In the NBA, there are so many opportunities for players to prove their worth. The development league known as the "G-League", is aimed for players to get called up to the league. On April 26th 2023, the G-League added a new team in Portland, Oregon nicknamed the "Rip City Remix". The affiliate for the Portland Trailblazers is 10-7, but what really matters is getting their players ready for the NBA. They've already had call-ups like Duop Reath (DUE-op WREATH), Ibou Badji (EA-Boo Bah-GEE), and Ashton Hagans (Ash-CHUN HAY-Genz), and could have more as the All-Star break approaches.
One of the players that could play in the league very soon is 25-year-old combo guard, Antoine Davis (ANT-WAHN Dave-IS). Davis played his college basketball at Detroit Mercy, where his shooting ability flourished. He averaged 25.4 points, 4.1 assists, and had a 50.7% effective field goal percentage across four seasons. Davis set all kinds of records during his career, and even came short on adding more to his resume. He had 144 straight games finishing in double figures, and 588 made three point shots, which is the best in the nation. He came up short of the all-time scoring record in a career, held by "Pistol" Pete Maravich. Davis finished four points shy of breaking Maravich's 3667 point record, scoring 3664 points. After a successful college career, it's only right that his shooting translates to the pro's.
Davis went undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, but still got the opportunity to develop his game and showcase it to all 30 teams. After signing a training camp deal with the Trail Blazers, he was sent down to the Remix hoping a team is in need of his services during the season. During the Remix's first inaugural season, Davis is showing out for NBA scouts everywhere. He is averaging 18.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, with shooting splits of 44.4/39.9/90%. Assuming he increases his shooting percentage from the field and three point line, he could very well become a member of the "50-40-90 club" which hasn't been done by a G-League player since 2017-18. Quinn Cook was the first G-League player to join this exclusive club, and Davis could be next.
In two home matchups against the G-League Ignite, he showed out for the Remix. The Ignite is a development team for future NBA prospects to get ready for the draft. He averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds, with shooting splits of 50.8/45.9/50%. If he made a free throw in the second matchup, he would've been perfect from the line. Even though Davis's skill translates to the NBA, there are many players this era that can do what he does. Multiple players are being called up including from the Remix, but the similarity of Davis' game throughout the league could be holding him back. With the Trailblazers' continued downward trend, coupled with Davis' upward trend, he should be in for a well-deserved call up in the last few games.
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