Shamorie Ponds, Lance Stephenson, LiAngelo Ball, Zaire Wade among prominent names in NBA G League draft

By ADAM ZAGORIA

Former St. John’s star Shamorie Ponds, former NBA standout Lance Stephenson, LiAngelo Ball and Zaire Wade were among the prominent names taken in Saturday’s NBA G League Draft.

Ponds, who led St. John’s to its last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018, went No. 1 overall to the Delaware Blue Coats (76ers). In 2020-21, Ponds played 5 games with OKK Spars Sarajevo of the Bosnian Premijer Liga BiH, where he averaged 6.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The Brooklyn-native appeared in 4 games with the Toronto Raptors during the 2019-20 NBA season, and played 18 games with Raptors 905 during the same year, averaging 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Toronto affiliate.

Wade, the son of Utah Jazz minority owner and former NBA star Dwyane Wade, was selected No. 10 by the Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz). Wade played alongside Bronny James and Clippers and former Kentucky guard B.J. Boston at Sierra Canyon (CA).

The 6-5 Stephenson was drafted 13^th overall by the Grand Rapids Gold. The nine-year NBA veteran last played in the league during the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Lakers and spent the 2019-20 season with the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association. 

Stephenson, 30, was “99 percent” set to sign a deal with the Indiana Pacers before the pandemic hit in March 2020, but was not permitted to sign with the league after spending the first part of this season in China, he and his agent, Reggie Brown, said last summer.

“Lance and we here at Priority Sports are excited about this new G League opportunity with the Denver Nuggets Grand Rapids Affiliate,” Brown said Saturday.

“He’s not looking to go in and average 30 points a game, although he’s more than capable of doing so. Lance will show his leadership skills and maturity by guiding the younger players. He’s in the best shape of his life. NBA teams will see the much improved skills, especially his 3-point shooting and defense along with the intangibles that impact winning.”

The Greensboro Swarm selected the 6-5 Ball with the 14^th overall pick. Ball, the brother of Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, most recently played for Charlotte during the 2021 NBA Summer League.

Among some other notable names to get drafted were:

–Former Kentucky guard Brandon Knight at No. 6 to the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat)

–Former Syracuse and Illinois forward Alan Griffin went No. 12 to the Santa Cruz Warriors.

–Former Iona guards Isaiah Ross (No. 6 to Maine Celtics) and Asante Gist (third round to Westchester Knicks).

–-Joel Ntambwe, older brother of Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, went in the third round to Sioux Falls.

Full results from the 2021-22 NBA G League Draft are below.

ROUND ONE

1. Delaware – Shamorie Ponds
2. College Park – Tyler Hagedorn
3. Fort Wayne – Gabe York
4. Westchester – Justin Turner
5. Agua Caliente – Nate Darling
6. Sioux Falls – Brandon Knight
7. Texas – Eddie Stansberry
8. Motor City – Jaylen Johnson
9. Iowa – Michael Gbinije
10. Salt Lake City – Zaire Wade
11. Texas – Loudon Love
12. Santa Cruz – Alan Griffin
13. Grand Rapids – Lance Stephenson
14. Greensboro – LiAngelo Ball
15. Lakeland – TJ Haws
16. Cleveland – BJ Taylor
17. Windy City – Scottie Lindsey
18. Maine – Isaiah Ross
19. Iowa – Ruot Monyyong
20. Lakeland – Marlon Stewart
21. Stockton – Joe Young
22. Iowa – Samir Doughty
23. Greensboro – Chudier Bile
24. Capital City – Rodney Pryor
25. Windy City – Tim Bond
26. Greensboro – Tyree White
27. Cleveland – Montell McRae
28. Rio Grande Valley – Cullen Russo

ROUND TWO

1. Memphis – Karim Mane
2. College Park – Kalob Ledoux
3. Memphis – Gerard Tarin
4. Delaware – Barra Njie
5. Raptors 905 – Tahj Eaddy
6. Grand Rapids – Trevon Duval
7. Lakeland – Gary Chivichyan
8. Motor City – Ryan Daly
9. Wisconsin – Keaton Wallace
10. Salt Lake City – Pedro Bradshaw 
11. Austin – Alexis Wangmeme
12. Fort Wayne – Ian DuBose
13. Sioux Falls – Mike Smith
14. Lakeland – Jaire Grayer
15. Raptors 905 – Blake Francis
16. Cleveland – Jack Pagenkopf
17. Lakeland – Devonte Patterson
18. Fort Wayne – Jordan Allen
19. Birmingham – Devearl Ramsey
20. Long Island – Chris Walker
21. Rio Grande Valley – Eric Demers
22. Birmingham – Derrick Griffin
23. Santa Cruz – Ja’Quan Lyle
24. Capital City – Jachai Taylor
25. Westchester – Lydell Elmore
26. Greensboro – Ikenna Ndugba
27. Oklahoma City – Tevin King
28. Agua Caliente – Kammeon Holsey

ROUND THREE

1. South Bay – Elijah Cain
2. College Park – Landon Taliaferro
3. Fort Wayne – Will Vorhees
4. Westchester – Asante Gist
5. Stockton – Princepal Singh
6. Grand Rapids – Trevor John
7. Raptors 905 – Tristan Jarrett
8. Motor City – Devon Baulkman
9. Wisconsin – Jaylen Bland
10. Salt Lake City – JC Show
11. Austin – Passed
12. Memphis – Passed
13. Sioux Falls – Joel Ntambwe
14. Delaware – Passed
15. Texas – Lamonte Bearden
16. Stockton – Passed
17. Delaware – Passed
18. Maine – Lindsey Drew
19. Iowa – Artur Labinowicz
20. Long Island – Jaylen Fisher
21. Agua Caliente – Randy Onwuasor
22. Iowa – Seth Allen
23. Santa Cruz – Jovan Mooring
24. Capital City – Jermaine Haley
25. Windy City – Kerwin Roach
26. Greensboro – Isaiah Blackmon
27. Oklahoma City – Marlon Taylor
28. Rio Grande Valley – Jimond Ivey

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