Ranking the 30 best players of the 2019-20 NBA G League season

With the NBA G League season likely to be canceled soon, Rookie Wire took a look at the best players to suit up this year.

As the NBA braces for a lengthy hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the growing belief around the league is that the G League season will soon be canceled.

The G League regular season was set to conclude on March 28 and the decision to end play is likely an easy one to make given the financial burden it places on organizations. While the season will soon be canceled, all G League players will be paid through the end of the year.

The NBA itself is preparing for the possibility of returning to play in mid-to-late June as the best-case scenario after the CDC recommended on Sunday that all events with 50 or more people be canceled for two months to help slow the spread of the virus.

With the G League likely set to be canceled, Rookie Wire decided to take a look at the best players to suit up this season as there have been some spectacular performances from around the league.

Players must have appeared in at least 20 games to be considered. Stats were used from the NBA G League, Basketball-Reference and RealGM.

30. Donta Hall, Grand Rapids Drive

Hall, who finished second in double-doubles among all players with 22, emerged as a strong post player with the Drive this season. He was named to the 2019-20 Midseason All-NBA G League Team and was solid all season long in his first year as a professional.

29. Christ Koumadje, Delaware Blue Coats

The 7-foot-4 center led the G League in blocks with four per game and was seventh in rebounding. He recorded two triple-doubles this season with points, rebounds and blocks and tied the mark for most rebounds in a game by an individual player at 24.

28. Kyle Alexander, Sioux Falls Skyforce

Alexander quickly became one of the best big men in the league this season and his play resulted in a two-way contract from the Miami Heat. He finished fifth in blocks and 14th in rebounding with the Skyforce to cap a productive first year.

27. Eric Mika, Stockton Kings

The former BYU product placed 29th in scoring among all players and second in rebounding. Mika recorded 16 double-doubles and tied the G League season-high of 24 rebounds by an individual player. He eventually earned a 10-day contract from the Kings in February but was not signed to a second one.

26. Paul Watson, Raptors 905

Watson was named to the 2019-20 Midseason All-NBA G League Team and continued his strong play for the rest of the season. Watson scored in double figures in each of his 30 games played in the G League and eventually earned a two-way contract from the Toronto Raptors.

25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1

James Palmer Jr. has emerged as the next G League Call-Up candidate

Palmer is fifth in the G League in scoring among all players, averaging 22.8 points per game for the Agua Caliente Clippers.

James Palmer Jr. of the Agua Caliente Clippers has reportedly emerged as the next G League call-up candidate for NBA teams, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Palmer, an undrafted guard from Nebraska, is viewed as the next target by NBA teams following the recent call-ups of Gary Payton II and Rayjon Tucker.

In 11 games with the Clippers, Palmer is averaging 22.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Palmer is fifth in the G League in scoring and has recorded at least 10 points in all but one game.

Palmer kicked off his season with a 40-point outburst on Nov. 9 against the Northern Arizona Suns, finishing 15-of-19 from the field. The 6-foot-5 guard has been touted as a player that can score and lead a team and he is proving that this season with the Clippers.

During college, Palmer ranked as a top-five scorer in the Big Ten in both seasons at Nebraska but questions lingered on his shooting accuracy. Palmer has answered those questions this season after converting on 37.8% of his shots from 3-point range.

Given his abilities as a scorer, an NBA team could look to Palmer as an option off of the bench. Teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts on Jan. 5 and Palmer could be a prime candidate to be the next call-up.

[lawrence-related id=7913,9128,9118]

Rookie players are taking over the NBA G League in 2019-20

Among the top scorers in the G League this season, five players in the top 10 are first-year players.

As the NBA G League approaches the one-month mark of the season, several players have performed well and are off to great starts with many of those outings coming from the 2019 NBA Draft class.

Among the top scorers in the G League, five players in the top 10 are rookies and two first-year players, Kyle Guy and Marial Shayok, hold the top individual scoring performances of the season with 42 points each.

With most players having suited up in around 8-10 games, Rookie Wire took a look at those rookies that are making an impact with their respective clubs this season.

Jeremiah Martin, Sioux Falls Skyforce

The former Memphis forward is currently second in total scoring (242) this season and leads all rookies to this point. Martin is averaging 22 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 11 games for the Skyforce.

Martin has shown no problems transitioning to the G League as he has seven games scoring at least 20 points, including three 30-plus games. He is converting on 52.8% of his shots, including 33.3% from 3-point range.

NBA teams previously had a wealth of free-agent talent available in the G League player pool but the addition of two-way contracts has made a dent in the number of available players to sign.

Martin could be one of those players to target this season.