The NBA's developmental project, the G League Ignite, is set to shut down after this season, according to a report from The Athletic's Shams Charania. The NBA later confirmed the dissolution of the team in a press release.
The G League Ignite, which got its start in 2020, was created to serve as another potential path to the draft for NBA prospects who wished to forgo the collegiate route.
The program was the first of its kind, offering pre-draft prospects a chance to be financially compensated to play basketball. This came at a time before the name, image and likeness (NIL) rule was implemented in the NCAA.
“Four years ago, we started Ignite to fill a void in the basketball landscape, and I’m proud of the contributions we were able to make to that ecosystem,” NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim said. “With the changing environment across youth and collegiate basketball, now is the right time to take this step.
"As ever, the G League’s commitment to developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams is unwavering.”
According to Charania, elite prospects in the program were earning up to $1 million per season while playing in the G League.
However, the team has struggled to a 6-40 record this season despite guys like Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland being projected as top-10 picks in the draft.
Commissioner Adam Silver hinted at possible changes to Ignite during the NBA's all-star break, saying that he wasn't sure what the future would look like for the program.
“I’m not sure what the future of Team Ignite will be because before I felt there was a hole in the marketplace we were filling,” Silver said. “Now my focus is turning to earlier development of those players.”
Many NBA players have come through the developmental program in recent years, including 2021's second-overall pick for the Houston Rockets Jalen Green and third-overall pick for the Portland Trail Blazers from 2023 Scoot Henderson.
Overall, the program has developed 10 players who would go on to be drafted including four top-10 selections and four more players are projected to be picks in this upcoming year's draft.
Ignite's final game will be on March 28 against the Ontario Clippers, the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers.
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