G League bubble likely for 2ndround pick Mannion
Warriors twowaycontract player Nico Mannion is expected to join Golden State’s Santa Cruz affiliate at the G League bubble on Orlando’s Disney campus.
Eighteen G League teams, including the Santa Cruz Warriors, are expected to arrive in their home markets for physicals and onboarding Jan. 19 ahead of their arrival in Orlando on Jan. 26. A 12to 15game season will begin Feb. 8.
The G League bubble offers Mannion, the No. 48 pick in November’s draft, a chance to get muchneeded playing time. Nearly three weeks into Golden State’s season, he has totaled eight minutes — all in last Monday’s blowout win over the Kings.
“Nico, in particular, could really use a stretch of just playing 30plus minutes every single night,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of Mannion, who turned 19 in March. “He just hasn’t had a chance to play much.”
Kerr remains adamant that Mannion’s lack of playing time is the result of a crowded backcourt, not any specific oncourt shortcomings. Mannion has impressed in practices with his court vision and basketball IQ. By getting extended playing time with Santa Cruz, he’d help his odds of competing for a rotation spot with Golden State next season.
It’s unclear whether the Warriors’ other twowaycontract player, forward Juan ToscanoAnderson, will participate in the G League bubble. But given that he’s 27 and in Golden State’s rotation when available, he wouldn’t benefit from time in the G League as much as Mannion.
Twoway contract players can play in as many as 50 of a possible 72 games at the top level, and their travel and practice days with the NBA team no longer count as active days. Normally, they are with the G League affiliate whenever they’re not on the NBA roster.
With the G League season limited, NBA clubs have to make up for the loss of minorleague minutes. Golden State, for example, is encouraging playerdevelopment coaches to stay after practice with younger players such as Mannion and Jordan Poole for extra drills and shots.
“Not having the G League, it definitely hurts our development program, just like it hurts everybody’s,” Kerr said. “If this were a normal season, Nico would go down to Santa Cruz and play in a game and maybe play 30plus minutes, and then be active here for us the next night at a Warriors home game.
“So, it’s just a completely different vibe. We have to change the development plan, which means Nico’s doing a ton of work preand postpractice with our development staff.”