Category: G League

G League blog

Frank Mason III wins 2019-20 G League MVP award

Wisconsin Herd guard Frank Mason III has been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Most Valuable Player, the NBA G League announced today. He earned the honor in a vote by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers.

Mason (5-11, 190, Kansas), who signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks last July, averaged an NBA G League-high 26.4 points, 5.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games with the Herd. Wisconsin went 18-5 with Mason in the lineup and finished with the league’s best record (33-10).

Mason shot 50.4 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from three-point range and 81.5 percent from the free throw line, joining the Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ Stephan Hicks as the only players in the NBA G League to record a 50/40/80 shooting season in 2019-20.

A 2019-20 Midseason All-NBA G League Team selection, Mason registered seven games with at least 30 points. He scored a season-high 44 points against the Grand Rapids Drive on Feb. 19 and followed that performance by finishing with 36 points (on 14-of-17 shooting from the field) against the Drive on Feb. 23. In his second-to-last NBA G League game of the season, he made 16-of-18 shots from the field and had 35 points against the Delaware Blue Coats on Feb. 27.

This season marked Mason’s first action in the NBA G League after spending two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, who selected him with the 34th pick in NBA Draft 2017 presented by State Farm. He was the 2016-17 consensus National Player of the Year as a senior at Kansas.

In his NBA career, Mason has averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 assists in 96 games with the Kings and Bucks. He has appeared in six games for Milwaukee this season.

Herd guard Jaylen Adams and Maine Red Claws guard Tremont Waters finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Most Valuable Player Award.

The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Bart Taylor wins 2019-20 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year award

Salt Lake City Stars Vice President of Basketball Operations Bart Taylor has been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year, the NBA League announced today. Taylor earned the honor in a vote of NBA G League team basketball executives.

In his fourth season as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz’s NBA G League affiliate, Taylor oversaw a team that finished with the best record in the Western Conference (30-12) and earned at least 30 wins for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

Earlier today, Salt Lake City head coach Martin Schiller was named the 2019-20 NBA G League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year. Hired by Taylor and the Stars in 2017, Schiller led Salt Lake City to 14 consecutive victories from Nov. 15 to Dec. 27 – tied for the second-longest single-season winning streak in league history. The Stars also won the 2019 MGM Resorts NBA G League Winter Showcase in December in Las Vegas.

Taylor’s player acquisitions included guard Trevon Bluiett (14.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and forwards William Howard (13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Juwan Morgan (14.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Howard and Morgan earned GATORADE Call-Ups to the Houston Rockets and the Jazz, respectively.

Under Taylor’s leadership, Salt Lake City helped develop Utah’s rookies throughout the year, including NBA assignees Morgan, Miye Oni, Rayjon Tucker and Nigel Williams-Goss and two-way players Jarrell Brantley and Justin Wright-Foreman. Utah center Tony Bradley and former Jazz guard Dante Exum also spent time with the Stars for rehab and practice assignments.

In addition to his role with the Stars, Taylor is in his fourth season as the Jazz’s Director of Scouting. This is his eighth season overall with the Jazz organization, which hired him after he spent the 2011-12 season working in basketball operations with the San Antonio Spurs.

Memphis Hustle General Manager Daniel Marcus and Wisconsin Herd General Manager Dave Dean finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year Award.

The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Martin Schiller wins NBA G League Coach of Year award

Salt Lake City Stars head coach Martin Schiller has won the 2019-20 NBA G League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award, the G League announced today.

Schiller earned the honor in a vote by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers.

In his third season as head coach of the Utah Jazz’s NBA G League affiliate, Schiller guided the Stars to the best record in the Western Conference (30-12, .714). Salt Lake City improved on last season’s winning percentage of .540 (27-23).

The Stars excelled on defense under Schiller, ranking second in the NBA G League in points allowed (106.1) and fourth in defensive rating (105.0). They held opponents to the third-lowest field goal percentage (44.5) and the lowest three-point field goal percentage (31.4). On offense, Salt Lake City ranked third in the NBA G League in both field goal percentage (48.0) and three-point field goal percentage (36.8).

Schiller was selected as the NBA G League Coach of the Month for December after guiding Salt Lake City to a league-best 9-1 record, including a 4-0 mark on the road. The Stars won 14 consecutive games from Nov. 15 to Dec. 27, tying the second-longest single-season winning streak in NBA G League history. They also won their final six games of the season.

