NBA G League Overview
1. How many games are in an NBA G League season?
Each teams play a 50-game schedule.
2. When do the regular season and playoffs begin and end?
The regular season begins in November and runs into April. In April, the playoffs consist of three rounds, all of which follow a best-of-three series format.
3. How can I watch games?
All NBA G League games, with the exception of those that are televised nationally, will be streamed live on Facebook Live. Log on to Facebook.com/NBAGLeague before tip-off or find the link via the game page on NBAGLeague.com.
4. How can I follow the NBA G League?
The official website of the NBA G League is NBAGLeague.com. You can also download the NBA G League mobile app for iOs and Android devices. On social media, you can follow the NBA G League on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine and Snapchat (“nbagleague”).
5. How many NBA G League players have made it to the NBA?
An all-time high 135 players with NBA G League experience were on NBA rosters at the start of the 2016-17 regular season, representing 30 percent of the league.
This group includes both players who were assigned from the NBA to the NBA G League and players who were called up from the NBA D-League to the NBA at some point in their careers.
At least 30 NBA G League prospects have been called up to the NBA in each of the past five seasons. A record 92 NBA players were assigned to the NBA G League an all-time high 479 total times in 2016-17.
6. Who are some of the best NBA players who have played in the NBA G League?
Top players who have been assigned to the NBA G League include Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, Jazz center Rudy Gobert, Pistons guard Reggie Jackson and Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson.
Top players who were called up from the NBA G League include Spurs guard Danny Green, Heat guard Gerald Green, Hornets guard Jeremy Lin and Heat center Hassan Whiteside.
7. What is a Call-Up?
A Call-Up occurs when a player under contract with the NBA G League is signed by an NBA team to an NBA contract. More than 30 NBA G League prospects have received a GATORADE Call-Up in each of the past six seasons.
8. What is an assignment?
An assignment occurs when an NBA team sends a player to its NBA G League affiliate. That player remains under NBA contract and the assigning NBA team has the exclusive rights to recall that player at any time.
Over the past three seasons, an average of 62 NBA players have been assigned to the NBA G League an average total of 234 times (players with under three years of service can be assigned an unlimited number of times each season).
9. What is a two-way contract?
Beginning in the 2017 offseason, NBA rosters expanded from 15 to 17 players with the addition of two spots for players under “Two-Way Contracts.”
NBA teams may have up to two players under NBA Two-Way Contracts who will spend the bulk of the season in the NBA G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team. Two-Way players are paid a corresponding daily amount based on the number of days they play in each league. Only players with four or fewer years of NBA service are able to sign Two-Way Contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.
10. How many teams make the playoffs?
The playoff rules have changed as the league has expanded. In 2016, eight teams made the playoffs – four in each conference. This included the winners of each of the four divisions and two Wild Card teams in each conference – the top two teams in each conference on the basis of regular season record regardless of division.
11. Is there an NBA G League All-Star Game?
Yes, the NBA G League All-Star Game has been part of NBA All-Star Weekend since 2007. The league also puts on its own three-point and slam dunk contests.
12. How are All-Stars selected?
The All-Stars are selected by a vote of all of the league’s head coaches. Players are eligible for All-Star voting if they play in at least half of their team’s games through a predetermined date in late January. Players must be on an active NBA G League roster at the time of the All-Star Game in order to compete and the league replaces any ineligible players.
13. When is the NBA G League Draft?
The NBA G League Draft is typically held in the last week of October or the first week of November. This occurs after NBA start-of-season rosters are finalized.
14. Who is eligible to be drafted?
The league signs about 180 players each year to join the pool of draft-eligible prospects. They include college players who went undrafted in the NBA Draft, international prospects, and players who were recently waived by NBA teams following training camp. Players must be 18 years old to be eligible for the NBA G League Draft, as opposed to the NBA’s age minimum of 19.
19. How many players are on an NBA G League roster?
There are a minimum of 10 players on rosters, with two additional spots for players placed on the inactive/injury list. A team’s active roster may expand to up to 13 players if its parent club assigns players from the NBA roster.
