G League WiretapApril 2019 G League Wiretap

Raptors 905 Credited With Development Of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell

May 30, 2019 2:39 AM

Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and Norman Powell are 3 key players in the Toronto Raptors' rotation who were developed through the Raptors 905, the team's G League affiliate.

"Those [three] are people that are now part of a system and are ingrained in what is now Raptors' culture. For them, it began early in their careers with the 905. It helped to really formulate who they are as Raptors now," said the 905's head coach Jama Mahlalela.

Siakam was named the MVP of the final when the 905 won the championship in 2017.

"Those players can be put in big situations, and yes, the G League playoffs are not the same as the NBA playoffs. But there's pressure, there's responsibility, there's coverages, there's understanding what's on the floor," added Mahlalela.

Alfonzo McKinnie for the Warriors also played on the 905's.

"It's better than sitting toward the end of the bench and not getting a constant role, constant time on the court. This allows the team to go right up the stream. We run the same offence, the same schemes [as the Raptors]. It gives them a chance to go out there and play with a team and stay fresh and stay ready and develop," added 905's general manager Chad Sanders.

Louis Zatzman/CBC Sports

Tags: Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors, Raptors 905, D-League, D-League Teams, D-League B-Ball IQ

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Pistons Plan To Bring G League Affiliate To Detroit

May 2, 2019 12:19 AM

The Detroit Pistons announced plans for a G League team to play in the new basketball arena at Wayne State University.

There is no timetable for when Detroit would get a G League affiliate. The Pistons and the Grand Rapids Drive currently have an agreement that runs through the 2021 G League season, although there is also talk of expansion. 

The new $25 million basketball facility at Wayne State University will sit 3,000 fans. 

ESPN

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA, D-League, NBA B-Ball IQ, D-League Expansion

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