Once again, Delaware has a pro sports champion. For the Delaware Blue Coats, their NBA G League title Thursday night was especially gratifying and hard-earned. The Blue Coats avenged a 2022 series loss in a sweep by returning the favor against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in Edinburg, Texas, at Bert Ogden Arena. They prevailed 114-110 in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series in what was certainly a group effort. Five Blue Coats scored in double figures led by NBA slam-dunk champ Mac McClung (6'2''-G-2000, college: Texas Tech)'s 30 points. Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaden Springer (6'4''-SG-2002, college: Tennessee) (11) drives to the basket for the dunk during the 76ers' annual Blue and White scrimmage at the Chase Fieldhouse in 2021. The Blue Coats won Game 1 on Tuesday night at Wilmington's Chase Fieldhouse 134-120 as Jaden Springer scored 42 points and McClung had 35, the 77 points the most by a twosome in G League finals history. Springer was named Finals MVP after scoring 21 points Thursday. "They got us last year. We bounced back, got the 'dub,' " Springer, the 76ers' first-round draft pick in 2021, said on ESPNews' telecast in the postgame celebration. "Now we gotta go celebrate." Louis King (6'7''-F-1999, college: Oregon)'s 25-footer at the buzzer gave the Blue Coats a 28-26 lead as the first quarter closed. King played for the Vipers earlier this season before being signed by the 76ers in December, The Blue Coats led 60-57 at halftime but then pulled away in the third quarter, which ended with them ahead 90-74.That lead grew to 19 in the fourth period. But the Vipers, a Houston Rockets affiliate, rallied to within four and could have gotten within two when Trevor Hudgins swooped in for a fast-break layup with 13 seconds left. But King blocked the shot. Hudgins then missed a long jumper before the Blue Coats iced the win on Justin Smith (6'7''-F-1999, college: Arkansas)'s two free throws. "Louis King playing on a sprained ankle, making that play, is truly incredible." second-year Blue Coats coach Coby Karl said. "I just got a text from my dad [former coach George Karl]. The only thing I saw was 'Lou King's chase-down block wow.' " The Blue Coats are a 76ers affiliate and certainly their players would rather be on an NBA roster. All are striving to get to the next level. But Karl said this team was united in its title pursuit and played like it, putting personal ambitions aside. "We have high-character guys who play defense, who give great effort, who want to win, they want to play together," Karl said. "At some point of the season there's the realization you didn't get the call-up and are still on the G League team. "They made the choice that they wanted to pursue this and play as hard as they played. We beat three incredible teams and it was never easy and our guys enjoyed that challenge and having to rely on each other."
Courtesy of: delawareonline.com

Finals MVP: Jaden Springer (6'4''-SG-2002) of Philadelphia 76
Player of the Year: Carlik Jones (6'1''-PG-1997) of Chicago B.
Rookie of the Year: Kenneth Lofton Jr. (6'7''-F-2002) of Memphis G.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jimmie Huff (6'2''-PG) of Denmark Tech
Most Improved Player: Lester Quinones (6'5''-G-2000) of GS Warriors
Sportsmanship Award: Nate Pierre-Louis (6'4''-G-1998) of South Bay L.
Community Assist Award: Langston Galloway (6'2''-G-1991) of Indiana P.
Coach of the Year: Ronnie Burrell of Long Island N.

USBasket.com All-NBA G League First Team 2023

Duke Jr.

Huff

Jones

Lofton Jr.

Queta

First Team
David Duke Jr. (6'5''-SG-1999) of Brooklyn N.
Jay Huff (7'1''-F-1998) of Washington W.
Carlik Jones (6'1''-PG-1997) of Chicago B.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. (6'7''-F-2002) of Memphis G.
Neemias Queta (7'0''-C-1999) of Sacramento K.

USBasket.com All-NBA G League Second Team 2023

Bouyea

Cooper

Kabengele

Days

Samanic

Second Team
Jamaree Bouyea (6'2''-G-1999) of Sioux Falls S.
Sharife Cooper (6'1''-G-2001) of Cleveland C.
Mfiondu Kabengele (6'10''-F-1997) of Boston C.
Darius Days (6'7''-F-1999) of Houston R.
Luka Samanic (6'10''-PF-2000) of Utah Jazz

USBasket.com All-NBA G League Third Team 2023

Anderson

Chiozza

Diabate

Mobley

Moon

Third Team
Justin Anderson (6'6''-G-1993) of Ft.Wayne MA
Chris Chiozza (183-PG-1995) of Murcia
Moussa Diabate (6'10''-F-2002) of LA Clippers
Isaiah Mobley (6'10''-F-1999) of Cleveland C.
Xavier Moon (6'2''-G-1995) of LA Clippers

USBasket.com NBA G League All-Rookie Team 2023

Bouyea

Days

Diabate

Lofton Jr.

Quinones

All-Rookie Team
Jamaree Bouyea (6'2''-G-1999) of Sioux Falls S.
Darius Days (6'7''-F-1999) of Houston R.
Moussa Diabate (6'10''-F-2002) of LA Clippers
Kenneth Lofton Jr. (6'7''-F-2002) of Memphis G.
Lester Quinones (6'5''-G-2000) of GS Warriors

USBasket.com NBA G League All-Defensive Team 2023

Dunn

Harrison

Kabengele

Queta

All-Defensive Team
Kris Dunn (6'4''-SG-1994) of Utah Jazz
Shaquille Harrison (6'4''-G-1993) of LA Lakers
Jimmie Huff (6'2''-PG) of Denmark Tech
Mfiondu Kabengele (6'10''-F-1997) of Boston C.
Neemias Queta (7'0''-C-1999) of Sacramento K.

The Windy City Bulls played short-handed, then came up short in the G League's Showcase Cup championship game, losing to the Ontario Clippers 99-97 on Thursday in Las Vegas. Dalen Terry and Malcolm Hill both played for Windy City in Tuesday's semifinal game, then were summoned to join the NBA Bulls in Atlanta. With Alex Caruso going out with a shoulder injury against the Hawks, the Bulls didn't want to risk not having Terry or Hill on Friday in New York, so both players were unavailable in Las Vegas. Still, the game came down to a "next basket wins" scenario, with the target score set at 99 and the teams tied at 97-97. First, Windy City needed a defensive stop and didn't get it. Guard Xavier Moon (6'2''-G-1995, college: Morehead St.), a 27-year-old G League veteran, buried a jumper to give the Clippers the victory and the $100,000 prize, which is split among the winning players. The Bulls took a 94-93 lead on Daniel Oturu's putback basket. After a steal by Carlik Jones (6'1''-PG-1997, college: Louisville), Javon Freeman-Liberty (6'3''-G-1999, college: DePaul) was fouled and split a pair of free throws to make it 95-93. Moon tied it with a jumper, then Windy City missed a chance to take control. Ethan Thompson missed a driving attempt and another Moon jumper put the Clippers within winning distance at 97-95. The Bulls tied it on another Oturu putback and Ontario stuck with what was working. A screen was set to get Moon matched up against Oturu, who got a nice contest, but Moon dropped in his third-straight shot, this one a 19-footer. Jones, who shifted to a two-way contract last week, led the Bulls with 22 points and 7 assists. Thompson and Oturu scored 15 points each, with Oturu adding 12 rebounds. Marko Simonovic (6'11''-C-1999, agency: BeoBasket) finished with 8 points and 11 boards. Windy City returns to Now Arena in Hoffman Estates on Friday, Jan. 6, against the Lakeland Magic.
Courtesy of: dailyherald.com