Cleveland to host inaugural NBA G League Next Gem Game during All-Star Weekend

The inaugural NBA G League Next Gem Game is set for Cleveland during All-Star Weekend. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, shown shooting in 2007, is the G League president.

The inaugural NBA G League Next Gem Game is set for Cleveland during All-Star Weekend. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, shown shooting in 2007, is the G League president.AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The NBA All-Star game won’t be the only basketball game played featuring star athletes in Cleveland on Sunday, Feb. 20. The inaugural NBA G League Next Gem Game will be held a few blocks away.

While the All-Star Game is set for Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Next Gem Game will tip off at the Wolstein Center. It features the Cleveland Charge and the G League Invite, a developmental team composed of top prospects. Tipoff is 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20; the game will be broadcast on NBA TV.

The All-Star Game will be played at 8 p.m.

The NBA G League serves as what the league bills as a “research and development laboratory” for players, coaches and front-office personnel. Twenty-eight of the league’s 29 teams have direct NBA team affiliations. The Walnut Creek, California-based Ignite’s roster is a mix of top draft-eligible prospects and veterans.

The Charge feature Tre Scott and Malik Newman, who have earned call-ups to the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. The Ignite’s roster includes five players training toward the 2022 NBA Draft.

“As basketball fans turn their attention to Cleveland for All-Star 2022 to celebrate the game’s most-prized jewels, we’re thrilled that they’ll also be able to discover some of the world’s most radiant young players in this first-ever Next Gem game,” NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a release. Abdur-Rahim retired after the 2007-08 NBA season. He averaged 18.1 points over his 12-year career.

Other “warmup acts” preceding the All-Star Game are the NBA Rising Stars game Friday, Feb. 18, and All-Star Saturday Night – assorted competitions like slam dunk and three-point contests - on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Tickets for the Gem League game are available via SeatGeek.

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