Table of Contents:
- Getting Noticed in the G League
- Stars that Started in the G League
- Two-Way Contracts Explained
- NBA Call-Ups
What is the NBA G League?
Learn more about the G League itself in our article here!
Getting Noticed in the G League
The NBA G League provides players with plenty of opportunity to get experience playing against tough competition night in and night out. Players in the G League looking to make the jump to the NBA need to consistently showcase their abilities and readiness for the next level.
Here are some of the main ways G League players can garner attention from NBA teams:
- Put up big scoring numbers
- Show defensive versatility and ability to guard multiple positions
- Display exceptional passing skills and court vision
- Shoot a high percentage from the 3-point line
- Protect the paint well as a big man and grab rebounds
- Minimize turnovers and show good decision making
- Play with great energy and hustle every minute
Of course, very few players will excel at all facets of the game. But standing out distinctly in one or two key areas can be enough to entice an NBA club to take a chance on a G League prospect.
Proving Their Worth: 3 G League Stars who Earned NBA Deals
Here are three players whose exceptional play in the NBA G League earned them full-time contracts in the NBA:
1. Fred VanVleet
Undrafted out of Wichita State in 2016, Fred VanVleet joined the Toronto Raptors affiliate G League team that year.
He was outstanding from the start, averaging 21.4 points per game and dishing out 7.3 assists per contest as well.
The Raptors quickly took notice and signed VanVleet to a two-year deal in July of 2016. He went on to play a key reserve role off Toronto’s bench and helped them win the NBA championship in 2019.
2. Hassan Whiteside
After two up-and-down NBA seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Hassan Whiteside found himself out of the league in 2014.
He worked hard though to revamp his game in the G League, where he led the league in rebounding in 2014-15.
His outstanding production down low earned him a contract with the Miami Heat halfway through that season. Whiteside made the most of the opportunity and has been a dependable starting center in the NBA ever since, even earning an All-Defensive second-team selection in 2020.
3. Jeremy Lin
In 2010, Jeremy Lin went undrafted but caught on with the Golden State Warriors summer league team. Impressive play there quickly earned him a spot on the Warriors’ G League affiliate.
He dominated the G League’s competition, averaging over 18 points and 6 assists per game his rookie season.
Golden State shortly signed him to a two-year deal. And after exploding onto the scene with the New York Knicks in 2012, the “Linsanity” phenom was here to stay in the NBA.
The G League was crucial in Lin’s development and approach to making the most of his NBA opportunities once they finally came.
See the best players in history who went undrafted here!
Two-Way Contracts: The Best of Both Worlds
These days, most G League players hoping for an NBA opportunity set their sights on securing a two-way contract.
Successfully playing on a two-way deal allows a player to split time between an NBA franchise and their G League affiliate for two years.
Each NBA team can sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to filling out a 15-man roster.
These special deals were only introduced in 2017, but have already become a preferred route to the pros because two-way players earn an NBA-level salary (steeply rising each year) when activated by their parent club.
Recent gems to make names for themselves on two-way deals before securing standard contracts include:
- Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat)
- Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors)
These three and many more have shown exactly the kind of opportunity two-way contracts represent. Bouncing back and forth between leagues allows teams to thoroughly evaluate a prospect against NBA competition.
Once these players prove they belong, teams have not hesitated to convert them to full-time players with guaranteed money.
In just a few short years, two-way deals have already significantly streamlined the path from minor league standout to NBA rotation piece.
NBA Call-Ups: Getting the Life-Changing News
Outside of two-way contracts, every G League player dreams of finally getting “called up” during the season to join an NBA roster.
Standard G League contracts do not guarantee NBA appearances. But mid-season NBA call-ups are common for the league’s top performers looking to fill sudden voids for the big league parent clubs – usually caused by injuries, trades, or players resting/sitting out.
Call-ups mean 10-day contracts to start. After one 10-day deal expires, NBA teams can then sign players to another or waive them if unimpressed.
Just one brief stint though for a struggling franchise can be enough for lesser-known players to leave a lasting impression. If they make their limited opportunity count, converted rest-of-season deals or offseason contracts could come their way.
A deep playoff run can be particularly convincing and beneficial to players on late season call-ups. Productive play under postseason pressure goes a long way.
Just ask 2019 Finals stand-outs Fred VanVleet and Jeremy Lin about seizing their initial chances when called upon down the stretch.
Sources:
www.si.com/nba/2018/10/18/nba-g-league-ncaa-basketball-professional-path-elite-prospects
www.nba.com/news/g-league-professional-path-official-release
boardroom.tv/boardroom-feature-the-g-league-pathway-is-what-the-nba-needed/
