The Fort Wayne Mad Ants season has come to an end

The Pacers G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, have concluded their season.

After 50 games spanning from early November through mid-March, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants season has come to an end.

The Mad Ants, who tipped off their season with a loss to Sioux Falls in November, have concluded their 50 game journey with a 23-27 record, which puts them at 10th in the Eastern Conference. They had a shot at the playoffs with just a few games to go but they ultimately won’t be playing in the postseason for just the second time in the past seven seasons.

The Mad Ants season featured a fair amount of roster turnover and injuries, as evidenced by the fact that only 4 players played over 40 games for the squad (Omari Johnson, Demetrius Denzel-Dyson, Stephan Hicks, and Rob Gray). Some of that roster turnover is good, though, as a whopping 6 different Mad Ants had a contract with the Pacers at some point during the season.

4 of those 6 players (Ben Moore, Edmond Sumner, Alize Johnson, and Ike Anigbogu) received a full-time contract with the Indiana Pacers at some point during the season, while Stephan Hicks received a 10-day and Davon Reed played on a two-way contract. All of them were part of the story of the season for both teams, so their absence from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for certain games is justifiable.

Alize Johnson and Edmond Sumner used their time in Fort Wayne very constructively. In 26 games, Sumner, who received a two-year contract with the Pacers this season, averaged 22.1 points per game in the G League. He showed off his skills as a scorer and defender in Fort Wayne.

Johnson made headlines with his dominating play in the G League. He showed off many skills, finishing the season with averages of 19.1 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. He showed off his motor and finishing ability, which has given many Pacers fans hope for Johnson going forward.

With the Mad Ants season concluded, all of Sumner, Reed, and Johnson are eligible to be with the Pacers for the remainder of the season. Sumner and Johnson are eligible to play in the playoffs should that be something that Pacers want to do.

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants have long been an important tool for the Indiana Pacers. But more importantly, they are a treat to watch. It’s a shame their season didn’t go as anyone wanted, but given their success in the last decade, they should bounce right back next season.