On March 11th, we wrapped the 20th season of the NBA G-League.
Due to COVID-19, it was the shortest and most unusual season that the League has ever had, but it also went down as one of the very best.
The 18 teams that participated this season all headed to Orlando to play in a “bubble” at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, with regular season games taking place there between February 9 and March 6.
And while it seems like a short season would mean a lot less work, nothing could’ve been further from the truth.
Putting on the G-League’s 20th season was intense.
It was overwhelming, it was scary, and it was so amazingly rewarding.
We gave 18 teams full of players the opportunity to play the game they love and develop their abilities to attract more money, more opportunities, and a chance to move up to the NBA.
We gave our coaches and support staff the opportunity to coach and mentor their players to new levels of success and skill.
And we gave our production staff the ability to get back to work and produce the games that our fans love and that give our league its flavor.
Overall, there were 15 groups of people that were able to come together to work, train, and play because we committed to having our season in whatever way we could.
The intense effort that it took to pull off the 2020-2021 season successfully, safely, and logistically showed us what we all were made of — and how much potential we have.
We saw the new extent of what we can accomplish collectively. Because there were so many moving parts and so many things that could have gone wrong, it was the ultimate challenge for us all.
But collectively, we all worked toward — and were totally committed to — the same important goal.
And because of that, the 2020-2021 season was a smashing success.
From a rating standpoint, we had a record year.
And from an engagement standpoint, this season was the most engaged our fans have ever been.
It was definitely the biggest accomplishment that our league has ever seen.
This season was a challenge for everyone involved with the G-League, but we proved that we can handle challenges even of the highest magnitude. Our season may have looked different than any other year, but we proved that didn’t mean it couldn’t still be a huge success.
Making it through this season made me realize that there’s not a challenge in any of our lives that can’t be handled — or successfully overcome — in exactly the same way.
When you come together collectively to work toward a common goal and are committed to seeing it through, there are very few reasons — if any — why you can’t succeed.
And when you do, not only is it a huge relief and a most thrilling high, but it’s also a great reminder that there are most likely even bigger challenges out there that you can work together to accomplish, too.
So, don’t be afraid to look huge challenges in the face and commit to pressing through them. When you have a team of people around you who are all committed to the same goal, there’s nothing that you can’t work through and succeed at together.
Not only is the journey that you take together meaningful, but it makes celebrating your success all the more fun, enjoyable, and rewarding, too.
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