Once upon a time, the G League (aka D League) was the landing spot of not-quite-good-enough. An eternal purgatory where you always hoped to get called up, but you had a better chance of getting a low-interest loan with terrible credit.

In other words, you really didn’t have a chance.

Today, it’s a different story entirely. These days someone will go to the G League on purpose – to gain experience, to get on the roster of a different team after the draft, and more.

Here are three great examples of how today’s G League gives us players with more experience who can really make a difference on their teams.

Prospect Experience: Maverick Rowan

What do you do if you’re coming out of college but don’t expect to be drafted highly?

You could just sit back and hope for the best. You could make a Plan B.

Or you could go out and get "work experience" in the G League, showing coaches what you can do with other professional players.

That’s the path Maverick Rowan has chosen. He experienced little interest when he tried to enter the 2017 draft, so he withdrew. Instead of sulking at home, he decided to get the best experience he could – playing for the Lakeland Magic G League team.

He was an underclassman when he pulled out of the 2017 draft, so he’s still eligible for the 2018 draft. He’s hoping the G League experience gives him the resume he needs to get noticed.

G League to Champion: Quinn Cook

Although he played at Duke, Quinn Cook went undrafted in the 2015 draft. He participated in summer league but was ultimately waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He ended up on their G League team, the Canton Charge.

He did very well his first year, but ultimately ended up with the Charge for a second season. After a few 10 day stints in the NBA with the Pelicans and Mavericks, he ended up on the roster of the Golden State Warriors in the fall of 2017.

He was a strong player for the team and remained with them throughout the season, ultimately joining the team for the sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA finals. His hard work and focus paid off with a championship ring!

On The Comeback Trail: Brandon Jennings

Sometimes players use the G League to stage a comeback later in their career. After playing a year in Italy right after high school, Jennings spent 8 seasons in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and a few other teams.

After being waived by the Knicks in 2017, he played 13 games in China before coming back to the U.S. to play for the Bucks’ Wisconsin Herd G League team.

A 10-day Bucks’ contract followed a month later, and he ended up with a multi-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. His career is far from over – and the G League helped him stay in front of the coaches who could keep him going.

There’s a Lot to the G League

Far from being a graveyard of wasted talent, the G League is a place where unproven talent can prove itself. Young kids can gain experience, journeymen can build their skills, and even old hands can keep their career going in the G League.