Isaiah Todd Breaks Down Decision to Join NBA G League’s Professional Pathway Program

Todd will team-up with SI All-American Player of the Year Jalen Green.

Isaiah Todd always envisioned that one day he’d be a pro, but he had no idea that it would be in this way.  

Last week, Todd told Sports Illustrated that he decommitted from Michigan to pursue a pro career, and three days later announced that he would be suiting up in the NBA G League through its professional pathway program.

So how does it feel to be a pro?

RELATED: SI All-American Player of the Year Jalen Green to Turn Pro

“It's like the step before the big step,” Todd said. “I feel like I'm really excited just to get to L.A. and get going.”

Todd’s new team is still being developed, but it will not have any affiliation to any G League team or with an NBA franchise. The team will play against G League teams and other teams focusing on NBA draft preparation, skill work and life skills in an academy-like structure with pro veterans.

Todd, a versatile 6-foot-10 forward out of Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), will team up with SI All-American Player of the Year Jalen Green, who announced he was taking the G League route on Thursday.

Green’s and Todd’s deal are expected to be worth around $500,000.

The professional pathway program also offers players full college scholarships.

RELATED: Isaiah Todd Decommits from Michigan

Most believe that Todd’s and Green’s presence will make the G League route more attractive to elite prospects behind them who are open to an alternative to one year of college or going overseas before entering the NBA draft.

As is stands, players must be 19 years old or one year removed from high school to declare for the draft, per league rules.

The new G League initiative will reportedly be based in Los Angeles, and, according to ESPN, former NBA coach of the year Sam Mitchell is expected to be considered as one of the candidates to lead the team.

Mitchell coached Green, a 6-5 combo guard out of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) with Team EBO (Calif.) in 2018 on the adidas Gauntlet.

Mitchell was also one of the coaches at adidas Nations, a summer tournament which featured the top high school basketball players in the country from every shoe circuit.