G League

LiAngelo Ball has been entered into the G League draft after originally planning to play for the Charlotte Hornets' affiliate. 

Per ESPN's Jonathan Givony, procedural issues will prevent Ball from being assigned to the Hornets' G League team. 

On Oct. 14, ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported the Hornets signed Ball to a nonguaranteed deal and released him in order to "eventually sign with their G League team."

The move came ahead of the NBA's deadline to set their 15-man roster for the regular season, as well as finalize two-way deals and G League teams, on Oct. 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET. 

Luke Adams of HoopsHype noted most player releases would likely happen by Oct. 16 to allow them to clear waivers in time for the start of the regular season. 

Ball was invited to participate in Hornets training camp by his brother, LaMelo. The front office signed LiAngelo to their roster for summer league. He averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in five appearances. 

Summer league marked Ball's first game action with an NBA team in his professional career. The 22-year-old previously had stints with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League during the 2020 season and Detroit Pistons during training camp last year, but he never appeared in a game for either team. 

The 2021 G League draft will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Delaware Blue Coats (affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers) own the No. 1 overall pick.    

After a shortened 2020-21 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA G League is back with a new format for the 2021-22 campaign. Things get started with the NBA G League draft on Saturday.

The G League will start regular-season play on Nov. 5 with an expanded Showcase Cup, a 14-game tournament that concludes at the annual NBA G League Winter Showcase from Dec. 19-22.

In the Showcase Cup, teams will be separated into four regional pods and play 12 games against one another. The four teams with the best record in each pod plus the next best four teams will advance to the single-elimination Winter Showcase to compete for the Showcase Cup. The teams outside of the top eight will play in two games outside of the event.

Following the Showcase Cup, the teams' records will reset and the 36-game regular season will begin on Dec. 27. Combined with the Showcase Cup, each team will play a total of 50 regular-season games.

The top six teams from each conference will advance to the playoffs in April 2022 for a chance to compete in the NBA G League Finals presented by YouTube TV.

NBA G League Ignite and Capitanes de la Ciudad de Mexico will compete in the Showcase Cup but will not take part in the 36-game regular season.

NBA G League Draft Info

Date: Saturday, Oct. 23

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Notables in NBA G League Draft Player Pool

LiAngelo Ball

After playing impressively for the Charlotte Hornets during the 2021 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, LiAngelo Ball didn't manage to earn an invite to Charlotte's training camp. Undeterred from chasing his NBA dreams, Ball has signed a G League contract, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

In five Summer League games, Ball averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game while shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range. The middle brother to NBA players Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, LiAngelo could land with the Hornets' G-League affiliate in Greensboro, which holds the 26th pick.

Lance Stephenson

Nine-year NBA veteran guard Lance Stephenson has signed a G League contract and will be in the draft, according to NBA reporter JD Shaw. Stephenson most recently played in China after a stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019-20 season.

Stephenson has played in over 500 games in his NBA career and is known for his position versatility and his creativity on the court. Stephenson has also been known to get under the skin of his opponents, most notably pestering LeBron James during the 2014 playoff series between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.

Stephenson likely wants to play for a title contender as he nears the end of his career. Signing with the G League shows that he's ready to do the work to prove he's worthy of a roster spot.

Joe Young

A former second-round pick to the Pacers in 2015, Joe Young spent three seasons in Indiana before heading overseas to play in China. Young impressed during his time in the CBA, with performances of 51 and 74 points. He averaged a league-high 38.3 points in the 2019-20 season.

After three years away from the NBA, Young signed a G League contract, according to Pacers reporter Scott Agness. At age 29, Young will have the chance to put his scoring prowess on display and potentially work his way back into the league.

NBA G League Draft Order (First Round)

1. Delaware (From South Bay)

2. College Park

3. Fort Wayne

4. Westchester

5. Agua Caliente (From Stockton)

6. Sioux Falls (From Grand Rapids)

7. Raptors905

8. Motor City

9. Iowa (From Wisconsin)

10. Salt Lake City

11. Texas (From Austin)

12. Memphis

13. Grand Rapids (From Sioux Falls)

14. Westchester (From Delaware)

15. Austin (From Texas)

16. Cleveland

17. Windy City (From Lakeland)

18. Maine

19. Iowa (From Birmingham)

20. Lakeland (From Long Island)

21. Stockton (From Agua Caliente)

22. Iowa

23. Greensboro (From Santa Cruz via SBL)

24. Capital City

25. Windy City

26. Greensboro

27. Cleveland (From OKL via RGV)

28. RGV

Click here to see the complete NBA G League draft order for all three rounds.

