While the Warriors have played 25 games this bizarre NBA season, the G League opened its bubble in Orlando on Wednesday with a bang.
The attempted return of the Santa Cruz Warriors against the G League Ignite, a team with a handful of the best players in the NBA Draft in 2021, failed, losing by 109-104. All eyes were on candidates Jonathan Kuminga, Jalen Green and Daishen Nix, as well as recent Warriors players, Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole, and former NBA stars like Jeremy Lin and Jarrett Jack.
See how the notable names fare to kick off this year’s G League season.
Warriors of Santa Cruz
Has it really been nine years since “Linsanity” took over the world of basketball? It still looks like yesterday, but Lin is now 32 years old and fighting for a chance to return to the NBA.
Lin was good, not great against Ignite. He finished with 18 points and five assists, hitting 4 in 9 on the pitch for 30 minutes. There is no doubt that he seemed to be able to provide solid minutes for an NBA team now. At the same time, it may have to be off to get a real photo.
Although Lin is the center of attention for his success in the NBA, the Warriors need Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole to play well for Santa Cruz to show that they have a bright future as professionals. Poole led Santa Cruz with 22 points during a 33-minute game. He hit just 7 out of 22 on the field and 2 out of 9 in depth, but ended up with a game of plus-22 in plus-minus.
Mannion played 32 minutes, scored 17 points and made six assists. The choice of the second round also had difficulties in the field (6 to 18, 3 to 9 of 3) and ended with an ugly minus-17 in plus-minus.
It was a day of ups and downs for the two young guards, and the Warriors will continue to monitor the two closely.
G League Ignite
Kuminga continues to put himself in the conversation for the main choice of this year’s draft. Kuminga is a 1.80 m high wing and 210 pounds that can do a little bit of everything. He led Ignite with 19 points and also finished with four assists, two rebounds and two blocks. Although he went only 1 to 7 from the bottom, it is clear that his potential is high.
He also sealed the Ignite’s victory with a devastating block in Poole.
Green is the other perspective of this team that will generate more noise when it comes to the draft. He is an elite athlete who knows how to accumulate points. The 6-foot-6 tall guard had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists. Your kick needs some adjustments, but your athleticism already makes it one of the first choices.
Remember, the Warriors have the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first three protected choices and any of these players can be chosen for the Golden State if they fall outside the first three choices.
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Nix is not as well regarded as Green and Kuminga, but it could be a blow in the second half of the first round. The 1.80 meter guard already plays as a veterinarian, with 12 points, three assists and three rebounds, and made his only attempt beyond the hoop.
Yes, the focus was on young people. However, Ignite also features some seasoned veterans, including a former Warriors fan favorite.
Jarrett Jack, now 37 (!), Stole the show in Orlando. The 13-year-old NBA veteran led all scorers with 23 points in 19 minutes. He was a perfect 3 in 3 long distance and hit 9 out of 10 on the field.
He last played in the NBA on April 11, 2018.
The G League bubble will be huge for draft appraisers to discover what players like Kuminga, Green and Nix can be on the next level after skipping college. This is also a great opportunity for Lin and Jack, who are looking to continue their lives in basketball.
For Game 1, the G League bubble brought all the fireworks from Walt Disney World.
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