NBA Veterans Join NBA G League Ignite To Play Alongside Elite Prospects

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2020 – The NBA G League today announced the additions of Amir Johnson, Bobby Brown, Reggie Hearn, Brandon Ashley and Cody Demps to NBA G League Ignite, which recently began training with head coach Brian Shaw in Walnut Creek, Calif.  The five veterans bring years of valuable playing experience, both in the NBA and other professional leagues around the world, that will aid in the development of the seven elite prospects highlighting the inaugural G League Ignite roster.

“We’re excited to add Amir, Bobby, Reggie, Brandon and Cody, five high-character guys who have each spent many years around the NBA, NBA G League and other professional leagues, to mentor and develop our elite prospects,” said Shaw.  “Their professional experience will enable them to help our coaching staff develop a culture that will be beneficial to their younger teammates as they work towards their professional careers.”

Shaw’s nearly 30 years of NBA experience combined with the  presence of Johnson, Brown, Hearn, Ashley and Demps is expected to create an environment that balances the teaching of life skills and basketball development for elite prospects Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd, Daishen Nix, Princepal Singh and Kai Sotto.

Johnson, who earned the 2017-18 NBA Hustle Award, brings 14 years of NBA experience with the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.  Johnson, the 56^th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, averaged 18.0 points on 64.3 percent shooting along with 8.4 rebounds in 42 career NBA G League games.

Brown played in parts of six NBA seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, then New Orleans Hornets, LA Clippers and Houston Rockets. He holds career averages of 4.4 points and 1.5 assists in 158 games.

Hearn played seven seasons in the NBA G League, highlighted by a GATORADE Call-Up to the Pistons during the 2017-18 season.  He was also a member of the 2017 Gold medal-winning team in the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup Tournament and was USA Basketball’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2018.  Ashley spent two seasons in the NBA G League, highlighted by a 2015-16 NBA G League All-Star selection.  After two seasons with the Stockton Kings, Demps signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings in 2019 but did not appear in an NBA game.   He also participated in the 2019 NBA G League Elite Camp and played for USA Basketball at the 2020 AmeriCup Qualifiers.