Player of the Week
Matas Buzelis – Small Forward – G League Ignite
Season Stats: 13.3 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.9 AST, 48.2 FG%
Matas Buzelis does not put the small in small forward. Buzelis is a 6-foot-10-inch forward from Chicago. The Lithuanian-American was a 5-star prospect in the class of 2023. Buzelis was Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year in New Hampshire and Kansas in his high school career. After deciding to go to G League Ignite instead of college, Buzelis has developed into a top-five prospect in the upcoming NBA Draft. Buzelis is scoring 13.3 points per game in the G League at 19 years old. Additionally, Buzleis has to split shots with talented teammates like Ron Holland II, Tyler Smith, and others. Buzelis moves incredibly well with the basketball for someone his size. While he does have room to improve on his three-point shooting, Buzelis is quickly becoming the top draft pick from the Ignite.
Who’s Hot?
Darius Bazley – Power Forward – G League
Season Stats: 22.7 PTS, 11.3 REB, 3.2 AST, 44.9 FG%
Darius Bazley’s career journey has been unique. Bazley was a five-star forward in the class of 2018. Instead of going the college route, Bazley decided to enter the NBA Draft. The Utah Jazz drafted the 6’ 9” forward with the 23rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. After being traded to the Thunder, Bazley spent his first four professional years in Oklahoma City. After some time with the Suns and Nets, Bazley is now a member of the Delaware Blue Coats (the 76ers G League affiliate). In the past week, Bazley has recorded games of 19 and 20. But his best performance of the week featured a stat line of 43 points, 18 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 steals. Bazley is still only 23 years old and could develop into a solid piece around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey for the 76ers.
Mantas Rubstavicius – Shooting Guard – NBL
Season Stats: 8.5 PTS, 1.5 REB, 1.3 AST, 60.4 FG%
Mantas Rubstavicius is a 6-foot-6-inch shooting guard from Lithuania. The Lithuanian first turned pro at the age of 16 years old in his home country. Now at 21 years old, the talented shooting guard is playing for the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL. Rubstavicius was named player of the week for the NBL’s Next Stars program which looks to bring the best young NBL players to the NBA. After starting his first two games of the year, Rubstavicius put up 21 and 17 points. With more playing time, Rubstavicius could develop into an NBA Draft pick.
Ian Jackson – Shooting Guard – Overtime Elite
Season Stats: 24.4 PTS, 5.8 REB, 2.8 AST, 47.0 FG%
Ian Jackson has been one of the best players in Overtime Elite. The 18-year-old shooting guard is averaging an incredible 24.4 points per game. Jackson is averaging the second most points per game in OTE, only behind Eli Ellis. The Bronx native has recently put up performances of 28, 31, and 29 points. Jackson’s best game was a 31-point, 10-rebound double-double. The 6’ 5” guard committed to North Carolina. The Tar Heels are getting a great two-way player who can score with the best of them in the paint. Jackson is currently projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Who’s Not?
Bobi Klintman – Power Forward/Center – NBL
Season Stats: 10.3 PTS, 4.8 REB, 1.0 AST, 43.0 FG%
Like Mantas Rubstavicius, Bobi Klintman is a member of the NBL’s Next Stars program. The 6-foot-10-inch Klintman started his career in his home country of Sweden and then played at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. Then he committed to Wake Forest for the 2022-2023 season. After only starting five games for the Demon Deacons, Klintman decided to go elsewhere. After initially declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft, Klintman is now a member of the Cairns Taipans of the NBL. This season Klintman is averaging just over 10 points per game with recent performances of 4, 4, and 8. Klintman will need to play more minutes and shoot the basketball better if he wants to become a first-round draft pick.
Trentyn Flowers – Shooting Guard – NBL
Season Stats: 5.5 PTS, 3.1 PPG, 0.4 AST, 50.0 FG%
Flowers is the third member mentioned thus far to be a member of the NBL’s Next Stars program. The 6-foot-9-inch shooting guard committed to the Louisville Cardinals in April. That being said, Flowers has not had success in the NBL. Flowers has logged games of 0, 4, and 0 points in his last three games. The Maryland native is barely seeing the floor in the NBL and major improvement is needed. Flowers was a potential first-round pick if he decided not to go the college route. Now it looks like college may be Flowers’s best chance of making it to the NBA.
Top 5 G League Performances of the Week (excluding Darius Bazley)
5. Brandon Goodwin – Point Guard – Westchester Knicks (Knicks)
Season Stats: 17.8 PTS, 5.4 REB, 8.5 AST, 40.2 FG%
Brandon Goodwin is a 28-year-old point guard from Georgia. Goodwin’s college career featured two stops – UCF and Florida Gulf Coast. Despite a good college career, Goodwin went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 6-foot point guard spent time with the Nuggets, Hawks, and Cavaliers before signing with the Westchester Knicks this season. Goodwin is a solid scorer in the paint but shines as a passer. Goodwin dropped a unique double-double this week. He had a 13-point, 13 assist, and 8 rebound game. Goodwin’s recent success made him the 2023 Winter Showcase MVP.
4. Seth Lundy – Guard/Forward – College Park Skyhawks (Hawks)
Season Stats: 17.9 PTS, 5.8 REB, 1.5 AST, 41.2 FG%
Seth Lundy is a 6-foot-4-inch guard/forward from New Jersey. Lundy played his college basketball at Penn State. Lundy was a huge part of Penn State’s 2022-2023 team; the Nittany Lions reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Lundy was a second-round draft pick by the Hawks in the 2023 NBA Draft. The 23-year-old has spent time between the G League and the NBA. His best G League performance came this week when he scored 32 points, 29 coming at the half. He also put up 10 rebounds making it a double-double. Lundy is starting to see more action on a struggling Hawks team.
3. Jordan Ford – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – Stockton Kings (Kings)
Season Stats: 18.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 5.8 AST, 51.1 FG%
Jordan Ford played his college basketball at Saint Mary’s from 2016 to 2020. Ford went undrafted and ended up on the Clippers G League team. The 6’ 1” guard has been on the Stockton Kings for the last two seasons. Ford has had some recent success for the Kings. Ford is scoring a solid 18 points per game this season. But, his best perfromance of the season came this week. Ford scored 35 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. With more performances like this, the Kings might have something in Ford.
2. Terence Davis – Shooting Guard – Rip Remix (Trail Blazers)
Season Stats: 21.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 2.7 AST, 49.0 FG%
Terence Davis, a Mississippi native, stayed in-state and played at Ole Miss. Davis played for the Rebels from 2015 to 2019. After going undrafted, Davis spent time with the Raptors and Kings and is now in the G League. This season, the 26-year-old guard is shooting a fantastic 43.8% from beyond the arc. Davis had a career-high 38 points for the Remix this week including 10 made three-pointers. With the Trail Blazers being 7-21 as of writing this, the club may seek Davis for reinforcements.
1. Terquavion Smith – Shooting Guard/Point Guard – Delaware Blue Coats (76ers)
Season Stats: 20.9 PTS, 3.3 REB, 2.6 AST, 39.1 FG%
Terquavion Smith has shined in the G League in his young professional career. Smith played two years at NC State where he was named second-team All-ACC his sophomore year. The 6’ 4” guard went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. Smith signed a two-way contract with the 76ers. In his short professional stint, Smith has proved to be a great scorer. Smith’s best performance of the season came in a Blue Coats victory. The 20-year-old scored a career-high 40 points on 6 of 10 beyond the arc. Smith, along with the aforementioned Bazley, could be a big part of the 76ers future.