The second annual Fall Invitational featuring G League Ignite and an international team — this time the Perth Wildcats (a year after featuring Mets 92 and No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama) — concluded Friday after a two-games-in-three-days exhibition series, and we’re no closer to crowning a frontrunner for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft than we were days ago. Each of the team’s stars shined bright in their own ways and in different settings, with Alexandre Sarr of Perth showing flashes of stardom and Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis of G League Ignite also proving their potential as likely top-five picks.
The teams split the two-game series 1-1, with G League Ignite taking the first game, 124-105, followed by a Perth win Friday, 127-112. And in each of the games, the stars of their respective teams led the way. In game number one it was Holland — one of the few candidates to go No. 1 in 2024 — who led G League Ignite with 23 points, five rebounds and three steals in just 28 minutes of action. Buzelis added 16 points on 13 shots to go with five boards and a pair of blocks.
In game number two it was Bryce Cotton who led the way for Perth with 40 points followed by 26 from Sarr in a team-leading +23 plus/minus coming off the bench. Sarr finished 10-of-14 shooting and had 10 rebounds, three assists and a second consecutive game of six swatted shots in an all-around showing, helping overcome a monstrous 33-point explosion from Holland on the other side.
Here is a recap of the exhibition series along with a few takeaways of what we learned over the few days of action in Vegas.
Game 1: G League Ignite 124, Perth 105
Key stats
G League Ignite
Ron Holland: 23 points, five reboundsMatas Buzelis: 16 points, two blocks, five reboundsIzan Almansa: 14 points, eight rebounds, three stealsTyler Smith: 15 points, four steals, two blocks
Perth Wildcats
Alexandre Sarr: 17 points, six blocks, seven…..
