Unicaja already has an opponent in the Intercontinental Cup final: it will be the NBA G League United team. The North American team has beaten Argentine Quimsa and Australian Tasmania Jackjumpers in the group stage, and like Unicaja, it arrives undefeated to the decisive match of the tournament.
NBA G League United defeated Argentine team Quimsa, champion of the BCL Americas, 78 to 65 in the first round. The American team dominated the match from start to finish, with the most outstanding players being forwards Deonte Burton (17 points) and Brodic Thomas (18 PIR) and center Rob Baker II (18 PIR).
The game against the Tasmania Jackjumpers, champion of the Australian league, was played on the third day of competition. Both teams had managed to defeat the Argentine Quimsa and played for a place in the final on Saturday morning. The game was very close and was decided practically in the last play, the score was 76 to 74 for the NBC G League United after two free throws converted by forward Brodric Thomas with 1.8 seconds left. The Australian team had one last possession but could not convert a basket that would take them to overtime or give them the victory. For the NBA G League United, the most outstanding players against the Tasmania Jackjumpers were Charlie Brown (23 pts. and 24 val.) and Juan Toscano-Anderson (7 pts., 6 rbts., 4 ass. and 14 val.).
NBA G League United, physicality and talent on both sides of the court
NBA G League United is a team formed to compete in this Intercontinental Cup, representing the second league in the United States, the G League, linked to the NBA. This team is led by Paul Hewitt, a veteran coach with a long career in the NCAA and who since 2021 has been leading the San Diego Clippers, one of the most powerful teams in the G League.
The NBA G League United roster includes outstanding players, almost all of whom have experience in NBA franchises and who have been playing in the second American competition last season. The NBA G League United stands out for its physical strength and scoring ability by all of its players and from any position, no matter if it is near the basket or from the perimeter.
Perhaps the best-known player of Unicaja’s next rival is the Mexican Juan Toscano-Anderson, a 30-year-old power forward who was NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors in 2022. Last season he was on the Sacramento Kings roster in the NBA and in the G League with the Mexico City Capitanes. Toscano-Anderon is demonstrating in the Intercontinental Cup his ability to do everything on the court and his statistics say so, 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a PIR of 15.5 on average. This player is perhaps the best at reading the game and knowing how to approach each part of the match.
In the two games played so far in the Intercontinental Cup, the player with the best scoring average is forward Charlie Brown Jr., who with an average of 17 points has demonstrated great talent in front of the basket. Last season, Brown Jr. had a contract with the New York Knicks, although most of the season he played games with the team affiliated with the classic team from the “Big Apple”, the Westchester Knicks. His averages were 16.2 pts and 5.7 rbts, with 44% in field goals, numbers that speak of the offensive talent of the man who is the top scorer for the American team in this Intercontinental Cup.
At the moment, NBA G League United is using a short rotation, with seven main players taking up most of the minutes. Forward Deonte Burton is the player who is on the court the most, with 32.6 minutes per game. Burton, at 30 years old, has been on the court for several NBA franchises and last year he played for the Stockton Kings of the G League and 10 games for the Mets Guaynabo of Puerto Rico. Like practically all the players on the American roster, Burton is intense on both ends of the court and adds in many statistical sections, having averages in the Intercontinental Cup of 14 points and 11 in PIR. Brodric Thomas is the next player with the most presence on the court for NBA G League United in this Intercontinental Cup. Thomas does a great job on the rebound (5.5) in addition to being third in scoring on his team with 12 points per game.
In this review of the American team, we must not forget the one who is being its reference center, Rob Baker II. At 2.08 and 26 years old, he is one of the few NBA G League United players with experience in Europe, having played in Slovakia in the 2020-21 season. He is one of the most physically powerful centers in this Intercontinental Cup, dominant on the rebound and a great intimidator for his rivals when they go to the basket. In addition, he is capable of shooting from the perimeter with good percentages.
NBA G League United in the Intercontinental Cup
Unicaja will have to play for the first official title of the 2024-25 season, the Intercontinental Cup, against a rival with a powerful squad with experience and quality. This is a real challenge for the Malaga team that can put Unicaja’s name among the best clubs in the world that have this world title in their trophy cabinet.
The match between Unicaja and NBA G League United will be played on Sunday, September 15 at 13:00 Spanish time at the Indoor Stadium in Singapore. This match can be followed live on 101 TV.
