Ignite Update: Finding Success Following Slow Start to Season

Checking in on the talented G League Ignite roster and the draft stocks of the top NBA prospects.

Nick Crain | Dec 11, 2023

Ignite Update: Finding Success Following Slow Start to Season /

Since the inception of the Ignite program, the G League has become a more popular route for some of the top young talent in the world.

Ignite got off to a very cold start to the season, struggling to stay in games against G League opponents and sometimes looking lost on both ends. With that in mind, this loaded roster has started to get more comfortable with time and is much more competitive than it was to start the season. Players are coming back from injury, veterans are being added to stabilize the roster and individual players are starting to shine.

As it relates to the 2024 NBA Draft, how have the top Ignite prospects looked so far this season?

Ron Holland

11 GP | 19.3 PPG | 6.6 RPG | 2.6 APG | 2.3 SPG | 47.5% FG

Holland's impact on the defensive end cannot be denied. He plays with incredible energy and disruptiveness and is among the best defensive prospects in this entire draft class. His 84 DSI rating from Cerebro Sports goes to show just how special he is on that end.

On the offensive side of the ball, Holland is starting to figure things out, but still has several flaws. His scoring production leads the team and passing upside has been impressive, but he is still pretty inefficient. He's shooting just 25% from beyond the arc on over three attempts per game and below 65% from line. He is also still quite turnover prone at 3.7 per contest. Even then, he's a clear top-five talent in this upcoming draft.

Matas Buzelis

3 GP | 10.3 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 1.3 APG | 41.9% FG

Now that he's back from injury, talent evaluators are getting their first look at Buzelis in regular season action. As expected, it's been a slow start as he adjusts to the pace and physicality that this level of competition brings.

Although it's a small sample, Buzelis has made just one of his 11 3-point attempts this season and is shooting 50% from the free throw line on very minimal tries. Given his size and shooting upside, we should expect for his production to be much higher and more efficient as the season goes on.

Tyler Smith

11 GP | 15.6 PPG | 5.1 RPG | 1.0 BPG | 41% 3PT

The early season success for Smith has continued into December, as he continues to make his case as the most impressive Ignite prospect thus far. That doesn't mean he will be the first drafted of the group, but he's definitely done the most for his draft stock relative to where it was to start the season.

Not only is he one of the team's top scorers and shooting well from beyond the arc, but he's also using his size to make an impact on the defensive end. In the modern NBA, forwards like Smith are what every team is looking for.

Izan Almansa

11 GP | 7.7 PPG | 6.5 RPG | 2.4 APG | 50.8% FG

Adapting to a new role takes time, which has been the case for Almansa thus far. In FIBA and Overtime Elite play before coming to the G League, he has always been a primary option on the offensive end. That hasn't been the case yet with Ignite, as he is learning to be impactful in more of a complimentary role.

This is likely good for his long-term development, as Almansa will be a complementary piece early in his NBA career and is already figuring out where he can impact winning in that capacity. He still isn't taking as many 3-point attempts as many had hoped, and is also only converting on less than 30% of those attempts. Regardless, he's a lottery talent with the ability to do a little bit of everything as a connector.

Babacar Sane

4 GP | 9.3 PPG | 5.8 RPG | 1.0 BPG | 37.8% FG

Efficiency has been an issue for Sane thus far, as he's shot very poorly from all over the court. Especially from beyond the arc, although on only six attempts, he's yet to hit a triple this season.

As a strong, versatile defender he has still been a solid contributor, but if Sane is going to take that next step he needs to polish his offensive game. Luckily for him, it's still early in the season with plenty of times to get back on track.

London Johnson

6 GP | 11.3 PPG | 6.0 APG | 2.2 RPG | 33.3% 3PT

Coming back from injury, Johnson has been a steadying force for Ignite in his second season with the team. He's been a very productive floor general that has notched six assists per game while only turning the ball over roughly twice per contest.

The 3-point shot is also going in at a decent clip, though there's room for improvement there. If he's going to really take that next step as a high level NBA prospect, look for the scoring aggressiveness to increase in order to become a deadly offensive weapon as both a scorer and passer.

Thierry Darlan

11 GP | 7.2 PPG | 2.7 RPG | 1.2 SPG | 28.4% FG

Another player that has struggled to score the ball efficiently this season for Ignite is Darlan, who entered the season known for being a high level scorer. He's converted on less than 30% of his shots from the floor overall, including a 21% clip from deep.

The positional size Darlan possesses is remarkable and he has a skillset built for the NBA. With that in mind, he will need to start turning some of that upside into production if teams are going to give him a look in the first round.

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Published Dec 11, 2023

NICK CRAIN

Nick is co-founder and lead draft analyst for Draft Digest. A credentialed NBA reporter for over five years, he's covered the league for various outlets including SLAM and Forbes.