NBA G League Showcase Cup Championship 2022: Clippers Top Bulls Behind Moon's GW Shot
Dec 22, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Xavier Moon #22 of the Ontario Clippers dribbles the ball during the game against the Windy City Bulls in the 2022-23 G League Winter Showcase Championship on December 22, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
Xavier Moon's game-winning jumper gave the Ontario Clippers the NBA G League Winter Showcase championship with a 99-97 win over the Windy City Bulls.
The G League is featuring the Elam Ending in 2022-23, and the teams were shooting for a 99-point winning score. Moon's two-pointer broke a 97-all tie to give the Clippers the victory.
Brandon Boston Jr. led six Clippers in double figures with 21 points. He and Moussa Diabate, who scored 17 points, had four blocks apiece.
Jason Preston stuffed the statsheet with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Malik Fitts added 19 points and eight boards. Moon added 17 points off the bench.
The non-NBA and non two-way players on the team will share $100,000 in prize money after the big win.
For the Bulls, Carlik Jones' 22 points led all scorers. Ethan Thompson and Daniel Oturu scored 15 points apiece, and the latter also grabbed 12 rebounds.
The event is described as follows on the G League website:
"AT&T NBA G League Winter Showcase is the NBA G League's annual in-season scouting event, when all teams converge in one city to play in front of NBA general managers and player personnel executives from all 30 NBA teams. The 2022 event – Dec. 19-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada – will mark the 18th Showcase, featuring 31 games over four days spread across two courts."
Thirty teams (the 29 G League teams and the NBA's G League Ignite) competed in four regional pods to start the showcase. The winner of each pod plus the next four best teams by winning percentage moved onto the eight-team Showcase knockout tournament.
The No. 7 Bulls defeated the No. 2 Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the No. 6 Cleveland Charge to reach the finals, while the No. 4 Clippers took down the No. 5 Iowa Wolves and No. 8 Maine Celtics.
NBA G League Showcase 2022 Results: Top Scores, Highlights and Stats from Monday
Dec 20, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 19: Devin Cannady #31 of the South Bay Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Maine Celtics during the 2022-23 G League Winter Showcase on December 19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
Less than a week remains until the NBA celebrates Christmas, one of the biggest days on its calendar. In the meantime, the NBA G League's 2022 Winter Showcase tipped off Monday in Las Vegas.
The four-day event includes the Showcase Cup, which pits eight of the G League's best teams against one another for a $100,000 prize.
The four quarterfinal contests were spread across Monday night.
Showcase Cup Results
No. 8 Maine Celtics 112, No. 1 South Bay Lakers 106
No. 7 Windy City Bulls 102, No. 2 Rio Grande Valley Vipers 96
No. 4 Ontario Clippers 121, No. 5 Iowa Wolves 95
No. 6 Cleveland Charge 120, No. 3 College Park Skyhawks 104
Monday Recap
Denzel Valentine led the way for the Maine Celtics as they took down the top-seeded South Bay Lakers 112-106.
Valentine posted a game-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists and one steal. He took over in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight three-pointers as the Celtics outpaced the Lakers 27-20 to hit the 111 points necessary to win under the Elam Ending rule.
Mfiondu Kabengele cleaned up a miss by Kamar Baldwin for the decisive bucket.
South Bay didn't have much of an answer for Kabengele, who posted a double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds) and missed just three of his 11 shot attempts.
The Lakers had to dig out of a deep hole after allowing 40 points in the first quarter. They clawed their way back in the third and took an 86-85 lead into the final frame. Miles Simon's squad ran out of steam in the fourth as Valentine's hot shooting turned the tide.
Bryce Hamilton (19 points) and LJ Figueroa (18 points) were the leading scorers for South Bay, while Shaquille Harrison's 10 assists were nearly half of his team's overall total (24).
Windy City was led by a balanced offensive night, with seven players contributing double-digit points, led by Malcolm Hill's 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Ethan Thompson added 15 points off the bench, while Trevor Hudgins (27 points) and Louis King (21 points) had big nights for Rio Grande in the loss.
