The biggest competitor for college basketball recruits is no more.

After four years, the NBA’s G League Ignite team is in its final season according to the official press release. When the team was created, it was advertised as an opportunity for elite high school players to make a profit while preparing for the professional level.

Ignite’s existence came before the birth of the NIL, and it provided for multiple future NBA talents. Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga were the two most notable, becoming top 10 selections in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Players were paid up to $500,000 according to Sportskeeda and the landscape has changed with NIL over the last few years. That was the main reason for this decision according to the NBA.

“The decision to end the program comes amid the changing basketball landscape, including the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy and the advent of collectives and the transfer portal.”

This news is a positive for college basketball and representative that NIL, while having its concerns, is providing opportunities for college athletes. There’s still one more competitor in Overtime Elite, a league for 16-20 year old players but NIL could prove to be a better option.

Photo courtesy Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports