In this week’s NBA Rookie Ladder we look at rookies who are showing out in the G League.
Not every rookie that is selected during the NBA Draft will get to showcase his skills to the world on a NBA court. While some opt to go overseas to secure more stability financially, often the majority of the players drafted find their way onto rosters in the NBA Gatorade League.
This developmental league for NBA franchises was founded in 2001 and in the 16 years since has seen more money, more time, more teams, and more resources put into it to the point that it has now become a solid minor league for organizations across the league. The G-League consists of 26 teams and will reach 27 by the 2018-19 season; the end goal is to have 30 teams ensuring that there’s an affiliate for every single team.
With more organizations taking the G-League seriously, the 2017 rookie class is one of the first to be afforded the opportunity to get some true quality development under the umbrella of the team that drafted them.
This week, we are going to show love to the G-League. Specifically, the rookies in the G-League. There will be many more opportunities to fawn over Donovan Mitchell or bash Lonzo Ball in the coming weeks, but it’s time to give the less heralded rookies their moment in the spotlight (for even more in-depth coverage of the G-League visit 2 Ways & 10 Days).
Whether it’s due to roster imbalance, lack of playing time, or specific development, getting placed on a G-League team after being drafted shouldn’t be thought of as a demotion. Steady improvement and consistent play is all it takes to get on an NBA team’s radar in the G-League and the five players listed have done that and some during their stints in the NBA’s version of the minor league. It’s possible that these players spend the entire season in the G-League, but there’s potential for them to be key pieces to the teams that drafted them within the next two to three years.