The Charlotte Hornets and LiAngelo Ball agreed Thursday to a non-guaranteed contract.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Ball will start the 2021-22 season with the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte's affiliate in the NBA G League. Charania reported Monday that the 22-year-old was originally planning to sign a G League deal ahead of the league's Oct. 23 draft.

Ball played for the Hornets' NBA Summer League team and averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in five games. HIs best performance came in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, when he made five three-pointers and scored 16 points.

NBA insider Jordan Schultz reported in August that team officials were encouraged by what they saw from the 22-year-old:

Head coach James Borrego told reporters during the Hornets' media day that Ball "performed well and opened eyes and played at a higher level than I expected."

That wasn't enough for him to crack the their training camp roster, though.

Ball hasn't had the chance to play in the G League yet. The Oklahoma City Blue acquired his rights in March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic paused and eventually canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 G League season.

Suiting up for the Swarm provides the California native with his clearest path to earning an NBA roster spot. Even if he's unable to team up with his younger brother LaMelo on the Hornets, he could perform well enough for another franchise to give him a shot.

LiAngelo Ball is signing a contract with the NBA G League, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Following the deal, Ball will eligible for the G League draft on Oct. 23.

Most recently, the 22-year-old was signed to the Charlotte Hornets for the NBA Summer League. He could potentially land with Charlotte's G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

In five games with the Hornets in the Vegas summer league, he averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds. He also shot 37.5 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Ball hit five three-pointers en route to a 16-point performance as Charlotte lost 93-86 to the Portland Trail Blazers in what was his best showing.

NBA insider Jordan Schultz reported in August he was earning plaudits within the Charlotte organization:

Ball's contributions weren't enough for him to get a spot on the Hornets' training camp roster for the 2021-22 season. Still, landing with the Swarm would get him one step closer toward teaming up with younger brother LaMelo.

In the event he winds up with another team, simply playing in the G League would provide Ball with the kind of showcase he needs to earn his way onto an NBA roster.

The California native was poised to suit up for the Oklahoma City Blue after they acquired him in March 2020, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to put the G League's 2019-20 season on hold and eventually force its cancellation altogether.

Longtime NBA player Jason Terry was hired as the head coach of the Grand Rapids Gold, a G League squad that will be an affiliate of the Denver Nuggets beginning this upcoming season.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN initially reported the two sides were nearing a deal.

Prior to being affiliated with Denver, Grand Rapids was previously connected to the Detroit Pistons.

Terry spent 19 years in the NBA as a player, competing for six different organizations. He entered coaching last season as an assistant at the University of Arizona, his alma mater.

The 43-year-old also has experience in the G League after serving as an assistant general manager for the Texas Legends.

Terry is still best known for his extensive playing career that saw him average 13.4 points per game while winning the NBA title in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks. He also won Sixth Man of the Year in 2008-09 and currently sits seventh all-time in made three-pointers.

Though he never made an All-Star Game, Terry ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,410 games played.

That came after a college career that featured an NCAA title and an All-American selection for the Wildcats.

Terry will now get a chance to impart his knowledge to a younger group of players.  

Combo guard Jaden Hardy, who is ranked third overall on 247Sports' list of the top boys' high school basketball prospects in the class of 2021, explained why he chose to play for the NBA G League Ignite over going to college Saturday.

"It was the best move for me," Hardy said, per Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated. "I never got the chance to take my official visits, so that made things harder. I feel like this is the right move for me, and I feel like I'm ready for it."

Hardy added: "I feel like my game translates better at the pro level. I train for that level."

The 6'4", 190-pound combo guard out of Coronado High School in Henderson, Nevada, averaged 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game during his junior campaign in 2019-20.

Hardy's senior high school season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hardy appears destined for an NBA court, with Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports providing a glowing scouting report that compared him to Washington Wizards superstar shooting guard Bradley Beal.

