stein of the New York Times.

The towering forward has signed an Exhibit 10 deal, alongside former Boston Celtics 1st round pick James Young. Such a deal is essentially a training camp contract that provides Labissière with a financial incentive (between $5,000-50,000) to commit to the Knicks’ G League franchise.

Having last played for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2019-20 campaign, Labissière joins a large Kentucky contingent within the Knicks organization.

Former Wildcats currently on the New York and Westchester Knicks’ roster include Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley, and Kevin Knox. Along with Nerlens Noel, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, James Young, and assistant coach Kenny Payne.

Player Profile:

Listed at 6-foot-10, Labissière is a mobile big man, capable of playing both the Power Forward and Center positions. Still only 24-years-old, there’s a significant amount of untapped potential left in his game that the Knicks will look to unlock.

At one point considered a consensus lottery pick, the young forward’s career was disrupted by injuries that threw doubt into his ability to withstand the rigors of an NBA season.

This led to the Haitian forward free-falling in the 2016 draft. Eventually being selected 28th by the Phoenix Suns. His draft rights were then traded to the Sacramento Kings on draft night.

Blessed with length and athleticism, Labissière has all the characteristics to be the perfect modern-day big man. Coming out of high school, he had it all.

An advanced offensive game that had scouts drooling. Elite length and rebounding ability that would be easily transferable to the professional ranks. An ability to step out to the 3-point line and an NBA-ready body.

Upon arriving in Kentucky, Labissière started his college career strong but it went downhill, quickly. Never seeming to find his groove, he had a lackluster season. Which along with injury concerns, led to his draft stock plummeting.

With nothing but time on his side, there is still room for Labissière to turn things around, however.

Trail Blazers Stint and Future With the Knicks:

Skal Labissière’s most recent stop in the NBA came in the 2019-20 season with the Damian Lillard-led, Portland Trailblazers. Where he played in 33 games, starting 1. In those games, he posted averages of 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, in 17.2 minutes per contest.

Labissière and James Young will bring additional NBA experience to a G League team that is already well-renowned for producing numerous NBA caliber players. With Ivan Rabb, Kenny Wooten, Ignas Brazdeikis, and Kadeem Allen all having had stints in the NBA.

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Two-Way Preview: Nico Mannion, Golden State Warriors

In preparation for the upcoming 2020-21 NBA season, teams have been filling their rosters with talent, including two-way players. With the Golden State Warriors signing their 48th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Nico Mannion, to such a deal.

A five-star recruit coming out of high-school, Mannion was a one-and-done prospect with the Arizona Wildcats. He had an up-and-down season at the collegiate level, which cost his draft stock dearly and led to him becoming a second-round draft selection.

Players signed to a two-way deal spend the majority of the season in the G League. Normally two-way players are eligible to be called up to their parent team in the NBA for a maximum of 45 days per season.

With the 2020-21 season being shortened, two-way players can be active for up to 50 of the NBA’s 72-game schedule. Travel days and practices will not be included, as they have previously.

(Image/Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

Pinnacle High School:

Mannion had a stellar freshman season at Pinnacle High School, under Head Coach Charlie Wilde. In 28 games, he averaged 20.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. While leading Pinnacle to a 22–6 record.

His level of play during the season led to a Sports Illustrated article dubbing Mannion a “Sorta-Maybe” basketball prodigy. The fiery-headed point guard then stepped up his level of play during his sophomore year. Averaging 23.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.

Overall, during the course of his high school career, Mannion gained notoriety on social media and gained a following due to his impressive handles and dunking ability. This led to considerable interest from numerous elite college programs. Such as Duke, Villanova, Marquette, and Arizona.

Mannion averaged 30.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in his final season at Pinnacle. But ultimately, he opted to stay in-state and committed to the University of Arizona.

During his high-school career, he was named Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year award twice and was recognized as the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Senior Athlete of the Year (2018-19). As well as being named a McDonalds All-American in 2019.

