The NBA has decided to discontinue the G League Ignite team after this season, ending the development squad for elite draft prospects and veterans launched in 2020. This decision, confirmed by the league, comes as other options for pre-draft eligible players have emerged.
When the NBA introduced Ignite, it was the only American pro league offering significant compensation to players before they entered the draft. However, changes in college basketball, such as the rise of name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities and the transfer portal, have diminished the need for Ignite.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned during All-Star Weekend that the league was reassessing Team Ignite, considering the evolving landscape. With NIL allowing college players to earn money and have more opportunities, the necessity for Ignite came into question.
Sources: The NBA is shutting down the G League Ignite team after this season, canceling the development squad of elite draft prospects and veterans that launched in 2020.
Full details at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/7KAYBVX1lI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 21, 2024
However, NIL rights are just one aspect of why the program is ending. The emergence of alternatives like the Overtime Elite League, which offers payment and development opportunities to high school basketball players, also played a role. Recent examples, like Ausar and Amen Thompson, choosing Overtime Elite over traditional routes highlight this trend.
With more options available to players now, the NBA sees discontinuing Ignite as a logical step in response to the changing landscape of basketball development.
