NBA G League FAQ
This FAQ is designed to give readers insight into the nuances of the NBA G League. There are five sections: general information, roster formation, preseason/draft, salaries/call-ups and rule differences from the NBA.
General Information
When did the NBA D-League/NBA G League begin?
The league was established in 2001. The league made a transition to the NBA G League to start the 2017–18 season.
What is the age minimum for players to sign in the G League.
18 years old.
How many teams are there in the G League?
There are currently 27 teams for the 2018–19 season.
Which teams are affiliated with NBA teams?
All 27 teams are affiliated with an NBA team and 22 are owned/operated by the club, while five have hybrid affiliations.
What’s a hybrid affiliation?
In a hybrid affiliation the NBA team manages and funds the basketball operations while local ownership maintains control of the business and community relations for the team. NBA teams who fully own and operate their affiliate handle all of these aspects.
How many games are there in the G League season?
There are 50 regular season games. There is an All-Star game, 3-point shootout and dunk contest as well which is part of the NBA All-Star Weekend (since 2007).
How many teams make the G League playoffs?
A total of 12 teams will make the playoffs.
How many rounds are the G League playoffs?
There will be four rounds starting in 2017–18. Each of the first three rounds will be single elimination and the Finals will be a three-game series.
What is the G League Showcase?
The G League Showcase is a mid-season scouting event where every team in the league plays two games over a five-day stretch. NBA executives from around the league attend in hopes of finding the next rising star from the G League.
What is the record for NBA Call-Ups in a single season?
The record for number of call-ups is 63 (2014-15). The record for number of different players called-up in one season is 50 (2017-18).
What is the record for NBA Assignments in a single season?
The record for assignments in one season is 479 (2016–17).
What is the record for NBA Assignees in a single season?
The record for different players assigned in one season is 101 (2017–18).
How long are the quarters in the G League?
The quarters are 12 minutes like the NBA, however if the game goes to overtime that period is only 3 minutes.
Roster Formation
How many players are on a G League roster?
There can be up to 10 G League players on a roster. If a team has their own NBA assignees (max of 3), flex assignees (max of 2) and two-way players (max of 2) then their roster can inflate to 17 total, with 13 active for any one game.
Is there a minimum roster size during the season?
Teams must maintain a roster size of 10 during the regular and playoff season. This can change with the assignment process. As a result, no team may dress less than 8 players or more than 13 given certain assignment/call-up circumstances.
Do NBA assignment players count towards the G League roster total?
No, teams can have more than 12 players on their roster for a given game if there are NBA assignment players included. Also, they can dress up to 12 players for a game if NBA assignees are with the team.
What happens when an NBA team without a G League affiliate wants to place a player on assignment?
Those teams will be subject to the flex assignment system. An explanation of that is below.
Flex Assignment System: Upon receipt of an assignment from an independent NBA team, the NBA G League will identify any NBA G League team willing to accept the assigned player. The assigning independent NBA team will then choose the destination for assignment between those teams. If no NBA G League team is willing to accept the assigned player, he will be assigned to one of the hybrid affiliate teams pursuant to a lottery.
Is there a limit on how many NBA players each team can have assigned?
Yes. Each team can only have three (3) NBA players assigned at one time.
Disclaimer: If there are flex assignment players involved, then a team can theoretically have more than three assignees at once. The limit of three is for their own affiliate and two additional flex assignees.
Can free agents sign with any G League team of their choosing?
No. Players sign contracts with the league and enter a player pool. The teams can then claim players dependent on their waiver order. The waiver period is 48 hours and once that has passed and a player is unclaimed then they enter the “available player pool” and any team can acquire them regardless of waiver priority.
What is a two-way contract player?
Starting in 2017–18 NBA teams can sign players with three years (or less) experience to this kind of contract. This can be a one or two-year deal and at the completion the NBA team can choose to not renew their contract or make them a qualifying offer. These players can only spend a maximum of 45 days with the NBA club, so most of their season will be spent in the G League. While in the NBA they will earn NBA salary and can earn up to a maximum of $275,000 per season.
What is an “assignment” player?
A player put on assignment is a player on an NBA roster who is being sent to the G League to get some playing time. The NBA club still holds their exclusive rights and only they can recall said player. Assignment players must have three (3) years of NBA experience or less and can be assigned an unlimited number of times.
*Players with 4 or more years of experience can also be assigned to the D-League however they must give their NBA team consent for the assignment.
Does an “assignment” player still count against the 15-man NBA roster?
Yes. Sending a player to the G League on assignment does not free up a roster spot for the NBA club who assigned him.
What is a “draft rights” player?
If an NBA teams still holds the draft rights to a particular player and they join the G League, then they are automatically allocated to that NBA team’s affiliate. A draft rights player may only earn an NBA call up from their parent club, so they are in essence a protected player.
What is an “affiliate” player?
At the end of NBA training camps, NBA teams can allocate up to four players to their G League affiliate team (if they have one). These players can still be called up by any other NBA team once they are in the G League. Affiliate players can make a maximum of $50,000 via NBA training camp partial guarantees.
What is an “in-season affiliate” player?
If an NBA team waives a player after the season has started they have the option of allocating that player to their G League affiliate as an in-season affiliate player. They can only do this if they did not have the maximum four (4) affiliates at the beginning of the season. Only players who were in training camp are eligible. For example, the Philadelphia 76ers waived Christian Wood and allocated him as an in-season affiliate player this season.
Preseason/Draft
When is the draft?
The NBA G League Draft will be held October 20, 2018.
