New Orleans Pelicans: Why fans should watch the G-League bubble

New Orleans Pelicans fans should keep a close eye on the upcoming G-League bubble

New Orleans Pelicans fans are frustrated, and rightfully so. The team is currently 6-10 on the season, and playing an awful brand of basketball.

That poor performances have some fans already eyeing the future, with the Pelicans’ chances of getting a high lottery pick growing with every loss. That’s why I think that fans, and of course, the Pelicans themselves should have their eyes on the upcoming G-League bubble.

If you’re wondering, the G-League bubble? Why does that matter? Then you’ve missed some major NBA news.

Yes, the NBA is having a bubble tournament for G-League teams, and among the teams competing will be the G-League’s Ignite team. A team made entirely of teenage prospects who opted to join the G-League and develop for money rather than play in the NCAA.

Some of the players on that team are considered among the top prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft. Most notably, Jalen Green, the young shooting guard who’s rivaling NCAA star Cade Cunningham for best player in the draft.

Beyond Green, the Ignite team features a slew of intriguing prospects, including point guard Daishen Nix, forward Jonathan Kuminga, and big man Isaiah Todd.

What’s most interesting about this squad is the fact that they’re development focused. The team is coached by former player Brain Shaw, who’s also a highly regarded assistant coach in the NBA. Supplementing the youngsters on the roster too are former NBA veterans like Jarrett Jack and Amir Johnson.

For the New Orleans Pelicans, and their fans, seeing this Ignite team play should be much more fascinating than watching NCAA games. In these games, the Pelicans can get a look at a few potential franchise players as they compete against NBA-quality opponents.

Those G-League prospects could give the Pelicans a chance to plan out how they want to approach their future. Maybe the team becomes impressed with the play of Jalen Green and decide that rather than trading their assets for a proven superstar, they might want to plot a trade up for a star on his rookie deal.

As for the fans, this G-league tournament could give them some more basketball to watch. Often it’s hard for NBA fans to shift into watching the NCAA because the nuances of the game are just so different but watching this new G-League team allows them to see exciting prospects in NBA style play.

The tournament kicks off on February 10th and will be televised live on ESPN.