NBA G League Ignite Shutting Down After This Season

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On Thursday afternoon, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced the G League Ignite team would be shutting down following the end of this season. Launched in April 2020, the G League Ignite (owned by the NBA itself) was created to give elite prospects a chance to develop their skills while learning the professional game as well as earning a salary and endorsements, prior to their NBA draft eligibility.

In the short lifetime of the team, G League Ignite has had 10 players be drafted in the NBA draft. Among those 10 players are Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors), Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans), MarJon Beauchamp (Milwaukee Bucks), and Scoot Henderson (Portland Trailblazers), with Green and Henderson going top-3 in the 2021 and 2023 drafts, respectively. In 2022, the G League ignite played two games against Metropolitans 92, giving many their first look at eventual 2023 #1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. Many project current G League Ignite players Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland to be among the top players drafted in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Following years of the NCAA not allowing its student athletes to make money while making millions and now over a billion dollars in revenue, the G League allowed players to make money and move closer to achieving their NBA dream instead of going to college. With the world of basketball constantly changing and the NCAA’s introduction of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy in recent years, pre-draft eligible athletes have been able to sign endorsements and other deals while building their stock for future NBA drafts and drafts in other sports as well. It is estimated that the top 10 NIL earners are earning over $1M, making staying in school a more desirable route for student athletes. During All-Star weekend this past February, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted the NIL had diminished the need for feeder program.

G League ignite had mixed success in its four-year run. Their first season (2020-21) was the only season the team finished over .500 and made the postseason. The last three seasons of the team saw the G League Ignite finish under .500 and not make the postseason, with the 2023-24 season being their worst (2-28 as of 3/21/24). G League Ignite will play their last home game on March 25th against the South Bay Lakers and will play their last game of the franchise on March 28th, when they play the Ontario Clippers.