Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) – It’s been a rough season for the NBA’s G League Ignite, which plays its games at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson.
Not only does the Ignite own the worst record in the G-League at 2-28, but word came down on Thursday that the team would be folding at the end of the season.
The Ignite was set up by the NBA to develop future prospects for the NBA, but G league President Shareef Abdur-Raheem said Thursday that the decision to end the team comes amid the changing basketball landscape, including the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy and the advent of collectives and the transfer portal.
“Four years ago, we started Ignite to fill a void in the basketball landscape, and I’m proud of the contributions we were able to make to that ecosystem,” said Abdur-Rahim. “With the changing environment across youth and collegiate basketball, now is the right time to take this step. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to general manager Anthony McClish, head coach Jason Hart and their staff and to each player who wore an Ignite jersey. As ever, the G League’s commitment to developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams is unwavering.”
The 2023-24 Ignite roster features McDonald’s All-Americans and projected top NBA Draft picks Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland. The team will play its final game on March 28 against the Ontario Clippers. Nine Ignite veterans are currently in the NBA, including key contributors Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), Scoot Henderson (Portland Trail Blazers) and 2022 NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors).
The Ignite’s first season was in 2020.