The Indiana Pacers' G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom, is set to start its season in the coming few days. To many fans, the G League is a little more than a descriptor meant to detract from players' quality. That perception of G League players could not be further from the truth.
You can see developmental stories that went through the NBA's equivalent of the minor leagues all up and down the Pacers' roster. Ivica Zubac spent time with the South Bay Lakers. Pascal Siakam was nearly an MVP for the Toronto 905. Even Andrew Nembhard got his first opportunities with, you guessed it, the Noblesville Boom.
While the Pacers' injury issues have resulted in their two-way contracts getting far more run in the NBA than anyone could have expected this early in the season, that trend will likely not last. All three of Jalen Slawson, Kobe Brown, and Braden Smith will spend most of this year getting as many reps as possible with the Boom, being called up for spot starts and the odd rotational appearance.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't be paying attention, though, as the Pacers G League program will ultimately play a part in the future they can build. With how cap-strapped the team will be in the coming few years, maybe it's time to get to know the roster and the prospects that populate it.
Two-ways and fringe roster guys show more fight than ever
Obviously, the faces of the Boom's roster will be those three two-way players. Last year, Taelon Peter and Ethan Thompson were given all the opportunity in the world to show out for the team. Thompson averaged 27 points per game, but it was only Jalen Slawson who eventually earned NBA minutes.
Kobe Brown came over as part of the Zubac trade, but spent most of his time playing with the Pacers instead of with the Boom. So far this season, the lack of live bodies on Indiana's bench has meant the same, but he should be getting more touches as a scorer and secondary initiator.
The big draw for Noblesville will clearly be the hometown kid – who has amazingly started two NBA games so far – in Braden Smith. Smith has been impressive as a fill-in for TJ McConnell and Tyrese Haliburton as the Pacers' guard rotation grows more and more decimated. He should be expected to run the show.
Dakota Mattias would have been a good prospect to keep in the fold, but he has unfortunately gone overseas. RJ Felton was a spark plug off the bench and could be in line for a bigger role this year as well.
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