What NBA Scouts Are Looking For (In G League Bubble)
From the recent NBA Call-Ups of Donta Hall and Norvel Pelle, to the emerging success of Oshae Brissett, here's a look at how scouts are evaluating talent in the G League bubble.
A couple of weeks in and a couple of weeks to go. The 15-game NBA G League season is more than two-thirds of the way complete. While the campaign is shortened, that’s still been enough time for certain prospects to stand out and for NBA teams to identify potential fits for their organizations.
As evidenced by the NBA Call-Up of Donta Hall from G League Ignite to the Raptors, defense is still held in high regard. The 6’10”, 230 pounder is an athletic freak who ism’t known to take plays off. He’s a beast on the boards and has used his high-flying heroics to land on Sports Center’s Top 10 countdown his fair share of times.
The interesting thing about Hall is that he seemingly took a backseat (at least in terms of attention) by joining the Ignite squad and playing alongside future NBA Draft picks Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, among others. Despite rising up to earn promotions to both the Pistons and Nets last season, Hall (only) averaged 23.5 minutes as part of Ignite.
There’s no doubt Hall made the most of his time. He averaged averaged 8.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks (before joining the Raptors 905 as an assignee) — the latter of which stats is actually an increase from last season, when Hall was named to the All-NBA G League Second Team and All-NBA G League Defensive Team. Ignite amassed a 6-3 record with Hall anchoring the defense and now the Raptors are intrigued.
“The thing about the G League is that it’s not always about scoring the most points. You have to have confidence. You have to believe. But you also have to be the player an NBA team wants and 99% of the time, they have their scorers,” former NBA G League coach Nate Loenser said.
Defense wins ball games. Understanding your role helps too. With all this in mind, here’s a look at what NBA scouts and decision-makers look for when evaluating talent in the NBA G League.
Winning Resumes
Having a winning track record helps, because it’s proof a player can make positive contributions. They’re not afraid to sacrifice a little bit for the betterment of the team.
Currently playing for the Blue Coats, Michael Frazier is a proven winner who comes to mind as a prime example. He earned clutch victories as a member of Team USA and won an NBA G League championship with the Vipers in 2019. That same season, Frazier won the league’s Most Improved Player award and the Rockets rewarded him with a Two-Way contract during the 2020-21 campaign.
Frazier has been key in the Blue Coats’ 7-4 record in the bubble. He knows what winning feels like and continues to carry himself in a certain way, one that endears him to others. Good character is valuable too, though he’s held his own on the court. The swingman has averaged 17.2 points in his last five games.
“I’ve always been someone that treats people with respect. You hold yourself a certain way and that’s a reflection on my family,” Frazier said. They taught me the benefits. You speak to the janitor the same way you talk to the CEO.”
The Clutch Gene / Knowing Your Role
Speaking of clutch, Antonio Blakeney is someone who is using his time with the Canton Charge to ensure he’s scoring points in a timely fashion. He’s averaged 16.2 points in 27.3 minutes over his last six contests, all of which have come in a reserve role.
The sharpshooter is seemingly dedicated to finding a rhythm off the pine. It’s important that he proves he’s someone who can heat up in a hurry, because he’s more than likely going to be tasked with hopping up off the bench when he reaches the NBA again. Blakeney won the minor league’s Rookie of the Year award back in 2017-18, when he averaged 32 points for the Windy City Bulls. There’s no doubt he’s one of the purest scorers, but proving he can do so — no matter the circumstance — will be a big feather in his cap. Whether it’s off the bench, late in games, or simply finding that spark again after not receiving minutes in a while — Blakeney needs to demonstrate he can be reliable. So far, so good.
Defense / Understanding Your Calling Card
Like Hall, Norvel Pelle knows full well what he brings to the table and doesn’t have absorb the spotlight to succeed. In fact, as other prospects compete in the bubble for a chance to shine in the NBA, Pelle is proof that doing the dirty work garners you appreciation at the next level.
Originally called up by the Nets in the midst of G League training camp, Pelle returned to the Canton Charge for a brief stint. He averaged 10 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3 blocks, all while shooting 70% from the field in three games. Such production is the same kind of success he experienced while emerging as a top 3 finisher in Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player voting during the 2018-19 season with Delaware.
Pelle was once again rewarded and is currently playing out a 10-day contract with the Kings. At 28 years old, he’s very aware of his physical prowess and knows how he can bolster a defense. He can step right in. Players would be smart to learn from his example in that regard. Rising up can stem from understanding your strengths and building on them.
A Dedication To Improvement
Being in the minor league is often about putting in the work. Not everyone is able to stay patient before getting to enjoy the fruits of their labor. That patience is a skill in of itself.
Having said that, not many players can say they’re making the kind of strides Oshae Brissett is making from last season to this one. His growth has been evident and it shouldn’t be long before he’s rewarded for his efforts.
Brissett’s averaged 20.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in his last six games heading into Sunday’s action. He’s becoming a double-double machine, an efficient player who is not afraid to muscle his way inside for easy (but well fought for) buckets. After serving as a Two-Way Player for the Raptors last season, Brissett is as hungry ever for another promotion.
“Now knowing that there are more eyes on me — I’m open to everybody — that’s in the back of my mind,” he said.
After a monster dunk in his previous outing, Brissett found himself on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays countdown, but it wasn’t the first time.
“Winning games is the big thing, but as far as personal things go, [being on Sports Center] is fun,” he said. “It ultimately can get more eyes on you — maybe some GM’s — and that’s what we all want.”
It would appear as though Brissett is a leader of the pack for players who are honing in to give big league eyes more of what they’re looking for.