Hardy is the best offensive player in the senior class. He gets buckets from four different ranges on the floor and is elite at creating his own shot on demand. He has the touch of an elite scorer who can hit jumpers with a high degree of difficulty. He has tremendous range out to the NBA three-point line that stretches a defense and opens up driving lanes for his teammates.

He draws comparisons to Bradley Beal due to his shooting stroke, and ability to take over a game with his knack to score. A true killer who can win a game in clutch scenarios, Hardy's game translates to the highest of levels as he is always a threat to fill it up on any given night.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Hardy had offers from Kentucky, UCLA and Arizona, among other schools. Charania broke the news of Hardy's decision earlier Saturday.

Hardy follows in the footsteps of other players who have made the same decision to choose the G League over college, including Jalen Green, whom Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report pegs second in his latest 2021 NBA draft big board.

Michael Foster, one of the top prospects in the 2021 college basketball recruiting class, announced Friday he's forgoing the college route to join the NBA G League Ignite.

Foster explained his decision to Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated:

Foster is a 5-star prospect and the No. 14 player in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's ranked as the No. 5 power forward and the best player from Arizona.

The Hillcrest Prep standout's recruitment was sluggish compared to other top prospects, something he attributed to unsubstantiated rumors early in the process during a January interview with Jordan.

"I don't have all of the schools calling for me like that," Foster said. "I don't know why, but I've heard that coaches think they can't get me because I'm going pro. I've never even had a conversation about that, so I don't know where that could've come from."

The forward, who has all the tools to become a key player at both ends of the floor, told Jordan the reality was quite the opposite.

"I've always wanted to play in the NCAA tournament and compete in the Final Four and try to win a national title," he said. "I've never talked about overseas. But I can't control what college coaches think. I'm happy with the schools that are showing interest. At the end of the day, you want to be wanted."

The Milwaukee native does most of his damage in the paint, but he's started to showcase offensive range that stretches to the three-point line. His length and athleticism have also made him a high-end defender in high school.

He'll need to add more weight to his 6'9", 220-pound frame to contend with elite post players, and increasing his variety of offensive moves is also a work in progress.

Although Foster downplayed his interest in going straight to pro ball, he decided it was the best option. He'll try to earn consistent playing time with the Ignite to continue his development while awaiting the 2022 NBA draft.

The forward has the physical tools to hold his own against older competition, but it's hard to project how much playing time he'll earn straight out of high school in the G League.

If Jalen Green were to compile highlights from his G League Ignite season, he wouldn't likely use many clips from Wednesday's game against the Memphis Hustle.

Jonathan Kuminga just might. 

Kuminga finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, assembling a strong second half before fouling out to help lead the Ignite to a 104-101 win in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Green added 10 points and two rebounds but made just four of his 15 shots in one of his least efficient efforts of the season. 

Neither Kuminga nor Green could find their rhythm early, as the Ignite trailed by 11 heading into halftime.

Things changed after the break, with Kuminga showing his energy on both ends, acting as an aggressive scorer and solid distributor. He fouled out with under two minutes remaining, leaving NBA veteran Jarrett Jack to take over the rest of the way.

Jack scored a game-high 22 points off the bench and hit a pair of free throws in the waning seconds to help seal the game for the Ignite. 

Prospects Daishen Nix (11 points, eight rebounds, three assists) and Isaiah Todd (10 points, four rebounds) were also in double figures.

Bennie Boatwright led Memphis with team-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Tyrell Terry added 19 points in the loss. 

The Salt Lake City Stars are up next for the Ignite on Friday.

The Ignite kicked off the 2021 G League season with a 109-104 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Jonathan Kuminga turned heads in his professional debut with 19 points and two blocks as one of several top prospects for the 2021 NBA draft on the Ignite.

NBA veteran Jarrett Jack was also key for the otherwise young squad, leading all players with 23 points off the bench. He helped the Ignite jump out to a 15-point halftime lead before it held on for a hard-fought victory Wednesday at AdventHealth Arena.

Kuminga's defense was key in sealing the win thanks to this late block:

Jeremy Lin impressed in his return to American basketball after spending last year in China, finishing with 18 points and five assists for the Golden State affiliate.