With Schiller at the helm, Salt Lake City won the 2019 G League Winter Showcase in December in Las Vegas. Schiller coached two players who earned Call-Ups this season, William Howard (Houston Rockets) and Juwan Morgan (Jazz).

Before joining the Stars, the Austrian-born Schiller served as an assistant coach in the German Bundesliga with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (2015-17) and Artland Dragons (2010-15). He has been an assistant coach for the German National Team since 2015.

The NBA G League Coach of the Year Award is named for the late Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson, a star NBA guard and NBA G League coach. During his playing career with the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics, Johnson won three NBA championships, earned five NBA All-Star selections and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team six times. He was in his third season coaching in the NBA G League when he passed away in 2007.

Chase Buford of the Wisconsin Herd and Nate Reinking of the Canton Charge finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Coach of the Year Award.

The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Gabe Vincent wins 2019-20 G League Most Improved Player award

Sioux Falls Skyforce guard Gabe Vincent yesterday won the 2019-20 NBA G League Most Improved Player award. The winner is decided in a vote by the G Legaue’s 28 head coaches and general managers.

In his second G League season, Vincent (6-foot-3, 200 pounds, UC Santa Barbara) put up 20.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 31 outings. He hit a G League-leading 4.2 three-pointers per game, and shot 40.3 percent from three-point range.

Vincent’s first 20 games of this G League season were played as a member of the Stockton Kings. His final 11 games with the Skyforce, who are the G League affiliate of the Miami Heat, who signed Vincent to a two-way contract on January 8, 2020. He played in six NBA games for the Heat this season.

In the G League, Vincent scored at least 30 points six times this season. Three of those performances came in December, when he averaged 24.9 points and shot 49.1 percent from the field with Stockton. He scored a career-high 35 points against the South Bay Lakers on Dec. 17 and matched that total against the Canton Charge on Dec. 21, making nine three-pointers in each game.

The Skyforce started the season 10-13 before adding Vincent to its roster. Sioux Falls went 9-2 with him in the lineup and finished 22-20 overall. The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Vincent spent the entire 2018-19 NBA G League season with Stockton. He averaged 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 24 games.

Raptors 905 guard Paul Watson and Santa Cruz Warriors guard Mychal Mulder finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Most Improved Player Award.

Ivan Rabb wins 2019-20 NBA G League Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award

Westchester Knicks forward Ivan Rabb has received the 2019-20 NBA G League Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, as voted on by all NBA G League players. The award honors the player who best represents the ideals of character and conduct on the court and in the community.

Rabb was an integral member of the Westchester community throughout the season. As part of his efforts, he helped unload 1,000 turkeys to Feeding Westchester in conjunction with Stop & Shop’s annual Turkey Express program.

In his third season in the NBA G League, Rabb (6-10, 220, California) averaged 16.5 points and an NBA G League-high 12.1 rebounds in 29 games. He finished the season with three consecutive double-doubles and recorded a single-game franchise record 24 rebounds in a 115-104 loss to the Wisconsin Herd on March 6. On Feb. 29, Rabb posted 32 points, 12 rebounds and six steals in a 129-115 victory over the Greensboro Swarm.

Rabb, who signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks last October, appeared in 18 games for Westchester before being waived on Jan. 13. He re-joined the Knicks’ NBA G League affiliate on Jan. 23 and finished out the season.

Rabb joined the Knicks after spending the previous two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. He was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 34th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and traded to Memphis. Rabb was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection in two seasons at the University of California.

In his NBA career, Rabb has averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 85 games with the Grizzlies. He did not appear in an NBA game with the Knicks this season. He holds career averages of 17.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in 54 NBA G League games with Westchester and the Memphis Hustle.

The Sportsmanship Award honors former NBA G League, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier, who passed away suddenly on Oct. 15, 2005. Collier, a 2003-04 All-NBA G League First Team selection as a member of the Fayetteville Patriots, was a player and person who exemplified the qualities of a faithful teammate, husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was preparing to begin his sixth NBA season at the time of his death.

Each NBA G League team nominated one player for the Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, which is voted on by all NBA G League players. Canton Charge guard Levi Randolph, who signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in January, finished second. Long Island Nets guard Devin Cannady finished third.

The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Red Claws guard Tremont Waters wins 2019-20 G League Rookie of Year award

Maine Red Claws guard Tremont Waters has been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Rookie of the Year, the G League announced today. The award, voted on by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers, recognizes the first-year professional who most significantly contributed to his team’s success during the season.