How many players can be invited to a G League training camp?
Each team must have no fewer than 12 players and no more than 17 for training camps. Up to five (5) of those players can be from open tryouts.
Is the G League Draft selection process the same as the NBA?
No. Teams must select one eligible player in round 1–4. Rounds 5–6 will be optional.
If there is an expansion team, what draft pick do they get?
Any expansion team is placed between the teams that did not qualify for the previous season’s playoffs and the teams that did qualify.
If there is an expansion team, is there an expansion draft?
Yes. The expansion draft this summer will be August 22, and will be held for the Capital City Go-Go, the G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards.
14 eligible players will be selected. Existing teams can protect up to 12 players’ rights prior to the draft. No more than two players can be selected from a single team.
Salaries/Call-Ups
What are the G League salaries?
For the 2018–19 season, the NBA G League salaries will increase to $35,000 for each player for a five-month season.
As with most contracts there are individual incentives. Players can earn a “bonus” for making end of the year All-NBA G League teams or by winning an individual award. (Range from $1,000-$3,000)
*There are no multi-year contracts in the G League. All contracts are one year in length.
Can a player’s salary change during the season?
All players will earn the same salary beginning with the 2018–19 season ($35,000).
What happens to player salaries if they join, or leave, the league mid-season?
Any salary earned will be prorated based on number of days left in the season.
Is there a salary cap?
With every player eligible to make the same amount beginning with the 2018–19 season, a salary cap is no longer needed. Previously the cap was set at $209,000 for the regular season.
Do G League teams have to replace a player who is called-up?
Yes. The team must activate an inactive player, make a waiver claim, or add a new player from the available player pool.
When are players eligible to be called-up to the NBA?
Anytime a player is signed by an NBA team after signing with the NBA G League, it is considered a call-up.
When can NBA teams offer 10-day contracts to G League players?
January 5 — or the first business day after.
How much are 10-day contracts worth?
A player’s salary for their 10-day stint is based on their tenure with the NBA. Here are the 2017–18 contract amounts based on the current CBA projected salary cap:
The salaries are based on the NBA minimum contracts for those same tenures, so they will usually change each season.
How many 10-day contracts can a player sign each season?
There is no limit to the number of 10-day contracts a player may sign. However, each team can only sign a specific player to two 10-day contracts during a season — after the second 10-day contract has expired they must release the player or sign them for the remainder of the season, or longer.
What if a player is called-up and then waived later that season? What team do they go to?
When a player is called up to the NBA their G League team retains their player rights for the duration of the current season and the two following seasons. If that played is waived, they must return to their G League team.
Are G League teams rewarded for having a player called-up?
Sort of. If a player is called up and is in the NBA for 21 days or more, then their G League team moves to the top of the waiver order for new free agents. If there are two or more teams that have players called up for 21 or more days, then the order is determined by which player was called up first and so on.
Do International teams have to pay a buyout fee to sign a current G League player?
Yes. the buyout for the 2018–19 season is $50,000.
Note: Some teams will assist a player and simply waive them so that they can sign with a team overseas and forego the buyout process, but starting in 2017–18 these players will have to remain in the player pool for 14 days before they are released from their contracts.
Can affiliate players earn money in NBA training camp?
Yes, they can earn a maximum of $50,000 in camp. Also, if any affiliate player leaves the G League prior to 60 days into the season, then they forfeit these funds. This has come to be known as the Ben Bentil Rule.
Rule Differences from the NBA
What is the “reset” rule?
Each team will be entitled to a “Reset Timeout” in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and final two minutes of any overtime period. “Reset Timeouts” do not allow teams to huddle, but otherwise mirror standard timeouts, allowing teams to advance the ball (when applicable) and make unlimited substitutions. If either team huddles or prevents the ball from immediately being put back into play, it will result in a delay of game being issued to the offending team. The “Reset Timeout” replaces the “Advance Rule” which had been used in the NBA G League the past two seasons.
What is the away-from-the-play foul rule?
An away-from-the-play foul is defined as any illegal contact by the defense which occurs either deliberately away from the immediate area of offensive action, prior to the ball being released on a throw-in, or both. If an away-from-the-play foul is committed at any point in the game, personal and team fouls will be assessed and one free throw attempt will be awarded to any player in the game at the time the personal foul was committed.
What is a coach’s challenge?
The coach’s challenge enables NBA G League coaches to initiate instant replay review of referee calls of personal or shooting fouls, including offensive fouls, as well as those plays that have been identified as triggers for instant replay. Violations such as traveling and palming may not be challenged, nor can continuations or act-of-shooting determinations. A timeout must be called to initiate a challenge. If the challenge is successful the team keeps their timeout and the call is overturned. If the challenge is unsuccessful the team loses their timeout and the call stands.
*Challenges can only be made in the 4th quarter and/or overtime period
*A 75-second limit on the duration of instant replay reviews has been implemented, except in circumstances where the review is for a hostile act or altercation, could lead to an ejection, there is a technical equipment problem or other atypical circumstances.
What is the “offensive rebound” shot clock rule?
The 24-second clock will reset to 14 seconds after an offensive rebound or when the offensive team otherwise is the first team to retain possession after the ball contacts the rim.
What are the foul limits before teams reach the penalty?
Team fouls have been increased from four per period to five per period before free throws are awarded.
Are there different timeout allotments?
Yes. Teams are given four full (2-minute) timeouts and three 30-second timeouts during regulation. A max of two 30-second timeouts, in addition to an “advance”, will be permitted during the final two minutes of regulation.
