ORLANDO, Florida -- The 2021 NBA G League schedule tipped off in Orlando on Feb. 10, with 17 G League teams joining the G League Ignite program -- launched to offer players who are not yet eligible for the NBA draft a domestic path to the league -- for a 135-game regular season followed by a single-elimination playoff tournament that will begin March 8. ESPN was in Orlando to evaluate the four Ignite players who are part of the G League's Pathway program and are eligible for the 2021 NBA draft -- potential top-5 picks Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green along with possible first-rounders Daishen Nix and Isaiah Todd.
Here's the latest on all four Ignite stars, including inside intel from NBA executives we spoke to in Orlando, Kuminga's growing No. 1 pick case and the next steps for Green. ESPN also looked ahead to the future of the G League Ignite program, identifying some of the names from the 2022 NBA draft class who could be targets for the second edition of the Ignite squad, including potential 2022 No. 1 NBA draft pick Chet Holmgren.