It’s an exciting season in the NBA’s development league as all 30 teams, including NBA G League Ignite and Mexico City Capitanes, will be playing a 50-game schedule.
NBA G League Ignite, which has sent multiple lottery picks to the NBA draft over the past two years, will be led by Scoot Henderson, who is projected to be a top-two pick in the 2023 draft. Along with Henderson, G League and basketball fans will have their eyes on London Johnson, who joined the Ignite in October after reportedly signing the highest salary for a player taking the G League pathway.
However, there’s far more to the G League than Ignite.
There are 29 other teams with talented players who are one step away from being called up to the NBA. Below we’ll discuss some of the top players to watch out for this season, along with other players who just missed the cut.
MORE: How to watch every G League Ignite game this season
Who are the best players in the NBA G League?
1. Scoot Henderson, NBA G League Ignite
With Dyson Daniels, Marjon Beauchamp, and Jaden Hardy graduating to the NBA, it’s officially the Henderson show, as many analysts expect him to be one of the top picks in next summer’s draft.
The 6-foot-2 guard gave basketball fans a glimpse of what’s to come this season last month in an exhibition game against Metropolitans 92 and Victor Wembanyama, who is projected to be the first overall pick in 2023. While all eyes were on Wembanyama, Henderson held his own with 28 points (11-21 FG, 2-3 3pt), nine assists, and five rebounds. Last season, the former ESPN Top 100 HS prospect averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. If he can improve his shooting and continue to be a playmaker for others, he’ll easily be one of the best players in the G League and the cornerstone for an NBA franchise.
MORE: Why NBA scouts love Scoot Henderson
2. Trevlin Queen, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Last year’s G League MVP is back for another season, this time with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. The Pacers signed Queen to a two-way contract in October after he was released by the Sixers. The 6’6 wing averaged 25.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.3 steals per game in 2021-22 with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Queen was also named to the All-NBA G League Defensive Team and All-NBA G League first team. He was a primary reason the Vipers defeated the Delaware Blue Coats in the 2021-22 G League Finals. The 25-year-old is a walking bucket and can take over a game by himself. It would not be a shock to see him with the Pacers sometime this season.
3. Mac McClung, Delaware Blue Coats
From one award winner to another, McClung also took the league by storm last season and was named the G League Rookie of the Year. The former Texas Tech and Georgetown standout averaged 21.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game for the South Bay Lakers.
He did a little bit of everything on a squad that had another bonafide scorer in Mason Jones. The 23-year-old’s excellent play led to him getting some time with both the Bulls and Lakers in the NBA last season. McClung was acquired in the offseason by the Blue Coats, where he looks to build off last season under veteran head coach Coby Karl.
4. Luka Garza, Iowa Wolves
The former Iowa Hawkeye standout will begin this season in the G League as a two-way player for the Wolves after spending his rookie season with the Pistons and Motor City Cruise. In 32 games with Detroit, Garza averaged 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Garza dominated the competition when he was sent down to Motor City, averaging 20.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Garza showed us last season that he can put the ball on the floor as a big and has a motor that you can’t teach.
5. Mason Jones, Mexico City Capitanes
Rounding out our list is Jones, who was one of the best scorers in the G League last season for South Bay. The 24-year-old guard averaged 25.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting from the field and 40.3 percent from three-point range. Jones also produced 6.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. The former Arkansas standout was South Bay’s go-to guy anytime they needed a bucket last season, which included a game where he went off for a career-high 44 points while grabbing 17 rebounds against the Salt Lake City Stars.
If the 6’4 guard continues to showcase that same scoring prowess with Mexico City, which has a few NBA vets on the roster, it won’t be long until we see him get a two-way contract again.
Honorable mention: Sharife Cooper (Canton Charge), Lindy Waters III (two-way, Oklahoma City Blue), Nate Darling (Ontario Clippers), Saben Lee (Raptors 905), Jamal Cain (two-way, Sioux Falls Skyforce), Carlik Jones (Windy City Bulls), and Sandro Mamukelashvili (two-way, Wisconsin Herd)
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