In 2020, the NBA launched the G League Ignite, a program aimed at developing basketball talent through competition in the G League. Thus far, 10 Ignite players have been drafted, including top selections Jalen Green and Scoot Henderson. However, this season has proven challenging, with a 2-19 record and several players experiencing a decline in their draft prospects.
The introduction of the Ignite program provided players with an alternative route to professional basketball, offering immediate earning potential after high school. With NCAA players now able to profit from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, the appeal of such alternative pathways has diminished significantly.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged that the league is currently “reassessing” the Ignite program in light of these developments. He expressed uncertainty about its future, stating, “I’m not sure what the future of Team Ignite will be, because before there was a gap in the market that we believed we were addressing, but now my focus is shifting towards the earlier development of these players” said Silver.
Silver then added a few comments on how player development needs to change.
“If you’re seeing now, what we’re seeing in terms of that close to 30 percent of the league, players born outside the United States, it’s clear that the development is very different in many of those programs outside the United States, more of a focus on practice, less of a focus on games, which seems to be the opposite of many of the youth programs in the United States”. There is also a focus on highlight culture vs. development of players in the youth space that has risen with social media.
“I think that now we’ve begun discussions with the NCAA, the vast majority of the top players will play in college and never play in the NBA, of course, so we have a common interest in just improving the game, developing players, developing — players, there’s no question, they’re coming into the league incredibly skilled, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to being team basketball players. And then what I’m hearing from some of those same coaches that may be complaining about inability to play defense is that these players are not as prepared as I’d like them to be, particularly as very high draft picks.”
h/t: cbssports.com
Image: Getty Images
