Every second of every NBA G League game is designed to get players ready for the next level.
For those signed to two-way contracts, more minor league minutes can translate to more major league opportunities.
Guard Dereon Seabron, for example, got a triple-double for Birmingham on Thursday in the Squadron’s 125-115 loss to the College Park Skyhawks. The two-way standout – who has made five appearances with the parent club New Orleans Pelicans this season – closed the night with 16 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
And the rest of the NBA hopefuls on the roster know that their hopes depend on making the most of every appearance.
Former Squadron standout Trey Jemison was a rebounding machine during his time in the Magic City. Today, the center out of UAB is on his second 10-day contract, and coming off a five-point, three-rebound showing for the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. That game saw him get 13:34 of court time and register his first NBA points.
And forward Malcolm Hill parlayed a great season-long showing in Birmingham with a 10-day contract with the Pelicans.
Assigned back to the Squadron on Thursday, he scored a game-high 33 points and is averaging 24.9 points per game when suiting up for T.J. Saint’s club.
But while every player in the G League wants to move up, they also want to win. And with a 7-8 record, the Squadron will close out the first half of its 34-game regular season with a weekend doubleheader against the Motor City Cruise.
The first game is Saturday when Birmingham celebrates HBCU Night at Legacy Arena with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
On Sunday, the teams meet again at 4 p.m.
After that, the Squadron will play three road games leading up to the All-Star break, which runs from February 16-21.
Birmingham faces the Westchester Knicks February 8 and February 9 in White Plains, New York, and returns to Gateway Center Arena on February 15 to square off with College Park again.
“You obviously want to be playing well going into the all-star break, and when you look at the standings, we know it’s really knotted up between the first seed and the tenth seed,” Birmingham guard Devin Cannady said following a recent home game. “So, for us, we kind of look at the block of five games – a five-game chunk.”
As of today, the Delaware Blue Coats (8-4), College Park (10-5) and Indiana Mad Ants (10-5) are in a statistical tie for first in the Eastern Conference.
The Squadron sits in 11th place, but is still just three games out of first and one game out of sixth – and playoff position.
The top six teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences earn spots in the postseason.
“The way I look at it, is you want to go 4-1 during five-game blocks,” Cannady added. “A lot of teams are going 3-2 and 2-3, so if you can go 4-1, you can start separating yourself.”
Using those markers, Birmingham has gone 1-4, 4-1 and 2-3.
“When we’re out there playing, we’re not trying to chase anyone or catch anyone, we’re trying to focus on our fundamentals,” Cannady said. “T.J. always says we just have to keep getting better and have that next man up mentality. Everybody’s got to lock in, everybody’s got to focus, and that’s how you win games.”
With call-ups and assignments, lineups can vary wildly from one night to the next. Saint didn’t know he would have access to Hill and Pelicans forward E.J. Liddell for Thursday night’s game until Thursday morning.
Throw in mandated minute restrictions and coaches – and players – have to adjust on the fly.
“We’re like fish living in water,” said Saint, who has watched 16 different players take the floor in 2023-24. “They don’t notice the water, it’s just what you’re in. Things and situations change, but we’re kind of used to it.”
Regardless of the situation, the Squadron would like nothing better than to finish up the first half of the slate with a home sweep of the Cruise.
“Home stretches are really important,” guard Izaiah Brockington said. “This is the time you realize you need to start stacking wins on top of each other.”
For ticket information, go to birmingham.gleague.nba.com/tickets.