Raptors 905 announced Tuesday that they will once again host the G-League Showcase for the 2017-18 season. The news was first reported by Raptors Republic in mid-July and includes the note that the Showcase will likely return in 2019, barring a change in thinking from the league or 905.
This year’s event will be held Jan. 10-13 and once again include two games for all 26 of the league’s teams. With the e
“I think those guys did a great job organizing,” president Masai Ujiri told Raptors Republic in July. “I think it was good for the league to get away and come to Toronto, they like the city, and for us it’s preparing and organizing. It means a lot to us. Any time you can host the league in some kind of way it does mean a lot.”
This year’s event will be held Jan. 10-13 and once again include two games for all 26 of the league’s teams. With the event being one day shorter than last year and involving three additional teams, Hershey Centre in Mississauga will also make use of the SportZone complex for an additional court and team facilities. There will be as many as seven games each day for a total of 26 over the course of the mini-tournament.
“We’re thrilled to work in partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Raptors 905 to bring the NBA G League Showcase back to Mississauga,” NBA G League President Malcolm Turner said in a release. “Last year’s event proved to be successful on and off the court, and I’m looking forward to another week of great basketball and community events in the Greater Toronto Area.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the NBA G League back to Mississauga as the host team for NBA G League Showcase 2018,” Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster said. “The Showcase is the premier event for the G League and we look forward to working with the League to host all 26 teams this season.”
The Showcase is an annual in-season tournament that takes place right around when NBA teams are able to give players 10-day contracts (Jan. 5), providing an opportunity for the top G-Leaguers to show their stuff in front of a heavy scouting presence. It also helps get the wheels moving a month out from the NBA trade deadline, with plenty of scouts and executives on hand for a mini-summit of sorts. Every G-League team participates and gets two games each, though no actual champion is crowned any longer. The 905 went 2-0 as the hosts last year, becoming the second consecutive team to “win” the showcase before winning the league championship, and two of their players received call-ups from NBA teams in the weeks and months that followed.
Here’s more, from the team’s release:
NBA G League Showcase 2018, the league’s primary in-season scouting event, is expected to draw personnel from all 30 NBA teams. During or immediately following the last 13 Showcases, more than 50 players earned Call-Ups to the NBA, including the Dallas Mavericks’ Yogi Ferrell, who signed with Dallas from the NBA G League’s Long Island Nets within a week of last season’s event. Ferrell, who averaged 22.0 points, 7.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 37.0 minutes at the Showcase in 2017, went on to earn NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.
In addition to the full slate of games, NBA G League Showcase 2018 will feature several off-the-court events, including a women-in-sports panel, a coach’s clinic and a chalk talk with referees. Additionally, the Jr. NBA will return to Mississauga to host clinics for local children, while the NBA G League’s School Day initiative will welcome students from around the region.
The full schedule and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
