The rumor had been circulating for a month and The Athletic affirms that the NBA will indeed bury its Team Ignite after this season, and this four years after its creation. It was launched in 2020, to allow high school students who wished to prepare for the Draft without going through the NCAA, while earning money and being surrounded by a few veterans.
Since then, several young people who have gone through the NBA have found themselves there, such as Jalen Green, Scoot Henderson, Jonathan Kuminga, Dyson Daniels, Jaden Hardy, MarJon Beauchamp, Leonard Miller and Sidy Cissoko.
This season, Team Ignite has prospects like Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland and Tyler Smith in its ranks, all expected in the first round of the next Draft, but its overall results are catastrophic: 6 victories for… 40 defeats.
“NIL” makes the team lose interest
Last month, Adam Silver stated that this potential removal was motivated by the fact that college players now have the opportunity to earn money through sponsorship (NIL).
Making the interest of this Team Ignite more questionable, while the commissioner now prefers to “ focus on player development “.
“ Previously some of these players felt it was unfair and wanted the opportunity to not only earn a living playing basketball, but also to sign contracts with sponsors or get an agent. An opportunity that wasn't available to them in college, but now all of those same opportunities have become available to them. »
Team Ignite's final match is scheduled for a week from now, on March 28.
