Without question, the NBA G League was the MVP for the LA Clippers this season, producing two starters on a competitive Western Conference team.
The 2018 LA Clippers’ season was a tumultuous one, filled with: a Blake Griffin trade, an onslaught of injuries, and an entirely new roster. Yet despite that, there were some true bright spots. The Clippers didn’t make the Playoffs, but they transformed into one of the grittiest teams in the league. LA had 3-5 starters injured all season, played 37 different starting lineups (most in the league), had a top 10 offense, and were the only team to beat the top 4 teams in the league on the road.
In all honesty, the Clippers should have been one of the worst teams in the league this season, but somehow they weren’t. Somehow they finished the season 42-40, and that’s because of the NBA G League.
I can admit when the Agua Caliente Clippers was established, I was one of the people who didn’t understand the significance of it. Within one year, the AC Clippers’ significance was perfectly illustrated. What resulted was a crop of talented young players that were able to easily find themselves in Doc Rivers’ system. Not only that, but it kept rookie players Jawun Evans and Sindarius Thornwell game ready throughout the season. Game after a game a new young player would step up with an unexpected confidence, proving themselves worthy of an NBA contract.
When Danilo Gallinari and Patrick Beverley went down, C.J. Williams and Tyrone Wallace were there fill that void. The rookies somehow over performed, and kept the Clippers’ playoff hopes alive throughout the season. It was a surreal experience to see rookie G League players make game saving steals, and hit game winning shots. If you were to ask C.J. Williams or Tyrone Wallace about these moments, they’d tell you it shouldn’t be a surprise, because they were prepared.
C.J. Williams
C.J. Williams isn’t a player who is going to fill your stat sheet, but he’s going to bring solid contributions every game. Williams knew how to: hit timely shots, be in the right place at the right time, and play with confidence. The apex of his season came when he hit a game winner against the Atlanta Hawks.
He shoots the game winner with utmost level of confidence, like he’s shot it a million times before, and that’s because he has. All of the G League players can play, they’ve been putting in the time for years. What the Agua Caliente Clippers did for C.J. was give him a level of comfort by enabling him to play the entire season with the same system. Through that comfort, comes the confidence of shooting that shot. The most underrated aspect of NBA Basketball is comfortability in a system; comfort is why Jae Crowder did so poorly in Cleveland, or why Tobias Harris fit in so well with the Clippers. I spoke to C.J. about his increasing level of confidence throughout the season, and here’s what he had to say:
"“A lot of the difference between guys that are on the cusp and guys that are in the league, is just the level of confidence. Play hard, do everything they ask you to do, and play aggressive on both ends.”"
In what could only be described as a fitting storybook ending, C.J. finished the season by signing a multi-year deal with the Clippers. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a journeyman who’s played in 3 different countries, finally settle down doing what he loves.
Tyrone Wallace
Tyrone Wallace was an absolute stud for the Clippers this season. In just his third NBA game, he put up 22 pts / 6 rebounds / 4 assists against the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
In an incredibly short span of time he learned how to be an efficient aggressive player. When most rookie players enter a roster they typically tend to defer on the offensive end, but Wallace knew Doc Rivers’ system upon arrival. Combine this knowledge with Wallace’s natural basketball IQ, and the end result is a successful NBA player. On the last day of the NBA season, I spoke with Wallace about the significance of the G League, and how it helped shape his success.
"“When guys go down having that G League team allows them to pull players up that can actually play.”"
Regardless of how the 2018 NBA season ends, one of the major story lines will be the story of the underdog. A Celtics team without its star players made it to the Conference Finals, a Clippers team nearly made it to the Playoffs while missing 4 starters, and a G League player in Andre Ingram received a hero’s welcome in Los Angeles. There is no greater underdog story than witnessing a G League player receive the opportunity to play in the NBA, defy all the odds, and provide a living for his family.