Notable NBA veterans who are eligible for 2021 G League Draft

When the upcoming NBA G League season tips off next months, fans can expect to see more familiar faces than they would in a typical year.

When the upcoming NBA G League season tips off next months, fans can expect to see more familiar faces than they would in a typical year.

The NBA G League is hosting a bubble tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex in Florida. Once teams are assembled, they will arrive to the location by January 26 for physicals and onboarding. The first game is set for February 8 and teams are expected to play a “12-to-15 game schedule” before their single-elimination playoffs from March 5-March 9.

This offseason, per ESPN, the league also eliminated restrictions for signing players with at least five years of NBA experience. For example, as reported by Adam Johnson, this is how Jeremy Lin was able to sign outright with the Santa Cruz Warriors rather than enter the draft pool. This is reportedly a one-time exception for the G League.

Similarly, others with NBA experience signed outright as veteran mentors for the inaugural G League Ignite squad. Players like Amir Johnson and Bobby Brown will lend a hand for top prospects like Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green as they transition to the pros.

Otherwise, however, players not already on a roster who are looking to get back on the court and play in the upcoming bubble season will have to hear their names called on Monday. Over the last few days, we have learned about several players (e.g. Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson) who recently signed NBA G League Standard Player Contracts.

Even those who have been around the league for years have no guarantee of being selected, though. There are only 17 teams playing in the bubble, as 12 have opted out.

While the draft will have a maximum of 26 players selected, teams are allowed to forfeit their picks, so that number could end up even smaller. But that has not swayed the nearly 200 players who are hopeful about suiting up in Florida.

The 2021 G League Draft is scheduled for Monday, January 11, at 1:15 PM EST. Below are some of the most notable candidates, listed in order of how many minutes they have played in the NBA:

Basketball you can watch today: Antonio Blakeney on a roll in the Chinese league

There’s nothing like NBA basketball, but if you want to get your hoops fix somehow, there are some pro competitions underway around the world with a bunch of players you will recognize. These are today’s contests in The 5 Tournament, Israel, China …

There’s nothing like NBA basketball, but if you want to get your hoops fix somehow, there are some pro competitions underway around the world with a bunch of players you will recognize.

These are today’s contests in The 5 Tournament, Israel, China and New Zealand.

THE 5 TOURNAMENT

7:00 pm: Sacramento vs. Chicago (PPV)
Players of NBA interest: Former NBA players Nate Robinson, Mike Bibby, Amir Johnson, Dahntay Jones, Chris Johnson, Donte Greene, Jermaine Taylor, Derrick Byars, Eddie Basden, Mike Hall

8:10 pm: Toronto vs. TX (PPV)
Players of NBA interest: Former NBA players Jamario Moon, Julian Wright, Alan Anderson, James White, Patrick O’Bryant, Mike Taylor, Alex Scales

9:20 pm: Miami vs. NY (PPV)
Players of NBA interest: Former NBA players Mario Chalmers, Carlos Arroyo, Craig Smith, Solomon Jones, Mardy Collins, Darnell Jackson, DerMarr Johnson, Qyntel Woods, Rob Hite, Corsley Edwards

ISRAEL

2:00 pm: Hapoel Gilboa Galil vs. Hapoel Holon (Winner League TV)

CHINA

3:30 am: Shanxi Loongs vs. Qingdao Eagles (Youku)

4:00 am: Zhejiang Golden Bulls vs. Guangdong Southern Tigers (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former Net Yi Jianlian, former Sun Sonny Weems

7:35 am: Fujian Sturgeons vs. Xinjiang Flying Tigers (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former Nugget Ty Lawson, Grizzlies draftee Wang Zhelin, draft prospect Ziming Fan

8:00 am: Jiangsu Dragons vs. Shandong Heroes (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former Bull Antonio Blakeney