League sources told Yahoo Sports that the G League will introduce a new international draft schedule starting with a one-round virtual draft on June 28.
The International Draft allows foreign prospects between the ages of 18 and 21 to enter the G League for player development, as opposed to joining an NCAA men's basketball program or playing for another professional organization for the 2023-24 season Will give
According to a memo sent to the teams and obtained by Yahoo Sports, the G League's international draft order will be determined by a random drawing on June 19 that will include players who were not previously entered in the NBA draft.
This new aspect of the G League comes after a new round of collective bargaining between the NBA and the players' union. Under the previous CBA, any prospect, such as Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who joined the G League during the 2013–14 season would automatically be enrolled in the following June's NBA draft. Starting with the 2023-24 season, there will no longer be a need to enter subsequent NBA drafts, sources said, starting with the 2024 draft. As detailed in the memo, teams will have G League rights to international draft players for two seasons.
This new opportunity has cleared the way for more elite prospects to enter the growing G League talent pool, similar to the success story this year of New Zealand's 6-foot-5 Ignite wing guard Mojave King, who Has rehabilitated his NBA draft stock after playing. 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns in Australia's NBL and 2022 season in New Zealand's NBL.
The Golden State Warriors acquired Alen Smilagic in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft after the Serbian forward spent the 2018–19 season with the santa Cruz Warriors. While Smailagic did not produce the developmental success story Golden State had hoped for, his path is the most direct example of the potential benefits for both NBA franchises and international prospects prior to entering the NBA draft. Team scouts and talent evaluators will have far more access to watch these players in the G League's NBA-style play.
According to the memo, even after being selected, players selected in the international draft will have the option of joining their G League for the 2023-24 season till July 7.