G League Ignite set for full 50-game schedule in 2022-23 season

HENDERSON, Nev. – For the first time, NBA G League Ignite will play a full 50-game NBA G League schedule, making the team eligible to compete for an NBA G League championship in the 2022-23 season.

The NBA G League schedule will once again be split into two parts: the 18-game Showcase Cup, followed by a 32-game regular season. Last season, Ignite played 27 total games – participating in 14 Showcase Cup games before playing 13 games on the Ignite Tour in lieu of G League regular season contests.

“Competing for a G League Championship will give our young Draft-eligible players an opportunity to experience a full professional season,” said Ignite head coach Jason Hart. “We’re looking forward to using each of the 50 games to develop and get better every day while bringing great basketball to an energized fanbase in our new home in the Las Vegas Valley.”

Ignite debuts at The Dollar Loan Center with a Friday, Nov. 4 season opener against the Oklahoma City Blue, tipping off a 16-game Showcase Cup slate. Ignite will face the Blue, SLC Stars, South Bay Lakers, Santa Cruz Warriors, Ontario Clippers and Stockton Kings as part of its Showcase Cup regional pod. The teams with the best winning-percentage in each of the G League’s four regional pods, along with the next four teams across the league with the best win-percentages, will advance to compete for the Showcase Cup during the AT&T NBA G League Winter Showcase, set for Dec. 19-22 in Las Vegas.

Following the Showcase Cup, team records will reset in advance of the 32-game regular season. Ignite’s regular season tips off against the Clippers on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Among the team’s 16 regular-season games in its new home arena this year is an inaugural matchup between Ignite and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants plus a home series with the Mexico City Capitanes. Ignite will also make its first visits to a number of G League markets this year, including trips to the Birmingham Squadron, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Texas Legends, Austin Spurs, Memphis Hustle and Raptors 905.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the top six teams in each conference will qualify for the NBA G League Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, followed by the NBA G League Finals presented by YouTube TV in April 2023.

Beginning this season, games that advance to overtime will be determined by a Final Target Score. The winner of overtime games during the season will be the first team to reach or surpass the Final Target Score, which will be the tied score after four quarters plus seven. For example, if the teams are tied at 100-100, the Final Target Score would be 107. Overtime will be untimed and games will end when a team makes a basket or free throw to reach or surpass the Final Target Score.

Hart returns for his second season with Ignite to lead a talented roster of elite youth players including NBA Draft 2023 top prospect Scoot Henderson, French U18 National Team star Sidy Cissoko and former Washington state forward Efe Abogidi.

Season ticket deposits for all 24 of Ignite’s home games are available now at TheDollarLoanCenter.com, and official merchandise can be purchased on TeamIgniteShop.com. Broadcast information and game promotions will be announced at a later date. Follow Ignite on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

About NBA G League Ignite

NBA G League Ignite is a first-of-its-kind team dedicated to developing top young prospects in preparation for the NBA Draft.  Based at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev., the roster includes elite players who are eligible for the NBA Draft and players in the early stages of their professional basketball careers as well as NBA and NBA G League veterans who serve as mentors to the team’s young talent.  In addition to accelerated on-court development and competing toward an NBA G League Championship, the team focuses on life skills training that includes financial literacy education, community service involvement and scholarship opportunities.