The NBA G League, also known as the NBA Development League, used to be known as the NBDL League. As the lower league of the NBA, the NBA Development League has also developed well in the past few years, and now the scale has expanded to 28 teams, and the attention has also increased a little compared to before.
In the G League, there are basketball players of all kinds of very good levels but the overall far less than the world's first-class leagues, the average level or the veterans who will be retired here to beg for food, are sent here by the NBA team to find the state, and the career is not smooth and wants to play a good performance in the development league to fight back to the NBA; In addition, in recent years, there are more and more young players who do not choose to go to the NCAA, but choose the development league when the development springboard plays a performance to the potential next NBA, and waits until the specified age is met to go to the draft.
As a result, fans will always see some familiar faces in the G League. In this season's NBA development league, who are such representatives? In this article, the author will take stock of the TOP10 people for reference.
10. Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy, the 2012 No. 47 show, played in the NBA league in just 12/13 seasons for the Utah Jazz, leaving an average of 0.9 points per game before being eliminated by the NBA. For this player, the impression of domestic fans mostly comes from his Chinese working years from 2015 to 2017.
In 2015, he joined Zhejiang Guangsha in the CBA, in 2017 he joined NBL powerhouse Guangxi Weizhuang, and then went to Croatia to play, and is currently in the development league. As a small foreign aid, Kevin Murphy's level is average, when playing for Zhejiang Guangsha in the 14/15 season, he averaged only 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, and Guangsha replaced it in less than a season. At present, this 31-year-old brother, who works for the DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE's IGNITE team, averages 20.8 minutes per game, contributing 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists, shooting 55.5% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range.
IX. Amir Johnson
Amir Johnson, 34, was the No. 56 player in 2005 and the last high school player in NBA history.
Among the talented digital players in that field, he is a very hard worker, and has played in the NBA for 13 seasons with active hard work and solid blocking skills. From 2005 to 2019, he played for the Pistons, Raptors, Celtics, 76ers and other teams, with career statistics averaging 7.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 50.0% from the field, making him a competent substitute blue-collar big forward.
After 2019, Amir Johnson developed in the NBDL. At present, he plays for the IGNATITE team of the development league, is the spiritual mentor of the young people in the team and the third oldest player in the league, averaging 8.1 minutes per game, contributing 1.2 points and 1.8 rebounds, shooting 42.9% from the field, and it is basically impossible to return to the NBA and wait for retirement.
VIII. David Stockton
As the son of jazz star John Stockton, the 30-year-old David Stockton is somewhat tiger father dog. As a losing draft in 2014, Stockton played in the Summer League for the Suns and Wizards after losing the draft, then won a 10-day short contract with the Kings, and then appeared in the NBDL League for a long time, and finally gave up completely by the Kings.
More or less sheltered by his fathers, the Jazz still gave old Stockton a face and a chance. In 2018, David Stockton got a one-year contract with the Jazz. In his two-season NBA career, David Stockton played just six games, contributing 3 points and 1.5 assists.
Compared with the tough old Stockton, the little Stockton's body is too much worse, and the enlarged street is really like an ordinary white guy, who is 6 cm shorter than the 185cm dad, the arm span is ordinary, the speed is ordinary, the explosive force is ordinary, the personal basic skills are far from the father, and the aura is not much. Abroad, he played in Germany and Puerto Rico for only a year before he could not get mixed up and returned to the Development Alliance.
At present, David Stockton is in the Development League team under the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 10.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game this season, shooting 30.0% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range, and even the development league is not playing well. However, his love and efforts for basketball are still worthy of recognition, and the direction behind should also be basketball talents other than players.
Speaking of which, Stockton has 6 sons, 4 sons, 2 daughters, except for the eldest son who plays rugby, and the youngest son, who has no interest in sports, the others all play basketball and try to take the path of professional basketball players, and the results are not ideal. To be fair, David Stockton, who has appeared in the NBA, is actually the hardest one, and he tried his best not to lose his father's face.
VII. Andrei Ingram
Ingram, 36, is a former Lakers NBA player, a veteran veteran and inspirational brother in the development league, and fans love to call him "Old Warbler Song". As the losing draft of the 2007 draft, Ingram's division guard, except for a precise and reliable three-pointer, the rest of the ability is all mediocre.
After missing the NBA, the old Yingge has long played in the Development League's Lakers' Lakers subordinate team, the South Bay Lakers, is the historical appearance king & historical three-point king of the development league, and is currently the president of the players' union of the development league. During the long years of the Development Alliance's struggle, Ingram also needed to tutor students in physics part-time to help the family.
In 2018 & 2019, Ingram got two opportunities for a short 10-day contract, which was in part a reward from the Lakers management for his persistence in his dreams and tireless efforts. In the NBA, Ingram played in six games, averaging 4.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 34.8 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range.
