Cavaliers' Emoni Bates Selected To 2024 NBA G League Up Next Game
After being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 49th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Emoni Bates has made a strong impression in his first professional season.
This past summer, the 20-year-old started all six games for Cleveland’s first-ever Summer League Championship team, averaging 17.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game and shooting 40.0% from three-point range. Then, Bates averaged 10.5 points per game and shot 10-for-22 (45.5%) from behind the arc in the preseason for the Wine and Gold.
Currently signed to a Two-Way Contract, the rookie has now been recognized as one of the premier players in the NBA G League.
On Monday, it was announced that Bates was voted into the 2024 NBA G League Up Next Game, which will be played during NBA All-Star Weekend.
The 6-foot-9 forward ended up earning the 10th-most fan votes, which garnered him an automatic spot for the contest. Bates has had a productive campaign with the G League's Cleveland Charge so far this season, averaging 24.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game across the regular season and Winter Showcase.
Dec 21, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Emoni Bates (21) shoots in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
He has continued his three-point prowess during his time in the G League, shooting 42.0% with 4.4 three-pointers made and 10.5 three-point attempts per contest in his 15 combined games.
As for his NBA career, Bates has appeared in 10 regular-season games for the Cavaliers this season. In his 69 minutes played, he has totaled 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal. Bates has also shot 5-for-20 (25.0%) from three-point territory.
Cleveland fans can watch Bates play in the second-ever NBA G League Up Next Game on Sunday, February 18 at 1:30 p.m.
