The 2021 G League season will begin in February in the Orlando Bubble

The NBA G League has announced that a 2021 season will take place beginning in February at the World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando: the same venue that last season’s NBA Bubble and the playoffs took place. 17 teams plus the G League Ignite will participate, including the Austin Spurs. (For those who need a reminder, the Ignite is a new, one-year developmental program that acts as an alternative to college basketball for elite NBA prospects.)

While the total number of games that will be played or a schedule has yet to be announced, the top eight teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff, and the Ignite will be allowed to participate in the postseason despite normally operating as a separate entity. All the same safety protocols that were in place for the NBA Bubble will be applied to the G League Bubble.

Here is a statement from Spurs GM Brian Wright:

It’s probably safe to assume that due to quarantine guidelines, once a player goes in, it’s hard to imagine players will be traveling back and fourth between the G League. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how the Spurs handle the situation and who they send considering once they go, they likely won’t be coming back until the G League season is over (unless the plan is to bring them back for good).

It’s safe to assume two-way players Quinndary Weatherspoon (if healthy) and Kieta Bates-Diop will go, and quite possibly the same can be said for Tre Jones and Luka Samanic to get them some playing time. However, an unlikely candidate is Devin Vassell. He appears to have a permanent spot in the rotation, especially with Derrick White out, plus his game already seems above the G League.