G League Ignite: Successful Roots Lead to Best Roster Yet for 2023-24 Season
The NBA’s G League Ignite program has emerged as a trailblazing initiative in the world of basketball development. With a team located in Henderson, Nevada, this not your standard G League system. Rather, it’s a unique pathway to the NBA for elite prospects. In the modern era of basketball, it's an alternative to the traditional route of playing college basketball, rivaling other programs such as Overtime Elite, NBL’s Next Stars and others.
The program brings together a blend of extraordinary talents – comprising prospects eligible for the NBA Draft – and seasoned veterans. This combination creates a dynamic environment for young players to hone their skills and prepare for a future in the NBA. The team takes on NBA G League opponents and even participates in exhibitions against international teams. The goal is clear – to provide young talents with the best possible preparation for the NBA.
The origin of the program dates back to the early parts of 2020, when the G League introduced a raised salary for elite prospects that joined this program that breaks away from the traditional G League team structure. Jalen Green, the highest-ranked player in the 2020 high school class, was the first to join the Ignite, securing a $500,000 contract for one season. His decision to forgo college basketball and opt for this program really was a catalyst for the early success of Ignite. Shortly after, other premier prospects followed his lead.
The G League was fast becoming a potent alternative to the NCAA, a challenge to the traditional collegiate system. Since the NBA implemented its "one-and-done" rule in 2005, players have been exploring alternative options to the NCAA, looking for pathways that offer financial compensation for their talents. The G League Ignite program represents one such path, and it has quickly become one of the most popular and competitive. One of the key factors contributing to the program's success is its high-quality coaching staff, led by Jason Hart – a former player with nine years of NBA experience.
In the short span of time since its inception in 2020, the G League Ignite has produced 10 total NBA draft selections, five of which were taken in the first round, with two additional players securing NBA contracts despite not being drafted.
2021 NBA Draft
- Jalen Green (No. 2 Overall)
- Jonathan Kuminga (No. 7 Overall)
- Isaiah Todd (No. 31 Overall)
- Daishen Nix (Undrafted Free Agent)
2022 NBA Draft
- Dyson Daniels (No. 8 Overall)
- MarJon Beauchamp (No. 24 Overall)
- Jaden Hardy (No. 37 Overall)
- Michael Foster Jr. (Undrafted Free Agent)
2023 NBA Draft
- Scoot Henderson (No. 3 Overall)
- Leonard Miller (No. 33 Overall)
- Sidy Cissoko (No. 44 Overall)
- Mojave King (No. 47 Overall)
"We created team Ignite in the G League as an opportunity for players who choose not to go to college and want to become professionals. They can go directly into the G League and be well compensated,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver of the program in 2021.
In the ever-evolving landscape of basketball development, the Ignite program has emerged as a game-changer. It provides a unique, compelling, and lucrative path for young athletes to realize their dreams of becoming NBA stars. As the program continues to evolve, it's likely to remain a prominent alternative to the traditional college basketball route.
As successful as the program has been to date, the roster for the 2023-24 season is the most talented yet. Not only does it feature two players who will have a real chance to be selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, but also contains tremendous depth. In fact, upwards of eight players have what it takes to end up being a first-round selection in the upcoming draft or the one following.
- Ron Holland
- Matas Buzelis
- Izan Almansa
- Thierry Darlan
- Babacar Sane
- Tyler Smith
- London Johnson
- Dink Pate
While many alternative paths to the NBA have emerged as attractive options for the best young prospects in the world, none have been as successful as Ignite. Whether it’s domestic players that competed in the United States at the high school level, or elite overseas prospects, the level of talent has only increased with each passing season.
Over the next few weeks, Draft Digest will be interviewing each of the top members of the current Ignite roster and publishing features on their unique backgrounds.
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