The 2017–18 NBA G League season was the 17th season of the NBA G League (formerly the NBA D-League), the minor league for the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the first season after the league rebranded to become the NBA G League as part of multi-year partnership with Gatorade.
The Austin Spurs won the league title, sweeping Raptors 905 in the NBA G League Finals.
League changes The league expanded to a record 26 teams from 22 teams during the 2016–17 season. There was one relocation (Erie BayHawks to Lakeland, Florida to become the Lakeland Magic) and four expansion teams introduced this season (the Agua Caliente Clippers, a new Erie BayHawks, the Memphis Hustle, and the Wisconsin Herd), each owned and affiliated with an NBA team. The Iowa Energy were purchased by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the end of the previous season and rebranded as the Iowa Wolves. The Miami Heat purchased the controlling interest in the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their affiliate since 2013. The Los Angeles D-Fenders also relocated to a new facility within El Segundo and were rebranded as the South Bay Lakers. The purchases and expansion of these teams by individual NBA teams left just four NBA teams without a developmental affiliate, down from eight the previous season. It also decreased the number of independently owned D-League/G League teams from seven to four. Meanwhile, the NBA also started using two-way contracts for their team rosters, allowing players to be more easily called up or sent down.
The league retained its Eastern and Western Conferences, but realigned each conference into three divisions each. Along with the league expansion, the league also expanded its playoff field from eight teams to twelve. Each of the division winners and three wild cards per conference qualify. The top two seeds in each conference earn a bye over the first round.
The NBA announced a title sponsorship deal with Gatorade prior to the season, under which it has been renamed the NBA G League. The G League also experimented with new broadcast arrangements, including airing 120 games on Eleven Sports, and streaming games on the typically video game-oriented live streaming service Twitch, which included interactive stats, and commentary provided by prominent Twitch personalities.
Regular season Finals standings.
x – qualified for playoffs; y – Division champion; z – Conference champion
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division Team (affiliate) 32 18 0 13–12 19–6x – Raptors 905 (TOR) 31 19 1 18–7 13–12 Long Island Nets (BKN) 27 23 5 14–11 13–12 Maine Red Claws (BOS) 17 33 15 14–11 3–22
Central Division Team (affiliate) 29 21 0 19–6 10–15 x – Grand Rapids Drive (DET) 29 21 0 16–9 13–12 Windy City Bulls (CHI) 24 26 5 13–12 11–14 Canton Charge (CLE) 22 28 7 9–16 13–12 Wisconsin Herd (MIL) 21 29 8 8–17 13–12
Southeast Division Team (affiliate) y – Erie BayHawks (ATL) 28 22 0 15–10 13–12 x – Lakeland Magic (ORL) 28 22 0 15–10 13–12 Greensboro Swarm (CHA) 16 34 12 9–16 7–18 Delaware 87ers (PHI) 16 34 12 6–19 10–15
Western Conference
Midwest Division Team (affiliate) 28 22 0 15–10 13–12 Sioux Falls Skyforce (MIA) 25 25 3 13–12 12–13 Iowa Wolves (MIN) 24 26 4 14–11 10–15 Memphis Hustle (MEM) 21 29 7 10–15 11–14
Pacific Division Team (affiliate) y – Reno Bighorns (SAC) 29 21 0 14–11 15–10 28 22 1 16–9 12–13 Santa Cruz Warriors (GSW) 23 27 6 13–12 10–15 23 27 6 13–12 10–15 23 27 6 14–11 9–16
Southwest Division Team (affiliate) z – Austin Spurs (SAS) 32 18 0 17–8 15–10 29 21 3 14–11 15–10 x – Texas Legends (DAL) 29 21 3 16–9 13–12 Salt Lake City Stars (UTA) 16 34 16 11–14 5–20
Playoffs For the fourth time ever and first time since the 2014 playoffs, a team went undefeated in postseason play to win the championship. The Austin Spurs won the G League Finals over Raptors 905 by scores of 105-93 and 98–76 to win the title.
Finals boxscore
Statistics
Individual statistic leaders Category Player Team Statistic Points per game Antonio Blakeney Windy City Bulls 32.0 Rebounds per game Amile Jefferson Iowa Wolves 12.9 Assists per game Josh Magette Erie BayHawks 10.2 Steals per game Josh Gray Northern Arizona Suns 2.4 Blocks per game Amida Brimah Austin Spurs 2.6 Turnovers per game Daniel Hamilton Oklahoma City Blue 5.0 Fouls per game Isaiah Hicks Westchester Knicks 3.9 Minutes per game Ryan Arcidiacono Windy City Bulls 39.5 FG% Damian Jones Santa Cruz Warriors 67.8% FT% Quinn Cook Santa Cruz Warriors 94.9% 3FG% Andre Ingram South Bay Lakers 46.7% Double-doubles Amile Jefferson Iowa Wolves 35 Triple-doubles Daniel Hamilton Oklahoma City Blue 9
Individual game highs Category Player Team Statistic Points Trey Davis Maine Red Claws 57 Rebounds Devin Williams Maine Red Claws 23 Assists Josh Magette Erie BayHawks 19 Steals Tra-Deon Hollins Fort Wayne Mad Ants 10 Blocks Jimmie Taylor Sioux Falls Skyforce 11 Three-pointers Milton Doyle Long Island Nets 11
Team statistic leaders Category Team Statistic Points per game Rio Grande Valley Vipers 120.5 Rebounds per game South Bay Lakers 47.0 Assists per game Rio Grande Valley Vipers 26.3 Steals per game Rio Grande Valley Vipers 10.6 Blocks per game Austin Spurs 6.6Turnovers per game Rio Grande Valley Vipers 18.5 FG% Santa Cruz Warriors 50.2% FT% Austin Spurs 79.8% 3FG% Memphis Hustle 39.4% +/− Raptors 905 +5.0
Player death On March 24, 2018, Grand Rapids Drive player Zeke Upshaw collapsed on-court during the final minute of the team's regular season finale. Two days later, Upshaw died at the age of 26. Autopsy reports indicated that Upshaw had died from a sudden cardiac arrest. The start of the NBA G League playoffs were delayed out of respect for Upshaw's death, and the NBA's Detroit Pistons gave Upshaw an honorary call-up to their roster.
References
External links Official website