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The G League is officially considered the developmental league for the NBA which came to fruition in 2001. The league was known as National Basketball Development League (NBDL) till 2005 and was later called NBA Development League (NBA D-League) from 2005 to 2017.
The tournament started with eight teams and was eventually expanded to 28 teams which will be 29 from the 2020-21 season onwards. Ahead of the 2017-18 season, it was renamed to NBA G League and was the official minor league basketball organization.
With the league known for grooming talents, it comes as no surprise that lots of players were discovered through the tournament. Players have come up through the competition and went on to influence the NBA in major ways.
Now, we look at five players who have gone on to play for major franchises in the NBA.
#1 Spencer Dinwiddie
Spencer Dinwiddie was the 38th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. Dinwiddie started just one game for the Pistons was assigned to their D League affiliate Grand Rapids Drive. He averaged 12.5 points and, 5 assists in the six games he played for the team while shooting over 43% from beyond the arc.
The guard was soon traded to the Chicago Bulls and went on to represent their D League affiliate Windy City Bulls, where he was averaging 19.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 41.4% from the range. He featured nine times for the team and was soon waived by the team to Brooklyn Nets without playing an official game for the franchise.
#2 Clint Capela
Clint Capela was the 25th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2014 NBA draft. He began his career in a very impressive fashion was soon given multiple assignments with their D League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He played in 38 games for the Vipers and averaged 16 points, and 9.7 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field as well as recording nearly 3 blocks per game.
Capela appeared for the Rockets in patches but saw considerably more playing time during the postseason with an injury to Donatas Motiejunas. In fact, he had more game time during the playoffs than in the regular season for Houston.
After being one of the main men for the franchise, the center was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in February 2020.
#3 Marcus Morris Sr.
Marcus Morris Sr. was the 14th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2011 NBA draft. He was soon assigned to their D League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers and marked his debut for the side by dropping 33 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in a 103-105 loss to Dakota Wizards. He went back and forth and played for both the teams throughout the season. Morris was averaging 20.7 points, and 8.3 rebounds in his first season with the Vipers while shooting nearly 46% from the field.
His game from beyond the arc improved remarkably through the course of the next couple of seasons and is now a consistent threat from the range.
After appearances with Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, he has signed with the Los Angeles Clippers and will be hoping to deliver a title in his first season with the franchise.
#4 Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton's rise to stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. The All-Star plays a very key role for the Milwaukee Bucks and continues to be one of the most consistent players in the NBA.
Middleton was drafted with the 29th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons and was soon assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D League. He featured just 27 times for the Pistons and was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Middleton featured just three times with the Mad Ants and averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Named an All-Star in 2020, Middleton has been having an outstanding year for the Bucks. Averaging 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting nearly 44% from beyond the arc. An integral part of the franchise, Middleton will be hoping to continue his stellar year as the Bucks will be hoping to go all the way to this campaign.
#5 Seth Curry
Seth Curry went undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft but later signed a non-guarantee deal with the Golden State Warriors and was released after six preseason games. He was soon signed by the Santa Cruz Warriors from the D League as an affiliate player. On his debut, he showed the Golden State that they were wrong to let him go as he dropped 36 points on 12 of 19 shooting.
Representing Santa Cruz, Curry averaged 19.7 points, and 5.8 assists while shooting 37% from the range and nearly 44% from the field. Following quality performances, the Cleveland Cavaliers decided to sign him on a 10-day deal but they decided not to sign him extend that contract.
The next season, his D League rights were acquired by the Erie BayHawks. His performances became even better as he averaged nearly 24 points while shooting nearly 47% from the range. At the end of the season, he signed with the Sacramento Kings on a two-year deal as the Kings were in desperate need of shooter.
After becoming a free agent, Curry was picked up by the Dallas Mavericks. He has stayed there since except for a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Guess the Lakers players!
