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What is the G League Showcase? Explaining basketball tournament featuring Lakers rookie Bronny James

As the 2024 NBA G League season rolls on, its teams will converge in Orlando for the 20th G League Showcase.

The G League showcase is one of the biggest tentpole events on the developmental league’s calendar. In addition to several NBA veterans signing contracts ahead of the event, the Lakers recently announced rookie Bronny James would be headed to Central Florida to play with the South Bay Lakers at the showcase.

What exactly is the G League showcase? Here is everything to know about the event, including a schedule, bracket and prize money.

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What is the G League Showcase?

The NBA G League Winter Showcase is the league’s annual in-season scouting event. The 2024 event will take place from Dec. 19 through Dec. 22 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando.

With all 31 NBA G League teams in action, front-office executives from all 30 NBA teams can travel to one location to scout talent. The showcase features 31 games over four days and is a platform for players not affiliated with an NBA team to earn a contract.

For a player like James, the showcase is an opportunity to display growth against NBA-caliber players working for a call-up.

The timing of the showcase is intentional. Two weeks after the event concludes, NBA teams can begin offering 10-day contracts. Players who stand out at the showcase often jump to the front of the minds of the executives they played in front of.

MORE: This is the Bronny James NBA scouts were excited about

Showcase Cup Tournament

The showcase features a bracket-style tournament consisting of the top eight teams from G League games played between Nov. 8 and Dec. 16. Because they impacted the showcase, those games made up the NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament.

The remaining 23 teams will play two games outside the Showcase Cup Tournament.

Following the NBA G League Showcase, records for all 31 teams will reset for the 34-game regular season, which begins on Dec. 27.

MORE: JJ Redick reveals hurdle Bronny James needs to clear for NBA career to take off

Bronny James NBA G League Showcase schedule

James and the South Bay Lakers did not qualify for the Showcase Cup Tournament. They will play the following two games during the Showcase:

Date Opponent (Affiliate) Time (ET) TV channel
Dec. 19 Greensboro Swarm (Hornets) 12 p.m. ESPNU
Dec. 21 Osceola Magic (Magic) 12 p.m. ESPNews

NBA G League Showcase Cup bracket

The matchups for the G League Showcase are as follows:

  • No. 1 Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder) vs. No. 8 Grand Rapids Gold (Nuggets)
  • No. 2 Iowa Wolves (Timberwolves) vs. No. 7 Stockton Kings (Kings)
  • No. 3 Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat) vs. No. 6 Capital City Go-Go (Wizards)
  • No. 4 Westchester Knicks vs. No. 5 Valley Suns (Suns)

NBA G League Showcase prize money

The Showcase Cup is a winner-take-all tournament where the winning team splits a $100,000 grand prize.

In 2021, players on the winning team split $90,000 while the coaching staff split $10,000, per Andscape’s Marc Spears. The payout remains the same in 2024 but the breakdown is unclear.

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