In this article, I review some of the top standouts from the G League Showcase, many of which were signed to two-way contracts, or will likely receive their shot by the end of the year. All the players under review were unaffiliated with an NBA squad prior to this event.

Nate Darling, Ontario Clippers

Coming off the bench for the Clippers, it could be argued that Nate was the “darling” of the G League Showcase (with all due respect to tournament MVP Brandon Boston). His hot shooting, coupled with Brandon Boston’s dynamic scoring, really elevated the Agua Caliente Clippers and ultimately won them the $100k.

Darling proved that he is a high-level shotmaker, connecting on 16 of his 26 attempts from long range, or 61.5%, for the tournament. Importantly, he was able to get his shot off in a number of different ways and moved extremely well without the ball. He employs shot-and-pass fakes to free himself.

Darling also consistently moved in space, exploiting creases in the defense to generate open looks. He only needs a narrow window to get his shot off, and he was thus able to create for himself when given a high ball screen. When the screen came, Darling possessed the balance and savvy to keep defenses honest or move the ball.

On that note, Darling’s floor game continues to develop, and he demonstrated that he is capable of utilizing the threat of his shot to attack off the bounce – either getting all the way to the basket, shooting runners in the lane, or kicking the ball back out to the perimeter. There is very little wasted motion in Darling’s game. Importantly, Darling played with pace, often finishing out in transition or facilitating for his teammates ahead of the pack.

He demonstrated a good nose for the ball, competing with his opponents on the glass. And, he also played fairly well defensively, staying in front of his man in one-on-one scenarios, and disrupting his opponent attacking the basket. Additionally, he had a few nice poke-aways. All in all, Darling looks like an obvious fit for any team looking for a shooter who plays within himself. I would not be surprised if he is called up this season.

Louis King, Deleware Blue Coats

Following his performance at the Showcase, King was immediately signed to a two-way contract by the 76ers. And for good reason. King made statement dunks throughout the Showcase, energizing his team on both ends of the floor, culminating in a 26-point comeback against the Iowa Wolves in his team’s final game.

While he shot poorly from beyond the arc in this second contest, King was dynamic in getting to the basket, showcasing his excellent handle, and blowing by his man on multiple occasions. King has a quick first step and an impressive crossover, which really gets defenders on their heels. He is capable of attacking one on one or utilizing high ball screens to get a step.

King has high-level athleticism and can finish with the best of them out in transition, using his high-level handle to blow by his man. He also was the beneficiary of several give-and-go rim runs. Additionally, his passing and general unselfishness really separated him at the Showcase. He found open teammates cutting to the rim or out on the perimeter. Finally, he was dynamic feeding his teammates in transition.

This is an area where King has made significant strides and continues to grow. He made several nice reads out of P&R sequences. King did a lot of the little things, tipping rebounds to teammates and creating extra possessions. On the defensive end, King really stood out, poking the ball away from some of the quicker guards, leading to transition opportunities on the other end. He has the length and quick hands to disrupt NBA second units from a defensive standpoint.

King forced several turnovers just by his presence pressuring the ball. Overall, it is clear that Louis King is the type of wing that NBA teams covet. He has great size, length, and unselfishness, and he plays both sides of the ball. 

Mason Jones, Mexico City Capitanes

Mason is the fuel that keeps the Mexico City Capitanes going. While he wasn’t always the fastest player on the floor at the Showcase, Jones certainly played with the highest motor.  Jones did an excellent job of running the show for the Capitanes, involving his teammates and pushing the pace out in transition. Jones has a good nose for the ball and often looked to beat the defense down the floor. He was extremely crafty in the lane, shielding the ball with his body and finishing some nifty lay-ins.

While he does not possess the quickest first step in the G League, Jones has good speed and did a nice job of lulling his man to sleep before attacking off the bounce. Jones made fast decisions with the ball in his hands, particularly in the P&R, where he flashed really good chemistry with Jahlil Okafor prior to his injury late in the Westchester Knicks contest. Importantly, Jones has good instincts for spacing the floor in P&R and is often able to drive past the screen before finding the roll man for an uncontested lay-in.

While he does make some really impressive plays with the ball in his hands, displaying great vision (particularly against the Westchester Knicks), he often played a bit too fast at times and needed to slow down the tempo when he did not have numbers in transition. If he plays more under control, he will be able to carve out a role at the next level.

Jones already showcased his exceptional vision, creating for bigs attacking the rim, and finding teammates out on the perimeter. When he was not facilitating or attacking the basket, Jones shot the ball well from 3pt range, connecting on 4 of his 6 shot attempts from distance, some of which were off balance. Jones demonstrated that he can keep defenses honest.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jones displayed his typical high energy, stepping up to draw offensive fouls and competing for one on one. Jones also flashed quick hands, as he was able to poke the ball away from his opponent if he was beaten off the dribble. All in all, Jones is one of the best floor generals in the G League and an obvious call-up candidate due to his proficiency in the P&R and high motor. 

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