By Derek Bast
Player of the Week:
Javon Freeman-Liberty, Windy City Bulls
The 23-year-old guard out of DePaul was sensational this week, averaging 35 points and seven rebounds over three games for the Bulls. Freeman-Liberty developed into a prolific scorer in his four years in college, split between Valparaiso and DePaul, but it wasn’t enough to hear his name called on draft night. He was efficient in the five minutes he received back in October for Chicago, and it might be worth giving him another shot, especially if they decide to blow everything up at the trade deadline.
Who’s Hot?
Sidy Cissoko, G-League Ignite
The fascinating 2023 draft prospect has endured his ups and downs with the Ignite this season, but Cissoko is starting to find his form. The 6’8 wing is 10-24 from beyond the arc in his last four games and has reached double figures in each contest as a result. His frame and athleticism are enough to force a team to buy into his upside, but weeks like this from a shooting standpoint give scouts another reason to pull the trigger on him inside the first round.
Gabe York, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
York has been a standout star this season for the Mad Ants and his success is continuing in the regular season for his team. He ranks in the top-10 in the league in scoring with over 23 points per game, which saw a dramatic increase thanks to back-to-back performances with 38 and 41 points respectively.
He drilled six of his 13 triples against the Ignite to post the 38-point performance and followed it up with five more 3-pointers in a 41-point effort against the Stars. Unsurprisingly, the Mad Ants walked away victorious in both, making a great week for York even better.
Who’s Not?
Skylar Mays, Delaware Blue Coats
It doesn’t seem like too long ago when Mays was emerging as a viable scoring option off the bench for the competing Atlanta Hawks. Now, he’s hardly an option off the bench for a G-League team. With the fourth lowest 3-point percentage among qualifying players, it’s hard to imagine just how far Mays has fallen, but maybe his most recent game (5-6 FG) can be the catalyst to reignite his career.
Mojave King, G-League Ignite
Time is running out in King’s season to prove that he is ready for the upcoming NBA draft. He’s remained on draft radars for the past few seasons, but is struggling to put it all together with the Ignite this season. Once a go-to shooter, King is now struggling just to get shots up. He logged the most minutes he’s had in weeks with 36, but only took four shots.
Although he made three of them, none were from beyond the arc, which is becoming a trend for the 20-year-old shooting guard. He hasn’t made a 3-pointer since January 12 and has only attempted four in the past four games. Something needs to start clicking for King, or he could be waiting another year to enter his name in the draft.
Top 5: Rookies who could use G-League reps
5. Malaki Branham, San Antonio Spurs
Branham is one of two exceptions on this list who is getting consistent minutes in the NBA, but could use more reps to truly develop his jump shot. He is shooting just 29 percent from the 3-point line with the Spurs and would be better suited working through these struggles with more repetitions at the G-League level. Gregg Popovich hates losing and forcing his young rookie to take fewer and tougher shots in the NBA is doing a disservice to both Branham and his team who are struggling because of it.
4. MarJon Beauchamp, Milwaukee Bucks
A lot of the same things can be said about Beauchamp, although his outside shooting is slightly better at just under 33 percent. Still, the 22-year-old could use a confidence boost and more reps to improve as a scorer instead of seeing inconsistent minutes that will only dwindle as the playoffs get closer.
3. Kennedy Chandler, Memphis Grizzlies
Chandler has seen his fair share of minutes in the G-League already, with an appearance as recent as Jan. 17, but during his stretches with the Grizzlies, he isn’t seeing nearly enough minutes to justify staying up there. The Tennessee product is still only 20 and allowing him to dominate the G-League running the point will expedite his development more than a few minutes here and there with the Grizzlies.
2. Jabari Walker, Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are yet to even try playing Walker in the G-League, which is helping neither them nor him. Walker was the penultimate pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but since the team doesn’t have a G-League affiliate, he has been forced into the rotation in the NBA. His numbers, as a result, have been poor. The team could choose to send him to a different G-League team, but that option is just as unfair. It’s time Portland invests in a G-League affiliate.
1. Dalen Terry, Chicago Bulls
The difference between Terry’s stats in the G-League and NBA are staggering. Whenever he is with Chicago, his minutes come sparingly, if ever, and never allow him to get into the flow of the game. His shooting splits are poor because of this. In 10 games at the Showcase Cup, Terry is a 46/39/84 shooter because he is allowed the opportunity to play consistently and comfortably. Chicago needs to get him back into that rhythm before they ruin the most crucial years of his development.