While the Warriors have been through 25 games of this bizarre NBA season, the G-League opened its Orlando bubble with a bang on Wednesday.
The return effort of the Santa Cruz Warriors against the G League Ignite, a team with a handful of top prospects of the NBA draft in 2021, lost 109-104. Jonathan Kuminga, Jalen Green and Daishen Nix, as well as recent Warriors forwards Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole, and former NBA stars like Jeremy Lin and Jarrett Jack.
Here’s how the striking names performed to kick off this year’s G-League season.
Santa Cruz Warriors
Is it really nine years since “Linsanity” took over the basketball world? It still feels like yesterday, but Lin is now 32 years old and fighting for a chance to get back into the NBA.
Lin was good, not good against the Ignite. He finishes with 18 points and five assists, going 4-for-9 off the field in 30 minutes. He undoubtedly looked like he could offer good minutes to an NBA team at the moment. At the same time, he may need to be light to get a real chance.
Although Lin has been the spotlight on his NBA success in the past, Warriors Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole need to play well for Santa Cruz to show they have a great future as advantages. Poole led Santa Cruz by 22 points while 33 minutes at stake. He only has 7-for-22 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep, but ends up with a game-high plus-22 in plus-minus.
Mannion played 32 minutes, scored 17 points and dished out six assistants. The second round pick also struggled off the field (6-for-18, 3-for-9 of 3) and ended with an ugly minus-17 in plus-minus.
It was an up-and-down day for both young guards, and the Warriors will be watching the two of them closely.
G League Ignite
Kuminga continues to place himself in the conversation for the top pick in this year’s draft. Kuminga is a 6-foot-6, 210-pound wing that can do a bit of anything. He led the Ignite with 19 points, while also shooting with four assists, two rebounds and two blocks. Although he is only 1-for-7 from deep down, it is clear that his potential is sky high.
He also clinched the victory for the Ignite with a devastating block on Poole.
Green is the other prospect in this team that will generate the most noise when it comes to the concept. He is an elite athlete who knows how to collect points. The 6-foot, 6-pointer had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists. His lap needs to be fine-tuned, but his athleticism already makes him a top choice.
Remember, the Warriors own the Minnesota Timberwolves’ top three-protected pick and one of those players could be tied to Golden State if they fall outside the top three.
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Nix is not considered as strong as Green and Kuminga, but could be a steal in the second half of the first round. The 6-foot-5 point guard is already playing like a vet, putting up 12 points, three assists and three rebounds, nailing his only attempt from outside the arc.
Yes, the spotlight was on the young people. However, the Ignite also has some experienced veterans, including a former Warriors supporter.
Jarrett Jack, now 37 years old (!), Stole the show in Orlando. The 13-year-old NBA veterinarian led all scorers by 19 points in 19 minutes. He was a perfect 3-for-3 from long distance and goes 9-for-10 off the field.
He last played in the NBA on April 11, 2018.
The G-League bubble will be big for draft judges to find out what players like Kuminga, Green and Nix could be at the next level after skipping university. It’s also a great opportunity for Lin and Jack because they want to continue their basketball lives.
For Game 1, the G League bubble brought all the fireworks to Walt Disney World.
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