G League Ignite Shutdown

The NBA G League Ignite, a bold experiment launched in April 2020 by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, aimed to redefine the path for elite draft prospects by offering an alternative to college basketball. Known simply as the G League Ignite, this developmental program blended a roster of top high school talents with nine Ignite veterans, giving players like Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Scoot Henderson a chance to learn the professional game and receive a salary ahead of their NBA Draft eligibility. However, on March 21, 2024, the NBA announced it was shutting down the G League Ignite after the 2023-24 season, with its final game on March 28, 2024—a 113-102 loss to the Ontario Clippers—marking the end of a project that once held a commitment to developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams. G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a statement, “Four years ago, we started Ignite to fill a void. I’m proud of the contributions we were able to make to that ecosystem.” Yet, the decision to end the program comes amid the changing basketball landscape, driven by the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy and the advent of collectives, leaving the future of Team Ignite in the past and reshaping the 2025 NBA Draft in profound ways.

The Rise and Fall of the G League Ignite Program

The G League Ignite program was introduced as a development squad of elite draft prospects and veterans, designed to bridge the gap for players seeking income ahead of their NBA Draft eligibility rather than navigating NCAA restrictions. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver suggested at the time that the league saw a need to innovate, saying the league wanted to offer “a platform for players to earn a living” while preparing for the pros. The inaugural 2020-21 season proved the concept’s potential: Jalen Green, a projected top NBA draft pick, earned $500,000 and averaged 17.9 points per game, later becoming the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Jonathan Kuminga followed at No. 7, cementing the Ignite roster’s reputation. Subsequent years delivered Scoot Henderson (No. 3, 2023) and, in the 2024 NBA Draft, top NBA draft picks Matas Buzelis (No. 11) and Ron Holland (No. 5), showcasing the G League Ignite team’s ability to produce NBA players.

Despite this success, the G League Ignite struggled this season, finishing with a 2-32 record—the worst in G League history. Playing against NBA players in the G League’s competitive environment exposed the squad’s limitations, as young Ignite players like Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland couldn’t overcome seasoned rosters. Critics argued the focus on individual development over team success hindered growth, a flaw magnified by external shifts. The NCAA’s NIL policy, implemented in July 2021, allowed college athletes to earn salary and endorsement income, eroding Ignite’s financial edge. High school stars could now stay home, profit from their image and likeness, and play college basketball, as seen with USC’s Bronny James, who reportedly earned $4.9 million. Meanwhile, alternatives like Overtime Elite (OTE) and Australia’s NBL Next Stars program gained ground. By 2024, the NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim acknowledged the inevitable, stating, “The changing environment across youth and collegiate basketball means our commitment to developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams is unwavering, but Ignite’s time has passed.” The NBA is shutting down the G League Ignite after this season, canceling the development squad amid this evolving landscape.

Impact on the 2025 NBA Draft

The G League Ignite shutting down has left a void for draft prospects, with the 2025 NBA Draft—scheduled for June 2025—set to be the first without Ignite players since 2020. The 2024 NBA Draft still featured Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland, but moving forward, NBA scouts must look elsewhere for NBA prospects. League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim said, “The end of the program comes amid the changing basketball landscape,” pointing to NIL, the transfer portal, and competing leagues as key factors. This shift diversifies the pathways for top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams, making the 2025 draft a fascinating case study in adaptation.

College basketball is reclaiming its dominance, bolstered by NIL and the transfer portal. Duke’s Cooper Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward projected as the No. 1 pick in 2025, chose college over what could have been an Ignite path, showcasing his skills on a national stage. Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and Arkansas’ Karter Knox, both elite draft prospects, are also leveraging NCAA exposure. The G League Ignite team once offered a unique environment across youth and collegiate basketball, but now, college provides both development and income, reducing the need for a G League team like Ignite.

Overtime Elite has stepped up as a domestic alternative, targeting younger players with salaries and a competitive schedule. Dink Pate, a 6-foot-8 guard who signed with Ignite but was left in limbo by its closure, exemplifies OTE’s potential. His experience playing against NBA players in the G League at age 18 could make him a sleeper pick in 2025. Overseas, the NBL Next Stars program continues to thrive, having produced stars like LaMelo Ball and Alexandre Sarr. South Sudanese center Khaman Maluach, a Duke commit, might have considered the NBL but opted for college, though the league remains a draw for others bypassing traditional routes.

Emerging Prospects and Scouting Shifts

The G League Ignite shutting down spotlights lesser-known talents across these pathways. In college, UConn’s Liam McNeeley and Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe are rising as potential lottery picks, while overseas, France’s Nolan Traore and Croatia’s Ivan Ruzic are gaining attention from NBA scouts. OTE’s roster, beyond Pate, includes future stars like Tyran Stokes, though he’s ineligible until 2026. This fragmentation makes the 2025 NBA Draft unpredictable, forcing teams to scour college tape, NBL clips, and OTE games for gems.

On X, scouts reflect this shift. One tweeted in early 2025, “Ignite’s gone, so we’re digging deeper—college, OTE, Europe.” Another noted, “Lakers and Knicks are eyeing NBL and OTE after Ignite shut down.” The Lakers, who drafted Ignite’s Mojave King in 2023, may target Flagg or Pate, while the Knicks, with a history of gambling on non-traditional prospects like Jaden Hardy, could pivot to overseas or OTE talents. An X post from an NBA insider added, “Scouts at All-Star Weekend said the G League Ignite program’s end means more work, but more opportunity.”

The Legacy and Future

The NBA G League Ignite aimed to revolutionize how NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams were cultivated, and for a time, it succeeded. Silver said during its launch, “This project was about giving players a chance to learn the professional game and receive a salary.” Its closure after the final game on March 28, 2024, reflects not failure, but evolution. Abdur-Rahim said, “We’re proud of the contributions we were able to make to that ecosystem,” and indeed, Ignite produced 10 draft picks, including four lottery selections. Yet, amid the changing basketball landscape—driven by NIL, the advent of collectives, and global competition—the G League’s experiment has run its course.

For 2025, the NBA Draft will showcase a talent pool scattered across college, OTE, and overseas leagues. Whether it’s Flagg dominating at Duke, Pate emerging from OTE, or an NBL sleeper rising, the absence of the NBA G League Ignite team underscores a new reality: the path to the pros is broader and more dynamic than ever. As draft season nears, the league’s focus on developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams remains, but the tools have changed—and the hunt for the next All-Star is on.