NBA G League To Be Well Represented at NBA All-Star 2022
By NBA G League Staff /February 7, 2022
The NBA G League is going to be well represented at NBA All-Star 2022, highlighted by the Next Gem Game between G League Ignite and the Cleveland Charge on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. ET on NBA TV. From Feb. 18-20, members from the G League, including alumni, will take part in several of the weekend's events. Here's a breakdown. Make sure to check back throughout the month as more G League players and alumni are confirmed for different events.
NBA G League Next Gem Game
Get ready for the inaugural NBA G League Next Gem Game, as Ignite will take on the Cleveland Charge. WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 20 (2 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
A new facet of NBA All-Star 2022, the NBA G League Next Gem Game pays tribute to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary season, highlighting the G League’s next generation of talent on Ignite and the Charge. The game tips off from the Charge’s home arena, the Wolstein Center, on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. ET, live on NBA TV.
The Cleveland Charge, the Cleveland Cavaliers' G League affiliate, will host the inaugural G League Next Gem Game. A completely new take on All-Star Weekend dedicated to highlighting the G League’s next generation of talent on Ignite and the Charge, the matchup will pay tribute to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary season.
Both teams have their fair share of talent, as Malik Newman (Cavs), Trevon Scott (Cavs), Norvel Pelle (Celtics & Jazz), and Justin James (Pelicans) have earned NBA Call-Ups for the Charge. RJ Nembhard Jr. (21.6) and Justin James (20.8) both average 20+ points apiece, while Tacko Fall has established himself as one of the top shot blockers in the league (13.1 PTS, 9.9 REB, 3.1 BLK).
Ignite features four players currently projected as 2022 NBA Draft picks, including Jaden Hardy, MarJon Beauchamp, Dyson Daniels, and Michael Foster Jr. Scoot Henderson is eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft and projects to be a lottery pick next year. Ignite is led by Hardy (22.8), Foster (18.5), and Beauchamp (17.3) in scoring, while Daniels paces the team in assists (5.8) and is second in rebounds (6.5).
You can read more about the Next Gem Game and get tickets here. Check out the best highlights from some of the top talents on display at the Next Gem Game here.
NBA G League Ignite makes history
Created to give young, up-and-coming prospects the opportunity to develop alongside NBA veterans, trainers, and staff, Ignite flourished in its first season last year. Not only did Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga get selected with top-7 picks of last year's draft, but teammates Isaiah Todd (selected No. 31 by Milwaukee, traded to Washington) and Daishen Nix (signed with Houston as a UFA, now on a two-way contract) have developed mightily in their first seasons in the NBA. Their success helped pave the way for this year's Ignite class, which will be fully represented at NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland, OH, from Feb. 18-20.Clorox Rising Stars
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 18 (9 p.m. ET, TNT) Four Ignite players will participate in the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars, bringing a new twist to the event. Scoot Henderson, Dyson Daniels, MarJon Beauchamp, and Jaden Hardy were selected in a vote by NBA G League head coaches. In the past, the Rising Stars game featured two teams, one filled with NBA rookies, the other with second-year NBA players. This year, however, the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars will feature four seven-player teams competing in a mini-tournament consisting of three games. Each game will be played to a Final Target Score, meaning that a game will end with a made basket or a made free throw instead of with the clock running out. The pool of 28 players for Clorox Rising Stars will consist of 12 first-year NBA players, 12 second-year NBA players and the four Ignite players. Green will be joining the four Ignite guys in the pool of 28. This will be a historic moment, as it'll be the first time that members of a graduated Ignite class will share the court with a current class. Teams are drafted and coached by 75th Anniversary Team members Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas, and James Worthy to compete in three games on Friday, Feb. 18 (9 p.m. ET, TNT) https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1489767229465972736?s=20&t=qtZWrL9WWi1tP1m3x75nIw Team Barry: Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite), Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers), Isaac Okoro (Cleveland Cavaliers), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets), Jae'Sean Tate (Houston Rockets), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) Team Payton: LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Ayo Dosunmu (Chicago Bulls), Chris Duarte (Indiana Pacers), Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite), Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota Timberwolves), Davion Mitchell (Sacramento Kings) Team Thomas: Precious Achiuwa (Toronto Raptors), Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies), Saddiq Bey (Detroit Pistons), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento Kings), Jaden Hardy (G League Ignite), Isaiah Stewart (Detroit Pistons) Team Worthy: Cole Anthony (Orlando Magic), MarJon Beauchamp (G League Ignite), Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets, G League Ignite Alum), Herbert Jones (New Orleans Pelicans), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Jalen Suggs (Orlando Magic) On February 16th, the NBA announced that Golden State Warriors rookie forward and G League Ignite alum Jonathan Kuminga will replace injured Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte in the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars. https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/1494024669145571331 In the mini-tournament, Team A will face Team B in the first semifinal (Game 1) and Team C will play Team D in the second semifinal (Game 2). The winner of Game 1 will meet the winner of Game 2 in the final (Game 3). The competition will consist of a “race to 75” points in honor of the NBA’s landmark 75th Anniversary Season. The semifinal games will be played to a Final Target Score of 50. The final game will be played to a Final Target Score of 25, for a total of 75 points across the semifinal and final.Clorox Clutch Challenge
