The world was different when the NBA launched its developmental team, G League Ignite, in April 2020. The pandemic had just begun, and then came the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for high school and college athletes. This threw a wrench into the NBA’s plan: persuading elite high school prospects to develop under NBA staff and compete against other G League teams.
The Ignite aimed to attract top draft prospects seeking compensation before becoming draft-eligible. While there were initial adjustments, the rising stardom of Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green and Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga seemed to validate the concept. The NBA could potentially adapt as the basketball landscape continued to evolve.
However, with opportunities to play overseas, in the Overtime Elite league, or at a high-level prep school, many top prospects opted for those routes. The Ignite program didn’t offer a significant enough advantage.
Thus, fans were left wondering what could have been done differently when the NBA announced the G League Ignite’s final season. Recruitment wasn’t necessarily the issue. The challenge was ensuring every player thrived. Not everyone had the same success story as Green and Kuminga.
Consider guard Dink Pate, who signed the same deal as 2024 second overall pick Scoot Henderson: two years in the Ignite program (his senior year of high school and one year post-graduation) before entering the NBA. Now, with the program ending, a highly-touted prospect like Pate (projected for the 2026 Draft) faces uncertainty. Will he pursue a year of college, go overseas, or choose another path?
The NBA will answer these questions in the coming weeks as the Ignite closes its doors. It was a great idea with shortcomings in execution.
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