This season, Ingram averaged 19.1 minutes per game in the Development League, contributing 5.3 points and 1.0 rebounds. He shot 33.3 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from three-point range. As the second oldest player in the development league and a totemic figure in the development league, the age of the old warbler's retirement may also be approaching. As for who the current first oldest person in the development league is, I believe that senior CBA fans are familiar with it.
6. Eugene Poole Jeter
Remember CBA foreign aid Jeter and he led the Shandong men's basketball team to a golden age of high speed?
Back in time to the 2006 draft, Jeter became the loser. As an attacking point guard, Jeter has a strong offensive ability to hold the ball, but he is only 178cm tall, which is difficult to survive in the NBA, and there are too many players of the same type who are taller and faster than Jet.
Despite this, Jeter did not give up on his NBA dream, playing in the summer league after losing the election, playing a development league all-star performance in the development league's Colorado 14ers, and finally getting a one-year contract from the Kings. In the 10/11 season, Jeter played his only NBA season in the NBA Kings, averaging 4.1 points and 2.6 assists per game, and had 1 starting experience, which is also a dream.
After that, Jeter went into the development of the Europa League, changed his Ukrainian citizenship in the middle, played the European Championship for Ukraine, and then the CBA years that domestic fans are more familiar with. Back in the 12-13 CBA season, Eugene Jeter debuted in the CBA for the first time, as a small foreign player to play an average of 25 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds per game, leading the team to the Finals and becoming the overall runner-up. In the years to come in Shandong and during the period of playing in Tianjin and Fujian, Jeter's performance was very good, and the price was fair, which was regarded as a conscience foreign aid.
In the 19/20 season, jett, who is already 36 years old, can also play in the Fujian team of the CBA, with a shooting rate of 53%, scoring an average of 24.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists. If it weren't for the subsequent outbreak, he might still be playing in the CBA. After the 19/20 season, he stayed in the United States to play wildball + mixed salary in the development league with a short schedule.
In this season's NBA development league roster, the 38-year-old Jeter is the oldest player in the league, averaging 24 minutes per game, contributing 9.3 points, 4.1 assists and 1.9 rebounds. It seems that Jeter is old enough to really start to play and is ready to consider retiring and transforming.
V. Alfonso McKinney
From 2017 to 2021, McKinney played for the Raptors, Warriors, Cavaliers, and Lakers, all of which are popular teams that are more popular among fans. Common sense, there are many NBA players of Alfonso McKinney's level, and fans can have very few impressions, but because of the team's resume, many fans are still deeply impressed by this career substitute who averaged 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
Currently, mcKinney, 28, plays for the development league's clearly celebrated Capitanas, averaging 38.2 minutes per game, contributing 24.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists, shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range. In terms of his ability to hold the ball, there is no problem in coping with the second division, and he may have the opportunity to return to the NBA in the future.
Iv. Luka Shamanic
Luka Shamanic, from Croatia, is the spur's young striker who returned with the No. 19 pick in 2019. Before joining the NBA, Shamanic led the Croatian national youth team to win the European Youth Championship, and he was the MVP of the 2017 tournament, and the future of development was very promising.
In terms of style, Shamanic is a young European player with good athletic talent, silky hand, excellent dribbling and shooting ability, but with poor physical confrontation, small skeleton and soft rebound protection. In the past two seasons, Shamanic's performance has disappointed Popovich, averaging 10 minutes per game, he can get 3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.2 blocks, shooting 43.0% from the field and 27.9% from three-point range.
After the Spurs abandoned Shymanic this year, the New York Knicks came to pick up the leak, signed him and arranged to play in Westchester, a development league team. The opportunity to re-prove himself is not easy to come by, you must fight, and at present, Shamanic is fierce in the development league, averaging 31.9 minutes per game, contributing 28.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, shooting 55.2% from the field and 41.5% from three-point range. Considering that Luka Shamanic is only 21 years old, the New York Knicks do not mention him, and there is a high probability that there will be an NBA team to give him a chance to try him later. It feels like the Spurs are a bit premature to give up on him.
Iii. Brandon Knight
Brandon Knight, 30, is a highly talented show that has been ruined by frequent injuries and is also a tragic genius without the aura of a protagonist. As the No. 8 pick in 2011, Knight was famous in high school, the third genius after James and Auden to defend the Gatorade National Best High School Student, and he cashed in on his talent in the Pistons shortly after entering the league.
As a fast two-way defender, Knight's dribbling skills are very good, with dexterity in breaking through, strong breakthrough finishing ability, long arm span, and good defense. Before the end of his rookie contract, Knight averaged 18 points, five assists and four rebounds per game with the Bucks. Unfortunately, before he could improve his jump shot to The Dacheng level, the injury came up and caused him to fall.
The most tragic thing is that Knight is too brittle, playing a good performance after each comeback for a period of time and then immediately continues to be injured and sick, thus becoming a ronin on the edge of the league. Throughout his NBA career, Knight averaged 14.1 points and 4.0 assists per game, shooting 41.1% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range.