Ontario was paced by a huge night from both Brandon Boston Jr. and Nate Darling, with the pair scoring 33 points apiece in the team's 121-95 blowout win over Iowa.
Javonte Cook led the way for Wolves with 20 points, while PJ Dozier (19 points, 13 boards) and D.J. Carton (12 points, 13 assists) each went for double-doubles.
NBA Views Mexico City as Potential Site for Expansion Team amid G League Experiment
Nov 8, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 28: A view of the NBA logo before the game between the Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers at Capital One Arena on October 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico made their G League debut on Sunday, and the team reportedly could play a major role in the NBA's plans of future expansion.
According to Andscape's Marc J. Spears, the league confirmed that Mexico City is being eyed as a site for a possible expansion team "if all goes well" with the Captaines, who defeated the Rio Grande Vipers 120-84 on Sunday night in front of 7,391 fans at Arena CDMX.
"Expansion is currently not on the docket, but at some point, if we were to turn to expansion, there’s no doubt that Mexico City would have to be one [of] the cities that would be in consideration along with a host of other very big and relevant cities in North America," NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said.
Tatum further explained that the prospect of international expansion has been hindered by travel issues and facility issues, but neither of those are prevalent in Mexico City. Per Spears, Tatum and other G League executives also don't have safety concerns over having a team in Mexico City, as the G League "has several safety measures in place, including a police escort to and from games."
The last time the NBA expanded was in 2004 with the Charlotte Bobcats, who later relocated and became the New Orleans Pelicans. While Tatum reiterated that further expansion is not on the horizon, Spears noted that it appears to be an inevitability.
"If and when the NBA does expand, it is expected that Seattle will land a team that can finally replace the SuperSonics, which were relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008," Spears stated. "Silver has acknowledged Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ interest in wanting to be a part of an ownership group for a potential expansion team in Las Vegas."
The benefit of also bringing a team to Mexico City would be boosting the NBA's popularity internationally. Not only would most Mexicans support the team, but it would likely generate interest from the rest of Latin America as well.
Mexico City has hosted many NBA games over the years, beginning with a preseason game in 1992 and the first regular-season matchup in 1997.
Former NBA forward Eduardo Najera, whose 619 career games are the most of any Mexican-born player, believes his home country is ready for a professional team and will display that with how they support the Capitanes.
"Mexico has been ready for quite some time," Najera said. "If you look at the metrics and the fans here in Mexico City alone, it’s quite significant. If you do it the right way, an NBA team can galvanize an entire [country]. We’re ready. Certainly, the G League is the first step. It is going to be up to the baby steps. If NBA fans in Mexico support this, it will be great to have the big boys here."
NBA G League Draft 2022 Results: Complete List of Selections for All Teams
Oct 22, 2022
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 14: Sam Merrill #20 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 14, 2022 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
The 2022 NBA G League draft was held Saturday, marking the 22nd time the NBA's developmental league has held a draft to flesh out its rosters.
Over 100 players were eligible to be selected in the three-round draft, and it was former Utah State guard and 2020 NBA second-round draft pick Sam Merrill who went first overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers-affiliated Cleveland Charge.
The draft pool featured a mix of different players from youngsters with little experience to NBA veterans and those who played at big-time college programs, as well as those who came from Division II and Division III schools.
Here is a full rundown of every pick in the 2022 G League draft, along with a closer look at some of the most notable selections on Saturday.
