Category: G League

G League blog

Ron Holland signs with NBA G League Ignite team

Forward Ron Holland, a consensus five-star high school prospect who is ranked by ESPN as the No. 2 player in the Class of 2023, has signed with NBA G League Ignite, General Manager Anthony McClish announced today.

“First of all, I want to thank God for blessing me with the abilities to play the game that I love,” Holland said. “I want to thank everyone that has believed in me throughout the whole process, it hasn’t been easy. I am super excited to join G League Ignite. I feel Ignite has the tools needed to prepare me for the life I want on and off the court. Let’s get to work!”

A Duncanville, Texas, native, Holland was selected as a 2023 McDonald’s High School All-American and earned a spot on the U.S. Team for the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit. He was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Texas Boys Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals while leading Duncanville High School to a 29-1 record this past season. As a sophomore in 2020-21, Holland helped Duncanville finish 28-1 and win a state championship.

Holland has won two gold medals with USA Basketball, at the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in 2021 and the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in 2022. In the Under-16 competition, he averaged 19.0 points and 10.2 rebounds and earned All-Tournament Team honors. In the Under-17 event, he averaged 11.1 points and 6.6 rebounds.

Holland joins fellow 2023 McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade Illinois Player of Year Matas Buzelis, NBA Academy graduates Thierry Darlan and Babacar Sane, second-year Ignite player London Johnson and Texas high school standout Dink Pate on Ignite’s roster as the latest group of top national and international prospects preparing for the NBA Draft presented by State Farm.

Ignite has produced three top 10 NBA Draft picks in the previous two years – the most by any program in that span – in Jalen Green (2021, No. 2, Houston Rockets), Jonathan Kuminga (2021, No. 7, Golden State Warriors) and Dyson Daniels (2022, No. 8, New Orleans Pelicans). Ignite has had a total of six NBA Draft picks in the last two years, which matches the highest total for a program in that period.

Portland G League team hires Hannah Grauert as team President

The Portland G League team, the official NBA G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers, has announced Hannah Grauert as the franchise’s President.

Grauert comes to the role with a ten-year history of working with the Portland Trail Blazers and the NBA, and most recently from roles in event planning and innovation at Nike and Microsoft.

“We are thrilled at Hannah’s return to our organization and are excited to see her lead our G League team in her new role as President,” said Dewayne Hankins, Portland Trail Blazers President of Business Operations. “Hannah’s innovative nature and dedication to our community combined with an expansive knowledge in project and event management are vital as we head into a new chapter of Rip City basketball.”

Grauert joined the Trail Blazers in 2007 as a Ticket Operations Coordinator and in her 10 seasons with the Trail Blazers, she touched almost every aspect of the business, from fan development and community programming to leading the youth basketball program. Grauert managed elaborate consumer-focused events as well as the creation of communication and brand plans to launch the innovative Community Player Ticket Program.

“From the start, Rip City has always held a special place in my heart as I grew up around the Trail Blazers and developed my early career here,” said Hannah Grauert, Portland G League President. “Returning to the excitement of fans and stepping into the role of President is an absolute honor and I look forward to leading this team to success as we enter a new era of development and expand basketball in our Portland community.”

Portland G League team names Danny Connors as GM, Pooh Jeter as assistant GM

The Portland G League team has announced Danny Connors has been named General Manager and Eugene “Pooh” Jeter named Assistant General Manager.

Connors becomes the General Manager of the Portland G League team after spending the previous seven seasons with the Trail Blazers organization. He most recently served as the team’s Personnel Analyst since January 2022 where he contributed to the talent evaluation of players at all levels through scouting and analytics. The Yardley, Pennsylvania native joined the team as a Basketball Operations Assistant in 2016 before serving as the team’s High School Scouting Coordinator (2018-21) and Scouting Coordinator (2021-22).

Prior to joining the Trail Blazers, Connors was a graduate assistant for the University of Massachusetts from 2014-16 while earning his Master’s in Sports Management. He also worked as a Basketball Operations Intern for the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer of 2013. Connors holds a degree in Newspaper and Online Journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where he worked with former assistant coach Mike Hopkins in an analytics role.

A former standout of the University of Portland, Jeter joins the Portland G League team as the Assistant General Manager after spending the past two seasons with the G League Ignite and averaged 7.4 points (44.2% FG, 44.9% 3-PT, 92.9% FT), 1.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 17.3 minutes per game in 28 contests for the Ignite during the 2022-23 season. Jeter spent the 2010-11 NBA season with the Sacramento Kings where he appeared in 62 games and brings a wealth of international experience from a prolific career which includes time in Spain, Israel, China, France, Turkey and the Ukraine.

