The G League offers players more than just a controlled environment to develop their skills. For certain players, it's their ticket to the NBA.
Yes, players from the G League can be selected in the NBA draft. Per their website, "If a player from high school, college or overseas enters the NBA G League without ever having declared for the NBA Draft, he will also join the waiver pool. That player remains NBA Draft-eligible but is not eligible to be called up to the NBA."
For example, Mike Taylor was a top-scorer on his team, but got thrown out of Iowa State after some run-ins with the law. Thanks to the G League and the opportunities presented, Taylor became the first G League player ever to be taken in the draft. In 2008, The Blazers wound up selecting Mike Taylor with the 55th pick. The 2014 NBA Draft was equally historic, when the Miami Heat selected P.J. Hairston with the 26th pick (the first time a player from the G was picked in the first round). Before the Ignite Team came around, that was how players were drafted.
NBA G League Ignite Team
The G League Ignite team is a "first-of-its-kind team dedicated to developing top young prospects in preparation for the NBA Draft." This is a team the league created specifically for players that don't want to or can't go to college but aren't yet eligible for the NBA Draft. It's designed to create a pathway from the G League into the NBA Draft. In its first two years of existence, the Ignite have produced six NBA Draft picks.
Which NBA G League players have been drafted in the past?
Some of the NBA's most exciting prospects and players were drafted right out of the G. For example: Jalen Green. Even though Jalen was one of the top guards coming out of high school and received offers from Auburn and Memphis, he decided not to attend college. Instead, Green opted to start his professional career as early as possible and started playing for Ignite. Which worked out pretty well for him, considering he was the second-overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Other Ignite players that were drafted:
- Isaiah Todd (2021) – Second round, first pick overall
- Jonathan Kuminga (2021) – First round, seventh pick overall
- Dyson Daniels (2022) – First round, eighth pick overall
- Jaden Hardy (2022) – Second round, seventh pick overall
- MarJon Beauchamp (2022) – First round, 24th pick overall.
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