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While the G League Ignite program is no longer, the products that came from it are far from done.
Several players from the program were in action on Day 2 of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Former Ignite assistant coach Rod Baker was in attendance to take in all the on-court action.
“I’m a parent – I have three kids,” Baker said. “But I’ve added about 10 more since being with this group. It’s really fun but even more gratifying to see where they started and now where they are.”
In four seasons, the Ignite program sent 13 players to the NBA. That number is the most of any program including colleges and universities since 2020.
“We did our jobs,” Baker said. “As a coaching staff, as a strength and conditioning staff – all the people that had something to do with these guys growing up, did our jobs. We had 11 guys drafted in three years. Duke can’t say that, Kentucky can’t say that, nobody else just us.”
While the Ignite players are on the move heading toward the NBA, former Ignite head coach Jason Hart has embarked on a new journey. A journey that takes him back to the college ranks for one of the nation’s premiere programs.
Hart was added as an assistant coach on new Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope’s staff.
“Jason should still be coaching Ignite,” Baker said. “And worst case scenario, Jason should be on somebody’s NBA bench. Now, if you can’t still be Ignite and can’t get on somebody’s bench then he’s in as good a place as he could possibly be. [Head coach] Mark Pope knew what he was doing when he hired Jason.”
Chicago bucks Milwaukee despite Beauchamp’s offensive explosion
Three total Ignite products were on the floor when the Bulls and Bucks locked horns to open Day 2 of summer league in Las Vegas.
Number 6 overall pick Matas Buzelis was one of five players to score in double-figures for Chicago en route to the win. He opened the game with an and-one early in the first quarter before finishing with eight points in the first quarter.
Buzelis scored half of his hometown team’s first 14 points of the game. By the final buzzer, he had 15 points on just 27% shooting but did haul in seven rebounds.
Chicago eventually went up by 14 points in the third quarter, winning the frame by 10 points.
At one point, Milwaukee trimmed the deficit to as little as three points in the fourth quarter but another late run by its opponent put the game back out of reach.
Former Ignite teammate of Buzelis, forward Tyler Smith made his summer league debut and began to make his presence felt with his playmaking out of the pick-and-roll. Smith showed a little bit of everything during his outing including splashing a couple of three-pointers during his 12-point, six-rebound performance.
A day before meeting his former teammate as professionals, Smith was looking forward to showing the fans what Ignite practice was like last year.
“I’m super excited,” he said. “People get to see what happens in practice. It was competitive so it’s going to be a great game.”
Third-year player Marjon Beauchamp led all scorers with 22 points on 39% from the field to go along with five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
“I’m not really out here to show that I can play,” he said. “I feel like the league knows I can play. I’m just trying to go out there and be undeniable, be an energy guy and try to be a vet because it's my third year. Just trying to lead by example.”
Beauchamp was a part of the Ignite program from 2021-22 but still has some strong feelings about the program closing its doors.
“I thank those guys everyday in my prayers,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here without them. [Program director] Rod Strickland, [G League president] Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jason Hart gave me an opportunity when I was coming from [junior college].”
Top-5 pick Holland makes debut for Detroit
For the first time since being drafted in June, No. 5 overall pick Ron Holland II suited up for the Detroit Pistons on the second day of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Holland made his debut along with first round pick Jared McCain for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Having had a more than unique journey to the NBA for the Texas commit turned Ignite standout, Holland feels only stronger because of his route to the league.
“Just how much I grew mentally,” he said. “Not getting too high or too low with this thing and just staying true to my habits. Really just going out there and being the best Ron Holland and I feel like I definitely grew in that area. I am who I am.”
Holland got the line early using his speed and physicality and ended up scoring four of the first six points for Detroit. At one point in the fourth quarter, he hung in the air while absorbing contact to complete a layup in a crowded lane.
The rangy six-foot, eight-inch forward finished with 15 points in a 94-81 loss for the Pistons to the Sixers.
“I’m blessed for the opportunity to just be on any NBA team,” Holland said. “But I was blessed to be with the Detroit Pistons and one thing Coach [JB] Bickerstaff stresses to me is, ‘Come in and be you. And be the best you.’”
As most first round picks do, Holland went through his fair share of hitting the hardwood in his NBA debut. In the game’s opening quarter, he was nailed with a hard screen that was called an offensive foul.
The Texas native took another hard spill in the fourth quarter on a missed dunk.
“Playing against grown men [in the G League],” Holland said. “There are a lot of NBA vets in the G League so we definitely got good bump with the Ignite. I feel like physically because down there you see seven-footers just like you’ll see in the NBA. It’s definitely two different ball games but it gave us a pre-run of what the NBA is going to be like.”
Known as a skilled defender, Holland fared relatively well on the defensive end in his first NBA outing. He showed flashes in spurts including a steal and two blocks while being matched up occasionally with the aforementioned McCain.
While the first experience is being him, Holland is focused on conditioning before considering the possibility of guarding at the NBA level.
“When I can get conditioned and I get in really good shape and get to the level of NBA conditioning then I’ll be able to say that,” he said. “But right now, I’m a rookie. I’ve got a bunch of games to go and a lot to do.”
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