As a Portland Pilot, Jeter was a three-time All-West Coast Conference point guard (2004-06) and ranks No. 2 all-time in scoring with 1,708 career points. Jeter also ranks fourth in steals (160), three-pointers made (200), free throws made (408) and free throw percentage (.846), while his 346 assists is No. 7 all-time.

Trail Blazers will have their own G League team starting in the 2023-24 season

The Portland Trail Blazers and the NBA G League today announced that the Trail Blazers have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA G League team that will launch in the Chiles Center on the University of Portland’s campus in North Portland. The team is expected to debut in the 2023-24 season. With today’s announcement, the NBA G League expands to a record 31 teams for the 2023-24 season. The name and brand identity of the team will be announced at a later date, as well as the front office and coaching staff.

Chiles Center serves as the home for the University of Portland’s Division I athletics programs competing in the West Coast Conference. Opened in 1984, the 4,852-seat convocation dome has hosted numerous high-profile events, including college basketball’s Phil Knight tournaments last November, as well as the 1992 and 2007 West Coast Conference Basketball Championships. The University has previously partnered with the Trail Blazers on hosting countless NBA events over the last decade, including a successful partnership that resulted in the 2030 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four recently being awarded to the City of Portland.

“I’m excited to welcome Jody Allen and the Trail Blazers ownership group to the NBA G League family,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “The NBA G League continues to grow to meet the developmental demands of NBA teams, and today’s announcement is further proof of the value the league provides to the NBA every day. I can’t wait to watch the team tip off at the Chiles Center next season.”

“It was very important to our organization to enter the G League with an affiliate here in Portland and strategically strengthen our dedication to player development,” said Joe Cronin, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager. “I would especially like to thank Jody Allen, who is aligned with Dewayne Hankins and myself, to make it a priority to have this team ready for next season as it will serve not only as a developmental tool for players but also for aspiring coaches and staff while we continue to be a mainstay in the community as a whole.”

“Entering the G League with a team of our own will increase development in numerous areas,” said Dewayne Hankins, Portland Trail Blazers President of Business Operations. “Not only will this team be an asset for developing young talent on the court, but developing talent off the court as well. We’ll be leaning into an innovative approach that will improve all aspects of our business across both teams. With the team launching at the University of Portland, we’re excited to continue engaging with the North Portland community.”

“Pilot Nation is thrilled to welcome the Trail Blazers G League franchise to their home on The Bluff,” said University of Portland President Robert D. Kelly, PhD. “UP has a rich and storied athletic tradition, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue that tradition by hosting this new franchise on our beautiful campus. I am grateful to our friends from the Portland Trail Blazers and our Athletic Department staff for making this wonderful partnership happen, and I can’t wait for the inaugural season to begin!”

Orlando Magic relocating their G League team to Kissimmee, rebranding them as the Osceola Magic

The Orlando Magic will relocate its NBA G League affiliate to Kissimmee, FL, and it will be rebranded as the Osceola Magic. Their new home will be in Osceola Heritage Park, beginning play at Silver Spurs Arena in November 2023, CEO and Managing Partner Alex Martins announced today.

“We are excited to bring the Magic and NBA G League basketball to Osceola County, Kissimmee and Osceola Heritage Park,” said Martins. “We would like to thank Osceola County Chairwoman Viviana Janer, County Manager Don Fisher and Osceola Heritage Park General Manager Robb Larson in assisting us in making this move a reality. We look forward to being an invested community partner in Kissimmee and Osceola County.”

“Osceola County’s strategic planning continues to attract top tier organizations that share in our vision for the community,” said Janer. “We are honored to have the Osceola Magic make their new home at OHP. When it comes to sports and entertainment, we already host many premium events and organizations. Today, I’m proud that the Orlando Magic organization is joining the list of marquee partners that call Osceola County and Osceola Heritage Park their home. We look forward to cheering on our new team and welcoming fans from all over to experience the magic of Osceola County.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Osceola Magic to our community and to Osceola Heritage Park,” said Larson. “This partnership will not only bring exciting professional basketball games to Osceola County, but also provide opportunities to local businesses and tourism. We look forward to working closely with the team to create a memorable experience for fans and players alike.”

