by Cedric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton
The team was started to give basketball prospects the chance to develop their skills in a professional environment to prepare for the NBA Draft.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that NBA G League Ignite, a team that is owned and operated by the league, will cease to exist after this current season.
NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim made the announcement four years after the NBA first started the team to give high school and college prospects the chance to develop their skills in a professional environment to prepare for the NBA Draft.
“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,” said Abdur-Rahim in a written statement. “With the changing environment across youth and collegiate basketball, now is the right time to take this step. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to general manager Anthony McClish, head coach Jason Hart, and their staff, and to each player who wore an Ignite jersey. As ever, the G League’s commitment to developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams is unwavering.”
The reason given for the team’s termination is the current climate in the NCAA, where student-athletes can capitalize on their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), which allows students to accept endorsement deals from any interested companies.
The team will play its last game on March 28 against the Ontario Clippers.
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Source: Black Enterprise