Staying Home With the Arizona Wildcats:

A highly touted prospect, Nico Mannion had an underwhelming time with the Arizona Wildcats. Although, the young point guard did shine early on. As he claimed MVP honors in the Wooden Legacy pre-season competition.

However, the step-up in competition and playing alongside other top prospects in Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks) and Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets) exposed Mannion’s readiness for the next level.

While he wasn’t bad, he simply wasn’t the finished product. Through 32 games, the 6-foot-3 prospect averaged 14 points, 5.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in the 2019-20 campaign. He shot poorly across the board. 39.2% from the field, 32.7% from 3-point land, and 79.7% from the free-throw line.

He did get his NBA opportunity though. As the Golden State Warriors drafted him with the 48th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and signed him to a two-way contract.

(Image/Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Player Profile:

Nico Mannion is a well-rounded prospect who is a jack of all trades. Despite his struggles at the college level, he plays beyond his age and will be an above-average pick and roll facilitator right off the bat.

He is comfortable with the ball in his hands and is adept at reading what opposing defenses are giving him. Making reads in order to either get his teammates an easy basket in the paint, to fire the ball out to a teammate on the perimeter, or to simply pull up from range himself.

While he’s not an explosive or lightening quick athlete, Mannion has decent speed and burst that allows him to put opposing defenders on the back foot. This might be effective in college, but against the best of the best in the NBA, he may struggle to beat his opponent in a footrace to the rim.

Where the young point guard might get caught out is in his poor shot selection. As with many social media famous players, such as LaMelo Ball and Julian Newman, Mannion has developed a bit of a reputation as a below-average shot taker. Regularly settling for highly contested shots and playing a significant amount of hero ball.

That will not fly in Golden State. A team that is built on moving the ball, passing up a good shot for a great shot, and a team that is famous for unselfish play. Mannion may have to cut his teeth and develop in the G League for a couple of seasons.

It is the hope of the Warriors that they can develop Mannion’s well-rounded skill-set and have him mature a handful of those traits into potentially impactful ones. In Stephen Curry, Mannion will have an ideal mentor. One who can show him what it takes to play at the highest level.

Overall, as a second-round selection, the Warriors got themselves a good prospect. It was a low-risk, high-upside acquisition. Mannion does not project to be an outstanding professional. But he will absolutely fill a role, with the potential of being a key rotational piece.

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NBA 2K Next-Gen: The Introduction of the G League

NBA 2K21 is bringing a new aspect to the market that fans of the gaming franchise have been clamoring for many years.

This comes with the introduction of the game to the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms. As NBA 2K21 now includes a G League route to the NBA in MyCareer.

It is clear that the increased exposure and tectonic moves the NBA G League and its President, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, have made to the development league is now paying dividends.

This mainly comes in the form of the G League Ignite team for elite prospects. Which offers youngsters the ability to skip college eligibility and become professionals.

This was the next natural progression, not just for young basketball professionals, but also for the NBA 2K franchise.

(Image/2k)

“A subset of our franchise fan base has been clamoring for this for years and with MyNBA in NBA 2K21. We’re finally able to bring back playable G League games!

If you want to include the G League in your mode, you can leave this option turned on. Otherwise, if you don’t care for the G League games, you can turn it off.

When turned on, the G League teams will play a schedule of games, and if you look at the Daily View, you’ll see the G League games interspersed with the NBA games.

Or you can check out the Daily View (G League) to just see that day’s scheduled G League games.

You can play or simulate with regular sim, SimCast, or SimCast Live.”

– NBA 2K Press Release

What does this mean for the NBA G League?

This is a huge development for fans of both the G League and 2K. With the introduction of the new G League Ignite team being inspiration to the latest development in the game.

With the numerous NBA-level prospects on the Ignite team, including Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Kai Sotto. All eyes are on the set-up for elite prospects moving forward.

Now fans of the 2K franchise have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the setup of the NBA’s official minor league. Even more, validation that the G League and those associated with it are most certainly moving in the right direction.

This should give the league a huge boost moving forward. As millions of fans will now have the G League in their homes in the form of NBA 2K21.

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