Bazley said he will get more out of the G League than he would by playing overseasGETTY IMAGES
McDonald's All-American and Syracuse commit Darius Bazley said that he has "decided to turn professional and plans to sign in the NBA G League," according to Shams Charania of YAHOO SPORTS. His decision to bypass the one-and-done format for the G League is "unprecedented." Bazley said, "The G League will have the most to offer, considering that is the development league for the NBA. I will get more out of that than going overseas." Bazley "turns 18 in June and will then be eligible to formally sign a G League contract in September and enter the league’s annual draft in October" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/29). THE RINGER's Shaker Samman noted while the G League "has been an option for players for years, its viability as a path to the professional ranks has gone untested." If Bazley's gamble pays off and he is selected toward the top of the '19 NBA Draft, he "could serve as a trailblazer for the future of the sport." Bazley is the "first big-name recruit to pick the G League over the NCAA," but there also is "precedent for top prospects to sign contracts overseas." Bucks G Brandon Jennings, Knicks G Emmanuel Mudiay and Thunder G Terrance Ferguson all played overseas instead of going to college (THERINGER.com, 3/29). SI.com's Jeremy Woo wrote it is a situation "full of nuance that will be a fascinating case study for American amateur prospects, and the optics are strong for the league when it comes to growth and visibility" (SI.com, 3/29).
