Most fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers agree that rookie star Emoni Bates is something special, but they haven’t seen him play with the team lately.
That is because Bates has moved to the G League, playing with the Cavaliers’ affiliate team, the Cleveland Charge.
He has been away from the spotlight of the Cavaliers but he has still been doing incredibly well.
During his first three games with the Charge, Bates has scored 29 points, 29 points, and 17 points.
He has also put up seven three-pointers in one game, two blocks in another, and two steals in two separate games, according to Ballislife.
Emoni Bates in the NBA G-League
17 PTS, 6 REB, 3 3PT, 2 STL, 2 BLK
29 PTS, 5 3PT, 4 BLK, 2 STL
29 PTS, 7 3PT, 6 REB, 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/VrJG2KSqWs— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 28, 2023
Because Bates is on a two-way contract, the team has the ability to move him between the Charge and the Cavaliers throughout the season.
He has now gotten a taste of playing for both but is hoping to make his way back to the Cavaliers soon.
Bates was a second-round pick for the team in the last draft and some people thought that he’d get little time on the court during the regular season.
But when he lit up during the Summer League, fans called on head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to give him a permanent spot on the roster.
He hasn’t been given a lot of time to shine during 2023-24, averaging just 1.7 points during 7.4 minutes per game.
He is obviously much more comfortable playing for the G League, at least for right now.
His style of play is fun to watch and hard to predict, which is refreshing for fans but demanding for opponents.
If he keeps honing his skills and putting up big numbers, Bates may earn a one-way ticket back to the Cavaliers’ bench.
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