NBA G League Draft 2022 Results
First Round
1. Cleveland Charge (Cleveland Cavaliers): Sam Merrill, G, Utah State
2. Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee Bucks): Joe Wieskamp, G, Iowa
3. Greensboro Swarm (Charlotte Hornets): Aaron Wheeler, F, St. John's
4. College Park Skyhawks (Atlanta Hawks): Jared Rhoden, G, Seton Hall
5. Oklahoma City Blue (Oklahoma City Thunder): Jericole Hellems, F, NC State
6. Birmingham Squadron (New Orleans Pelicans): Trey McGowens, G, Nebraska
7. No Pick
8. Oklahoma City Blue (Oklahoma City Thunder): Kevin Kangu, G, Lenoir-Rhyne
9. Windy City Bulls (Chicago Bulls): Wayne Stewart Jr., G, Texas A&M - Commerce
10. No Pick
11. No Pick
12. No Pick
13. No Pick
14. No Pick
15. Westchester Knicks (New York Knicks): Dazon Ingram, G, UCF
16. No Pick
17. No Pick
18. No Pick
19. Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets): Alan Griffin, G, Syracuse
20. No Pick
21. No Pick
22. No Pick
23. No Pick
24. No Pick
25. No Pick
26. No Pick
27. No Pick
28. Capital City Go-Go (Washington Wizards): Nick Hornsby, F, Sacramento State
29. No Pick
Notable 2022 G League Draft Picks
Sam Merrill
With the top pick in the 2022 NBA G League draft, Cleveland went with a player who already has an NBA championship on his resume.
Merrill spent parts of two seasons on NBA rosters, including his rookie year in 2020-21 with the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. Although his on-court action was limited, he appeared in 30 regular-season games and eight playoff games for Milwaukee.
The 26-year-old then played in six games for the Memphis Grizzlies last season but did not see any playoff action.
Overall, Merrill boasts averages of 3.2 points and 1.0 rebounds in 36 games and shot 41.7 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Merrill was with the Sacramento Kings in training camp, and while he did not make their roster, he impressed enough to earn a key spot on a G League team.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to make the playoffs and perhaps even contend for an NBA Finals appearance this season, and it isn't outside the realm of possibility that Merrill could get called up and help the cause at some point.
Joe Wieskamp
With the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA G League draft, the Wisconsin Herd nabbed a true three-point marksmen in former Iowa guard Joe Wieskamp.
Wieskamp was a star on some strong Hawkeyes teams in college, averaging 13.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in three seasons while also shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and a sparkling 41.2 percent from deep.
That was good enough to make Wieskamp a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs, and he went on to appear in 29 games for them as a rookie.
Wieskamp played sparingly, averaging 2.1 points per contest and shooting just 35.7 percent on his field-goal attempts.
After struggling as a rookie, Wieskamp did not make the Spurs roster for the 2022-23 season, but he has new life after being a high pick in the G League draft.
The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the NBA's most dominant players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he is capable of drawing a ton of defensive attention to himself.
That makes shooters and floor-spacers valuable commodities for the Bucks, and Wieskamp could be precisely that at some point this season if he gets off to a strong start for the Herd.
Norris Cole
No player selected in Saturday's G League draft has accomplished more at the NBA level than guard Norris Cole.
The 34-year-old veteran has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2016-17 season, but he is set for a move to the G League after the Grand Rapids Gold took him with the 19th pick of the second round.
After starring collegiately at Cleveland State, Cole was the No. 28 overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft and went on to spend much of four NBA seasons with the Miami Heat.
As a supporting cast member behind LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Cole won a pair of NBA championships.
He also went on to spend time with the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 7.0 points, 2.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 360 regular-season games.
Since last featuring in the NBA, Cole has played professionally in Israel, Italy, Montenegro, France, Spain and Puerto Rico, winning multiple titles along the way.
It may not be likely that Cole will get another chance in the NBA, but he is a proven winner, which the Denver Nuggets could benefit from as they try to contend for a championship.
Sam Merrill Selected No. 1 Overall by Cavs' Affiliate in 2022 NBA G League Draft
Oct 22, 2022
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 2: Sam Merrill #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 2, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).
Sam Merrill, who won an NBA
championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, was selected by the
Cleveland Charge with the first pick in the 2022 G League
draft Saturday.
The 1st overall pick in the 2022 NBA G League draft, Sam Merrill.
The Charge are the G League affiliate
of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Merrill, a 2020 second-round pick in the NBA draft, made
30 appearances for the Bucks during his rookie season, averaging 3.0
points while shooting 44.7 percent from three-point range. He also
played in eight playoff games during the team's run to the title.
"It was so fun," he said after the 2021 playoffs. "To be a part of those games in Phoenix and in Milwaukee
where it was just unbelievably loud was definitely something that I'm
grateful that I was able to be a part of."