Mac McClung named G League Player of the Week

Philadelphia 76ers two-way guard Mac McClung has been named NBA G League Player of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 5.

The 2023 Slam Dunk champion averaged 28.7 points, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals in three games for the Delaware Blue Coats (3-0).

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, “McClung, who has yet to play for the Sixers, signed his two-day contract with the Sixers on Feb. 14. The 24-year-old was last season’s G League rookie of the year.”

Scotty Pippen Jr. named G League Player of Week

Los Angeles Lakers two-way guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has been named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played Monday, Dec. 12, through Saturday, Dec. 17, the league announced today.

Pippen Jr. averaged 26.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range as South Bay tallied a perfect 3-0 record for the week.

In South Bay’s win over Santa Cruz on Wednesday, Pippen Jr. scored 30 points (10-20 FG) with five assists, one rebound, one steal and one block, good for his fourth 30-point outing of the season. He finished with 27 points (9-14 FG), four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in South Bay’s road win against the Clippers on Thursday. He also tallied 22 points, three rebounds, five assists and a career-high four steals in 32 minutes on Saturday night against the Kings, helping South Bay clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the NBA G League Winter Showcase.

Through 15 games this season, Pippen Jr. is averaging 23.6 points (.453 FG%, .364 3P%), 3.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 28.8 minutes. Additionally, the guard is leading all reserves in scoring amongst players who have appeared in at least 10 games off the bench.

Encouraging results for Warriors from G League game

Via the San Jose Mercury News:

A trio of young Warriors players led the Santa Cruz Warriors to a 122-111 win over the Oklahoma City Blue Sunday afternoon at Kaiser Permanente Arena.

James Wiseman tallied 24 points and 16 rebounds on assignment from the NBA’s Warriors, while Ryan Rollins led Santa Cruz with 26 points, adding nine rebounds and seven assists. First-round pick Patrick Baldwin added 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting (6-of-9 from 3).

All five Santa Cruz starters scored in double digits as Lester Quinones, Wiseman’s college teammate at Memphis, added 20 points and Jerome Robinson scored 16.

FULL ARTICLE

G League news and notes: Luka Samanic named Player of Month

AWARD WINNERS: On Friday, the NBA G League announced monthly award winners for November. Maine’s Luka Samanic (21.7 points, 11.4 rebounds) was named NBA G League Player of the Month after leading the Celtics to a conference-best 8-2 record. Ontario Clippers head coach Paul Hewitt was named NBA G League Coach of the Month after guiding the Clippers to a league-best 9-2 record.

ANOTHER ONE FOR GABE: Fort Wayne Mad Ants guard Gabe York was named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played Monday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 4. This is the second time this season York has won the award. York averaged 36.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, highlighted by a 43-point performance against Windy City on Dec. 3.

SURGING AHEAD: The South Bay Lakers (8-3), fueled by Scotty Pippen Jr. (23.8 ppg, 4.6 apg), finished the week on six-game winning streak, moving them towards the top of the West Region standings. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (9-3) also finished the week on a five-game winning streak, increasing its lead at the top of the South Region standings.

TOP PERFORMERS

On Dec. 4, Sioux Falls Skyforce center Orlando Robinson tallied career-highs with 27 points and 19 rebounds in a 142-96 win over the Wisconsin Herd.

Texas Legends guard Tyler Dorsey recorded 39 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 139-129 victory over the Memphis Hustle on Nov. 29.

On Dec. 1, Raptors 905 forward Reggie Perry posted 24 points and 24 rebounds in a 127-117 loss to the Delaware Blue Coats.

Pelicans assign Kira Lewis Jr. and Dereon Seabron to the G League

The New Orleans Pelicans have assigned guard Kira Lewis Jr. to the Birmingham Squadron, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.

Additionally, the Pelicans transferred two-way guard Dereon Seabron from New Orleans to Birmingham.

Lewis Jr. (6-1, 178), who was last assigned to Birmingham on Nov. 14, appeared in three games for the Squadron and averaged 13.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.0 minutes per game. Drafted by New Orleans with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Lewis Jr. has appeared in 78 games with the Pelicans and holds career averages of 6.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Seabron (6-5, 183) has appeared in nine games for the Squadron this season, averaging 16.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 34.6 minutes per game.

Lewis Jr. and Seabron will be available for tomorrow night’s game against the Mexico City Capitanes.