It was the first game of the year for the G League, which will play its entire season in a bubble in Orlando, Florida, similar to the NBA's restart a year ago. 

Notable Performances

Jonathan Kuminga, SF, GLI: 19 points, 4 assists, 2 blocks

Jarrett Jack, PG, GLI: 23 points, 9-10 FG, 2 steals

Jalen Green, SG, GLI: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

Jeremy Lin, PG, SCW: 18 points, 5 assists, 3 steals

Jordan Poole, SF, SCW: 22 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals

Nico Mannion, PG, SCW: 17 points, 6 assists, 7 turnovers

Jonathan Kuminga Improves Stock in 1st Game for Ignite

The Ignite feature several veteran players who played in the NBA, like Jarrett Jack and Amir Johnson, as well as experienced G League players like Brandon Ashley. Jack was especially important to help the team in its first game.

However, his minutes will likely remain low as most eyes will be on the younger prospects.

The experimental team features two of the top-five prospects and four total players in the latest 2021 mock draft by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman. While college prospects have had months to showcase their ability to scouts, these players are just getting started.

Jonathan Kuminga took advantage with several highlight plays on the way to 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting, adding four assists.

It was just one game, and the 1-of-7 three-point shooting wasn't great, but his stock is already up according to those watching along:

His passing, like this key dish to Jalen Green, was especially surprising to new viewers:

Green had a slower start to his professional career despite high expectations, finishing with 11 on 4-of-10 shooting.

He performed better in the second half, displaying his athleticism and shooting even though his first game left much to be desired.

Point guard prospect Daishen Nix turned heads with his size and playmaking:

Nix finished with 12 points and three assists in just 19 minutes off the bench, but he likely earned more playing time going forward.

For these players, the wins and losses aren't as important as showcasing their talent to scouts at the next level.

Jeremy Lin Shines in G League Audition for Warriors

Nine years after Linsanity, Jeremy Lin showed he still has plenty of basketball skill with a strong performance in his season debut.

The guard was efficient, knocking down shots while finding open teammates throughout the game:

In a game where players are trying to put up big numbers and flash their potential, Lin scored 18 on just nine shots and had a 5-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The 32-year-old last appeared in the NBA in 2019, helping the Toronto Raptors win a title, but he could be back in the league before too long if he keeps up this level of play.

Other players on the team are hoping for chances with the Golden State Warriors, including 2019 first-round pick Jordan Poole.

The wing finished with a team-high 22 points, adding three steals with quality defense and some deep shots:

The downside came with his overaggressiveness as he was 7-of-22 from the field, including 2-of-9 from inside the arc.

Nico Mannion also struggled with his shot (6-of-18) and finished minus-17 on the court, although he took on a tough task guarding Green. The 2020 second-round pick has plenty of confidence but will need to show more in order to reach the next level.

What's Next?

The G League Ignite will return to action Friday against the Oklahoma City Blue. Santa Cruz will face the Delaware Blue Coats in its next game Friday.

The G League Ignite, a team comprised of NBA draft prospects highlighted by Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, will make their season debut Feb. 10 against the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN reported that all 15 Ignite games will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPN+. Their season debut will be against a Warriors team led by Jeremy Lin, who has returned stateside in an attempt to resume his NBA career. 

Lin had been playing for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. 

The league's 18 G League teams will be bubbled at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort for a four-week event that includes an aborted regular season and playoffs.

The NBA chose to bubble the G League this season because of COVID-19, rather than have them travel to in-market sites. Each participating team will pay between $400,000 and $500,000 to hold the event.

While the G League typically does not make many waves in the national headlines, the NBA is seeking to change that with the Ignite, a developmental team designed as an alternative to playing college basketball. 

The first iteration of the Ignite features six prospects and seven additional players with professional basketball experience, including NBA veterans Jarrett Jack, Amir Johnson and Bobby Brown. 

Green (ESPN's No. 3-ranked prospect) and Kuminga (No. 5) are the two biggest names, and the team also includes 5-star recruits Daishen Nix and Isaiah Todd. Kai Sotto, who immigrated from the Philippines to the United States to join Georgia's The Skill Factory in 2019, and NBA Academy India player Princepal Singh are the remaining two prospects.

Singh is the first NBA Academy India player to sign with a professional team.