The Utah State product was traded to
the Memphis Grizzlies in August 2021 as part of a deal headlined by
Grayson Allen heading to Milwaukee.
He split last season between the
Grizzlies and their G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. His best
moments came in the G League's Showcase Cup as he posted 45 points, 11 rebounds,
11 assists and seven three-pointers in 67 minutes across two games.
Merrill recorded 11.2 points per game
in five regular-season G League contests, and he made six appearances for
the Grizzlies (4.2 PPG).
The 26-year-old shooting guard, who
spent this year's training camp with the Sacramento Kings before getting released, will
get a fresh start with the Charge.
Cleveland is scheduled to tip off the G
League season Nov. 4 when it hosts the Motor City Cruise, the
Pistons' affiliate, at the Wolstein Center.
NBA G League Draft 2022: Order, Player Pool, Schedule and More
Oct 21, 2022
COLLEGE PARK, GA - JANUARY 11: The NBA G League logo before the game between the College Park Skyhawks and the Grand Rapid Gold on January 11, 2022 at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Matthew Grimes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Before making it to the NBA, quite a few players spent some time in the NBA G League.
The NBA shared that there were a record 234 players (47 percent of the league) with G League experience on opening-night rosters at the start of the 2022-23 season. So even if a guy doesn't make it to the NBA directly out of college or the international ranks, that doesn't mean he'll never reach that level.
That's why NBA G League action is entertaining, too. Basketball fans get an opportunity to watch players trying to prove they're capable of moving up to the top level, and some of them will go on to be successful.
The 2022-23 NBA G League season is set to get underway Nov. 4. But before that, there's a draft that needs to be held.
The 2022 NBA G League Draft will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Charge own the No. 1 overall pick in the three-round draft. The full order can be found at NBA.com.
The NBA G League signed 100 players to form the player pool for the draft. Among them are undrafted college players, international prospects and guys who got waived by NBA teams at the end of training camp. All players must be 18 to enter.
The full player pool hasn't yet been announced, but there have been reports regarding some players who will be in the mix.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, former NBA guards Norris Cole and Vander Blue will be in Saturday's draft. The 34-year-old Cole played six NBA seasons, but he hasn't appeared in the league since 2017. The 30-year-old Blue played 10 NBA games over three seasons.
Stein also reported that former Kansas guard Remy Martin, former NBA center Daniel Orton, Australian forward Tom Digbeu and Chinese guard Guo Haowen will be involved.
There's expected to be some history made in this year's draft as well. That's because Ryan Turell, who attended Yeshiva University, is looking to become the first Orthodox Jewish player in NBA history, and he'll be part of the player pool, per Stein.
Turell appears to already have a potential landing spot, too. Stein shared that there's a "rising expectation" that Turell will get drafted by the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons' NBA G League affiliate. The Cruise are on the clock with back-to-back picks at No. 27 and No. 28 in the first round.
Who else will get drafted and then look to begin their potential path to the NBA by first going through the NBA G League? We'll soon find out. Then, those players will get to work and the action will really get started.
Report: London Johnson Signs Record NBA G League Ignite Contract, Bypasses College
Oct 3, 2022
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 08: London Johnson #2 of World Team dribbles against USA Team in the third quarter during the Nike Hoop Summit at Moda Center on April 08, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
London Johnson is reclassifying from the 2023 to 2022 class and reportedly signing with the G League Ignite.
"The main [reason] was being able to play against NBA talent and getting coached from the highest level NBA coaches," he said, per The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Vecenie. "Also, seeing the success from past [prospects], I really felt like I could create my own path and be successful myself."
According to Charania and Vecenie, Johnson will receive the highest salary offered to a player taking the NBA G League pathway, exceeding the $1 million paid to Scoot Henderson.
Before he reclassified, Johnson was the No. 37 overall player and the No. 10 combo guard in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2023 class. He told The Athletic he uses Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul as a model on the court, citing Paul's individual scoring ability as well as his playmaking.
The 6'4" guard's decision is a testament to the early success of the G League pathway as a proving ground for prospects with NBA aspirations.
Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga took the plunge ahead of the 2020-21 season and became top-10 picks in the 2021 NBA draft. Isaiah Todd, another G League Ignite product that year, went in the second round.
The 2022 NBA draft saw three more Ignite alums come off the board: Dyson Daniels (No. 8), MarJon Beauchamp (No. 24) and Jaden Hardy (No. 37).
The 2023 draft could be another big year for the project. The aforementioned Henderson was the No. 2 overall pick in the most recent mock draft for Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman. Leonard Miller (No. 23) and Sidy Cissoko (No. 31) were included as well.
Johnson will have an opportunity to immediately showcase his skills. The Ignite confirmed he will be with the team for its two preseason games this week against French team Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, which features highly touted star Victor Wembanyama.
Shams: Shareef O'Neal to Sign G League Ignite Contract After Lakers Summer League Run
Jul 25, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Shareef O'Neal #45 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during a break in a game against the Phoenix Suns during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
NBA G League Ignite are reportedly adding the son of a Hall of Famer.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Shareef O'Neal, who is the son of Shaquille O'Neal, signed a six-figure contract with the team. This comes after the younger O'Neal played for the Los Angeles Lakers during summer league this offseason.
O'Neal appeared in four summer-league contests and averaged 4.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.3 blocks in 11.5 minutes per game.
The 22-year-old didn't dominate during his run, but he showed enough potential with his pedigree to earn an opportunity with G League Ignite.
"NBA teams were intrigued with O'Neal's athleticism and pedigree throughout the predraft and summer-league process," Charania wrote. "O'Neal has worked extensively with trainer Justin Zormelo in his continued development as a pro prospect, helping O'Neal navigate his basketball career on and off the floor."
It wasn't long ago that O'Neal was a 4-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. Yet he never lived up to the expectations that accompanied him given his recruiting status and famous father in part because of health concerns.
He appeared in 13 games as a secondary contributor for UCLA in 2019-20, transferred to LSU and then appeared in 24 combined games for the Tigers during the next two seasons.
He averaged just 2.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game throughout his collegiate career but underwent open-heart surgery while at UCLA and endured multiple foot injuries, including a stress fracture, while at LSU.
O'Neal went undrafted after leaving LSU but continued his professional dreams in the summer league and will now do so in the G League.
LiAngelo Ball Announced as Part of Hornets' 2022 NBA Summer League Team Roster
Jul 2, 2022
BRIDGEPORT, CT - MARCH 8: LiAngelo Ball #3 of the Greensboro Swarm warms up prior to the game against the Westchester Knicks on March 8th, 2022 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/NBAE via Getty Images)
LiAngelo Ball is back in the NBA, at least for the summer.
The brother of LaMelo Ball and Lonzo Ball was announced as part of the Charlotte Hornets' NBA Summer League roster on Friday. It will be his second straight year suiting up for the Hornets in summer-league action.
Ball has not had the standout career that both of his brothers—Hornets star LaMelo Ball and Chicago Bulls veteran Lonzo Ball—have had.
Ball played high school basketball in Chino Hills, California, before committing to play college basketball at UCLA. However, he left UCLA during his freshman season in 2017 after he and two of his teammates were arrested on shoplifting charges in China and suspended.
The 23-year-old went on to play for Prienai Vytautas of the Lithuanian Basketball League and the Los Angeles Ballers of the Junior Basketball League in 2018 before declaring for the NBA draft in March 2018.
Ball went undrafted but returned to play professionally for the Hornets during last year's summer league. He then declared for the G League draft and was selected by the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets affiliate.
In 28 regular-season games with the Swarm, Ball averaged 4.6 points and 1.1 rebounds while shooting 39.5 percent from the floor and 35.7 percent from deep. He averaged 13.2 minutes per game.
Returning to the NBA Summer League allows Ball to continue working on his game with a Charlotte organization that clearly believes in his abilities. That said, the Hornets will likely be more focused on the development of Kai Jones, the 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft, and Mark Williams, the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft.
The Hornets open up summer-league action with a matchup against the Indiana Pacers on July 8.
