The NBA is revamping its G League Elite Camp, making it a new initiative aimed at providing added exposure for draft prospects hoping to catch the attention of NBA talent evaluators, the NBA announced Monday.
The G League Elite Camp, replacing the G League Elite Mini Camp, will be a three-day event held in Chicago from May 12-14, just before the NBA combine starting May 15. Forty draft-eligible participants will be invited, based on the players not chosen in the top 60 for the combine via voting conducted among NBA teams. The top performers from this camp will earn invites to remain in Chicago and participate in the combine.
Separately, 40 current G League players will also work out and scrimmage in a similar format to previous years on May 12 and 13.
"We're thrilled to introduce the NBA G League Elite Camp as an essential addition to our comprehensive evaluation process of potential NBA and NBA G League talent," NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a statement. "This event will provide more players with exposure as they enter the next phase of their careers."
Last year's NBA draft early-entry list broke the previous record with 236 players declaring, up from 182 in 2017 and 162 in 2016, which posed a challenge for NBA teams. This new camp will provide another platform for underclassmen hoping to garner feedback before deciding whether to remain in the draft or return to school. It will also be an opportunity for college senior prospects who haven't been as heavily scouted.
According to NCAA rules, collegiate underclassmen will have until May 29 this year to withdraw their names from the NBA draft early-entry list.