You should know that the last time he appeared in the league briefly played, he was a Pistons player who averaged 11.6 points and 4.2 assists per game, and his strength was still there. Toward the start of the new season in October, the Knicks briefly signed Knight before cutting him before the start.
Currently, Brandon Knight is playing 39.4 minutes this season, contributing 21.6 points, 6.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds, shooting 42.6% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range. If there is no chance to return to the NBA, Knight can also make a lot of money considering coming to the CBA, Europa League, Australian League, etc. His skills are so good, see what he thinks.
Ii. Lance Stephenson
Lance Stephenson, 31, currently plays for the Denver Nuggets' Grand River City Gold, a team in the Development League. In the development league games that have been played, Lance Stephenson averaged 33.7 minutes per game, contributing 19.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists, shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.0% from three-point range.
As one of the five tiger generals of the former Pacers, Stephenson, nicknamed "Brother and Master", has excellent luck control, singles ability, and on-court work ability, but his basketball IQ and solo eating style have been criticized.
Looking back at Stephenson's perhaps unfinished NBA career, he played in the NBA for 8 seasons, averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, and the peak Pacers years had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The year he played for the Hornets in the 14/15 season was arguably a turning point in Stephenson's NBA career.
That season, the master and brother jumped to the Hornets, with a new contract salary of $9 million, he was too chaotic on the court, repeatedly ignored the coach's tactics to execute three-pointers, and as a result, he shot a 17.1% three-point shooting rate, becoming the worst player in NBA history to shoot more than 100 goals in a single season.
There is no doubt that in the offseason, the Scared Hornets, who knew that the signing was recruited, traded Stephenson to the Clippers. After that, the disciple became an NBA ronin player, the last time he appeared in the NBA league was to play for the Lakers in the 18/19 season, and then he went out to play in the port to make a living, leaving a footprint in the CBA Liaoning team.
In terms of ability, a player who is good at singles like Stephenson is a killer in such as the mainstream leagues in Asia and the watery leagues in Europe, and it is not a big problem to make 2 million US dollars to pan for gold.
Still, Stephenson clearly has a heart to return to the league, and he's actually smart. Knowing that the Nuggets' forwards have more injuries, he went to sign the Nuggets' subordinate team, and the Nuggets have really recently transferred from the development league team.
However, the tragic thing is that the Nuggets want not him, but his teammates in the development league, averaging 15.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game for the 2017 No. 32 pick Davin Reed.
It can only be said that although Stephenson's data is better, but based on the average of 4.2 turnovers per game and the assist rate is less than 30%, it is better to wait or go overseas. By the way, the head coach of this Big River City Gold team is currently leading the division and disciple, and is also an old acquaintance of the fans, especially the Mavericks fans, nicknamed "Jets", and the name is Jason Terry.
First, Zeng Fanbo
At the end of last year, Zeng Fanbo chose the last of the three roads of Beijing Shougang Training, NCAA Gonzaga University Training, and Development Alliance Training, and joined the ignition team, which have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on personal practice. Because of the addition and training of young Chinese player Zeng Fanbo, more fans in China than in previous years are paying attention to this deserted second-tier league, mainly paying attention to Zeng Fanbo's performance in every game and actively commenting or making suggestions in the topic area.
Frankly speaking, Xiao Zeng is not easy, borrowing Jeremy Lin's recent comments about his opinions and the experience of people who have come over, as a yellow-skinned young ball-handling player in these places in the United States, it is really possible to play two or three steps faster than other teammates, people will believe you, give you the ball, the environment is so, or to work hard, first start with what you can do.
Returning to the reality of the situation, Xiao Zeng was a four-star high school student, indeed a very top-notch presence among the yellow race, and was the best small forward in Florida in high school, and was selected for the first team of state high school students. The problem is that Zeng Fanbo's ignition team is a G-league team that aims to train young players to become NBA players, and there are two five-star high school students and three four-star high school students on the team, who can play and hold the ball.
At the data level, Zeng Fanbo currently averages 10.9 minutes per game this season, contributing 3.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks, shooting 35.3%, shooting 57.1% from three-point range, shooting 50.0% from the free throws, with a plus-minus of -7.3 on the court and an average of 3.2 fouls per game.
To be honest, at present, in addition to the stable and accurate three-point and accurate three-point and block efficiency in the development league, these two points are worthy of praise, and the other parts are lackluster or even difficult to say, especially in the average of 10.3 minutes per game, 3.2 fouls, and the low shooting rate of individual baskets. When a player keeps giving free throws to the opponent on the field, it is unrealistic for the coach to want him to play more, and he has to lose his job. However, take advantage of the young to go out to try, early cognition is not enough to choose the direction of effort, after all, it is a good thing, continue to cheer on the NBA stage, it is really not possible to come back.