What is the NBA G League Draft? Rules and history
By Jason Reed
While it is not as prominent as it is in baseball, the NBA’s developmental league — the G League — has become a staple of the game in the modern era. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers have taken full advantage of the G League and have seen several standout players graduate from South Bay.
The best young players in the sport get drafted and will jump straight to the NBA team, even if they do not play in their rookie seasons. It is unlike baseball, where top draft picks will climb through the minor leagues and continue to develop.
It is also a bit more complex than Minor League Baseball as the G League has different roster rules and even has its own draft. The G League Draft is not a popularized event and there is not much known about it but it could lead to the next rotation player joining the Lakers.
What is the G League Draft?
The G League Draft presents an opportunity for G League teams to add talent to the roster that is not assigned by the parent club. Each G League team has its own draft picks to utilize in the draft that can also be traded throughout the course of a season.
The draft pool consists of NBA veterans who have been waived, undrafted players who are not yet signed, international players who fit the draft requirements, and any players who tried out for a G League team.
Unlike the NBA Draft, there are three rounds in the G League Draft instead of two. The draft was established in 2001.
When is the G League draft?
The G League draft takes place in the fall, often around the start of the NBA season. The 2023 G League Draft will take place on October 28 at 10 a.m. PT.
Has anyone drafted in the G League draft played for the Lakers?
There is only one player who was drafted by the South Bay Lakers who went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Scott Machado was taken with te 10th overall pick in the 2017 G League Draft and he played a grand total of four games for the Lakers in 2019.