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 18 (9 p.m. ET, TNT) Fellow Ignite teammates Fanbo Zeng and Michael Foster Jr. are set to participate in the Clorox Clutch Challenge, which will take place between Games 2 and 3 of Clorox Rising Stars. Zeng and Foster Jr. will be joined by six other NBA players, then will be divided into four teams of two and compete to make shots from five locations on the court tied to iconic shots made in the NBA Playoffs. Each team will compete with one shared ball and its players must alternate shots so no player shoots two times consecutively. Team 1 is given 1 minute and 30 seconds (1:30 counting down) to make a shot from each of the five locations in any order. Team 1’s time is then the marker for Team 2. If Team 1’s time is 1:15, then Team 2 will have a 1:15 countdown clock to complete the competition. Each team that establishes a new standard sets the clock for the next team competing, and the fastest finisher will win the Clorox Clutch Challenge. Team 1: Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento Kings) & Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies) Team 2: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) & Chris Duarte (Indiana Pacers) Team 3: Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) & Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder) Team 4: Fanbo Zeng (G League Ignite) & Michael Foster Jr. (G League Ignite) https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1489762656881946625?s=20&t=qtZWrL9WWi1tP1m3x75nIwAlums
NBA All-Star Game
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 20 (8 p.m. ET, TNT) Alongside the current and former G League Ignite players and host Charge's presence & in Cleveland will be familiar faces that made their marks in the then-NBA D League prior to becoming the stars they are today in the NBA.Fred VanVleet: 1x All-Star
If you want an underdog story, look no further. VanVleet became just the fourth undrafted player in league history to be named an NBA All-Star. He's the first since Ben Wallace in 2006. VanVleet, 27, has been lighting it up for the Toronto Raptors to the tune of career-highs in points (21.6), assists (7.2), and rebounds (4.7) per game. Not only that, he's tied for his career-best in three-point shooting percentage at 39%. VanVleet ranks 21st in the NBA in points per game and 12th in assists per game. Once working for a roster spot while learning behind NBA veteran Kyle Lowry, VanVleet has become a staple for the Raptors franchise and easily a fan-favorite in the league. https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/1489394028080685057Khris Middleton: 3x All-Star
Middleton has been as consistent as they come for the Milwaukee Bucks, having become part of one of the league's best one-two punches alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. He's averaged at least 18.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in each of the last four seasons, but really put the league on notice in last year's playoffs. Tallying five games of 30+ points including a career-high 40 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Middleton also drilled the game-winner in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals as the Bucks eventually won their first championship since 1971. He became the first player in the history of the G League to be named an All-Star back in 2018-19, which is fitting as he joins VanVleet, who is now the third league alumni to earn All-Star honors. Who is the second? Well, he's next... https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/1489393564362678274Rudy Gobert: 3x All-Star
Yeah, we know he can block shots and that he's an elite defender, having won three of the last four Defensive Player of the Year awards. But did you know that the Frenchman is having one of the best seasons ever as a big in the modern era? He's averaging 16.0 points and 15.1 rebounds per game this season. There have only been four players to average that for a season (58 games played/70% of teams' games played) in the last 40 years. Andre Drummond (2018-19): 17.3 PTS, 15.6 REB Kevin Love: (2010-11): 20.2 PTS, 15.2 REB Kevin Willis: (1991-92): 18.3 PTS, 15.5 REB Moses Malone (1982-83): 24.5 PTS, 15.3 REB Even more nerdy stats: Gobert also averages 2.1 blocks per game. Let's say he goes for averages of 16 PTS, 15 REB, and 2 BLK per game when the year is over, he'd become the fifth player EVER to average that. Moses Malone (1982-83) 24.5 PTS, 15.3 REB, 2.0 BLK Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1975-76): 27.7 PTS, 16.9 REB, 4.1 BLK Bob McAdoo (1973-74): 30,6 PTS, 15.1 REB, 3.3 BLK Elvin Hayes (1973-74): 21.4 PTS, 18.1 REB, 3.0 BLK This is Gobert's third consecutive trip to All-Star Weekend. https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/1489389868006391811Dejounte Murray: 1x All-Star
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Murray would join Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball as injury replacements for Draymond Green and Kevin Durant. Murray's spectacular season is more than worthy of an All-Star appearance. It's possible that San Antonio's lack of overall success this season might've buried Murray's incredible production thus far, as he's nearly averaging a triple-double. His year-by-year development is a sight to see, as he's been able to improve drastically despite an ACL tear that denied Murray of any playing time in the 2018-19 season.| 2016-17 | 38 G | 3.4 PTS | 1.3 AST | 1.1 REB | 0.2 STL | 43.1 FG% |
