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.
