Cavs’ Emoni Bates, Team Ballislife Fall in Up Next Championship Game

The Cleveland Two-Way rookie scored a combined 17 points in two games in the 2024 NBA G League Up Next Game.

Logan Potosky | Feb 18, 2024

Cavs’ Emoni Bates, Team Ballislife Fall in Up Next Championship Game /

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Cleveland Cavaliers

After competing in the 2024 NBA Panini Rising Stars this past Friday night, Emoni Bates represented both the Cleveland Cavaliers and their NBA G League affiliate Cleveland Charge once again on Sunday afternoon.

The 20-year-old forward took part in the 2024 NBA G League Up Next Game after receiving the 10th-most fan votes for the showcase.

Here is how Bates fared on one of the G League’s biggest stages, in which each game was played up to 30 points.

Semifinal (vs. Team Giraffe Stars)

The Cleveland rookie and his team, Team Ballislife, played in the first semifinal of the day. Bates, who is averaging 21.7 points per game for the Charge so far this season, had a strong offensive showing.

He scored a game-high 10 points, shooting 4-for-5 (80%) from the field and draining his only two-point free-throw attempt. Bates also had a +8 plus/minus, which was the second-highest of any player.

Team Ballislife ultimately came away with a 32-25 victory.

Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Team Giraffe Stars forward Jermaine Samuels Jr. (0) of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers reacts for a loose ball defend by Team Ballislife forward Emoni Bates (21) of the Cleveland Charge during the 2024 NBA G League Up Next game at Indiana Convention Center / © Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Championship (vs. Team EYL)

Bates once again led his team offensively in the Up Next Championship Game. He recorded a team-high seven points, shooting 3-for-7 (42.9%) from the field and 1-for-4 (25%) from beyond the arc, while also tallying an offensive rebound.

Unfortunately, Team Ballislife fell to EYL by a score of 30-21.

Bates has seen limited NBA action so far during his rookie season. In 10 games, he has totaled 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal, while shooting 5-for-20 (25%) from three-point range.

Currently signed to a Two-Way Contract with the Cavaliers, Bates can be active for up to 50 games for the Wine and Gold this season.

Published Feb 18, 2024

LOGAN POTOSKY

Logan Potosky is an aspiring play-by-play sports broadcaster who, to date, has called approximately 350+ hours of professional, college, and high school sporting events. He is currently the Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. He graduated from John Carroll University in May of 2023 with a degree in Communication, with a concentration in Digital Media, and a minor in Entrepreneurship.