| 2017-18 | 81 G | 8.1 PTS | 2.9 AST | 5.7 REB | 1.2 STL | 44.3 FG% |
| 2018-19 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2019-20 | 66 G | 10.9 PTS | 4.1 AST | 5.8 REB | 1.7 STL | 46.2 FG% |
| 2020-21 | 67 G | 15.7 PTS | 5.4 AST | 7.1 REB | 1.5 STL | 45.3 FG% |
| 2021-22 | 47 G | 19.6 PTS | 9.2 AST | 8.2 REB | 2.1 STL | 45.4 FG% |
AT&T Slam Dunk
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 19 (8 p.m. ET, TNT) Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin, and Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson will take flight in the 2022 AT&T Slam Dunk on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. A first-time champion will be crowned as Anthony, Green, and Toscano-Anderson are set to make their event debuts, and Toppin returns for his second appearance after finishing as the runner-up last year. https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1491207823065489410Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
Green, also a Rising Stars selection, ranks fifth among NBA rookies in scoring at 14.4 points per game. The 6-4 guard was selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after playing with NBA G League Ignite for the 2020-21 season. Ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 high school basketball recruit in the Class of 2020, Green was the first player to join Ignite and became their first-ever draft pick. He averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in his lone season for Ignite.
Juan Toscano-Anderson, Golden State Warriors
Toscano-Anderson is in his third NBA season, all with the Warriors. The 6-6 forward has two years of experience in the NBA G League, where he averaged 9.2 points over 75 total games. He first earned a spot with the Santa Cruz Warriors as a tryout player in October 2018. He has also played professionally in Argentina, Mexico, and Venezuela. Toscano-Anderson, who played four years at Marquette University from 2011-15, is set to become the fourth player not selected in the NBA Draft to compete in the AT&T Slam Dunk since 2000, joining Chris Andersen, Derrick Jones Jr., and Jamario Moon.
MTN DEW 3-Point Contest
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 19 (8 p.m. ET, TNT) NBA All-Stars Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors, and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks headline the 2022 MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The eight-player field for the two-round, timed shooting competition also features guard Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies, guard Luke Kennard of the LA Clippers, guard CJ McCollum of the New Orleans Pelicans, and guard Patty Mills of the Brooklyn Nets. https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1491208183435894784Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
VanVleet is a first-time participant in the 3-Point Contest, and will also play in the All-Star Game after rising from an undrafted rookie to his first selection. He averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 assists per game while playing for Raptors 905 during the 2016-17 season
CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans
McCollum was just sent to the Pelicans in a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent the first nine years of his career. The 10th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, McCollum averaged 18.5 points over two games with the Idaho Stampede in 2013-14.
Patty Mills, Brooklyn Nets
Mills is participating in his first 3-Point Contest and is averaging a career-high 3.3 triples per game in his first season with the Nets. He played in five games for the Idaho Stampede in 2009-10, averaging 25.6 points with 4.2 3-pointers made.
Luke Kennard, LA Clippers
Kennard is averaging a career-high 2.7 3-pointers per game this season with the Clippers while contributing 11.8 points per game. He averaged 26.5 points per game across two games for the Grand Rapids Drive between 2017 and 2019.
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 19 (8 p.m. ET, TNT) The NBA announced a new format and the participants for the 2022 Taco Bell® Skills Challenge, a team competition that will feature two-time Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, fellow 2022 NBA All-Star Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and four participants in the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars. Under the new format for the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge, three teams of three players will participate in a four-round competition that tests shooting, passing, and dribbling ability. The teams are as follows:- Antetokounmpos: Giannis will team up with his brothers Thanasis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee and Alex Antetokounmpo of the NBA G League’s Raptors 905.
- Cavs: Garland will be joined by Cavaliers teammates Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, a rookie who was selected to play in the Clorox Rising Stars during NBA All-Star 2022.
- Rooks: Rising Stars selections Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, and Josh Giddey of the Oklahoma City Thunder will form a team with three NBA rookies.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Fresh off of an NBA Championship alongside his brother, Giannis, with the Bucks last season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 2.8 points per game on the season. He had a successful three-year run in the G League from 2013 to 2016, spending a season with the Delaware 87ers before playing for the Westchester Knicks for the following two campaigns. After joining the Bucks, he had a two-game run with the Wisconsin Herd in 2019-20 and averaged 12.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game across 143 career games in the G League.
Alex Antetokounmpo, Raptors 905
The youngest Antetokounmpo brother and only current G League member competing on All-Star Saturday Night, Antetokounmpo has appeared in eight games for Raptors 905 during the G League Regular Season so far and is averaging 3.0 points per game.