Waters (5-10, 175, LSU), a two-way player with the Boston Celtics, averaged 18.0 points, 7.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.89 steals in 36 games for Maine. He ranked sixth in the NBA G League in assists per game and 14th in steals per game. Waters registered 10 games with at least 20 points and seven assists, including a season-high 33-point, seven-assist performance in a 155-131 road win over the Greensboro Swarm on Nov. 27.

Behind the 22-year-old Waters, the Red Claws finished in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 28-14 record. Waters was named the NBA G League Player of the Month for November and earned a spot on the 2019-20 Midseason All-NBA G League Team in the Eastern Conference.

Boston selected Waters in the second round (51st pick overall) of NBA Draft 2019 presented by State Farm after he averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.91 steals as a sophomore at LSU in the 2018-19 season. Signed to a two-way contract last July, Waters has appeared in 10 games with the Celtics this season.

Waters is the fourth Maine player to be selected as the NBA G League Rookie of the Year, joining Abdel Nader (2016-17), Tim Frazier (2014-15) and DeShawn Sims (2010-11).

Waters appeared in 36 of Maine’s 42 games this season. The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Salt Lake City Stars forward Jarrell Brantley and South Bay Lakers forward Devontae Cacok finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Rookie of the Year Award.

Christ Koumadje wins 2019-20 G League Defensive Player of the Year award

Delaware Blue Coats rookie center Christ Koumadje has been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year, the NBA G League announced today. He earned the honor in a vote by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers.

Koumadje (7-4, 270, Florida State) led the NBA G League in blocked shots per game (4.0) and total blocks (133) to go with 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in 33 games. He ranked 10th in the NBA G League in defensive rebounds per game (7.1). On Feb. 1, Koumadje recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 20 rebounds and an NBA G League season-high 12 blocks in a 111-103 road victory over the Erie BayHawks.

Behind Koumadje, the Blue Coats topped the NBA G League in blocks per game (7.3), finished second in opponents’ field goal percentage (44.0) and ranked ninth in defensive rating (107.4).

A Chad native, the 23-year-old Koumadje joined the Blue Coats after participating in NBA Summer League 2019 and the 2019 preseason with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Blue Coats are the NBA G League affiliate of the 76ers.

Koumadje appeared in 33 of Delaware’s 43 games this season. The NBA G League canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on June 4. The regular season was suspended on March 12 and had been scheduled to conclude on March 28.

Canton Charge guard-forward Sir’Dominic Pointer and Westchester Knicks forward Kenny Wooten finished second and third, respectively, in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Brian Shaw to coach G League Select Team

In recent years, the standard route for top high school basketball players has been to go to college, play one NCAA season, then head to the pros.

But now, with the introduction of the G League “Select” team, a handful of high school stars will now have the chance to skip college and head straight to a special, brand new G League team that exists just for their purposes, with their goal of making the NBA in mind.

As of today, that G League team has its first head coach: Brian Shaw.

More info: Brian Shaw named head coach of new G League Select Team

Remainder of 2019-20 G League season is canceled

NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim today announced that the remainder of the 2019-20 NBA G League season, which was suspended March 12, has been canceled. The NBA G League’s regular season was scheduled to conclude on March 28.

“While canceling the remainder of our season weighs heavily on us, we recognize that it is the most appropriate action to take for our league,” said Abdur-Rahim. “I extend my sincere gratitude to NBA G League players and coaches for giving their all to their teams and fans this season. And to our fans, I thank you and look forward to resuming play for the 2020-21 season.”

In the coming weeks, the NBA G League will announce end-of-season award winners, including the Most Valuable Player, Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year.

Kai Sotto signs to play in G League

NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim today announced that Kai Sotto, a top prospect from the Philippines, has signed to play in the NBA G League next season. Sotto, ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 player in Georgia in the Class of 2020, spent this past season at Atlanta-based sports development organization The Skill Factory.

The NBA G League gives top young prospects a chance to begin their professional careers while receiving mentorship and life skills training. Sotto will have the opportunity to accelerate his on-court development as he learns NBA-style basketball.

Sotto joins consensus five-star high school recruits Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix in signing to play in the NBA G League for the 2020-21 season. Details of the new team Sotto, Green, Todd and Nix will play for, which will be unaffiliated with any existing NBA G League franchise or NBA team, are forthcoming.

A 7-2 center, Sotto excelled at Ateneo de Manila High School in Quezon City, the Philippines, before playing at The Skill Factory. In February, Sotto participated in the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp during NBA All-Star 2020 in Chicago. He has represented the Philippines in several competitions, including the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.