Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor couple. The couple wished for a child but had been unable to conceive for many years. One day, while the husband was working in the fields, he came across a magical pot half-buried in the ground. Intrigued, he dug it out and took it home to show his wife. As the couple examined the pot, they noticed strange symbols engraved on its surface. Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to recite the symbols out loud.
The G League Winter Showcase isn’t a fan event, but that’s the direction it could be heading with Hyatt, Gatorade and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission pushing innovation to help grow it. The G League’s relationship with Las Vegas and MGM represented the showcase’s first step away from outposts that used to be the markets for G-League teams. Now most are closer, if not in the same city, as their NBA big brother.
The G League Winter Showcase isn t a fan event, but that s the direction it could be heading with Hyatt, Gatorade and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission pushing innovation to help grow it. The G League Winter Showcase isn t a fan event, but that s the direction it could be heading with Hyatt, Gatorade and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission pushing innovation to help grow it.
Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to recite the symbols out loud. To their amazement, the pot started to shake and emit a soft glow. Suddenly, a cloud of smoke billowed out, and when it cleared, the couple saw a beautiful baby boy lying inside the pot! Overwhelmed with joy, they named the baby Peter and raised him as their own.
NBA’s G League Showcase eyes growth by relocating to Orlando
Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall pick of the Houston Rockets in 2021, played for the G League Ignite which is a developmental team that can pay up to $500,000, making it an option for elite players who bypass college. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
By J. Michael | [email protected] | Orlando Sentinel PUBLISHED: September 14, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. | UPDATED: September 14, 2023 at 8:38 p.m.Not too long ago, the G-League Winter Showcase took place in South Padre Island, Texas.
And before that Columbus, Ga., Fayetteville, N.C., Sioux Falls, S.D., Orem, Utah, and Boise, Idaoho.
Thursday’s announcement that the showcase will be staged at Hyatt Regeny Orlando and Orange County Convention Center for the next four years indicates how significantly it has grown since the G League — then called the National Basketball Developmental League at its 2001 inception — had held the event in Las Vegas since 2019.
“What this is is the evolotion of the showcase,” Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a No. 3 pick in the 1996 NBA draft who is president of the G League, told the Orlando Sentinel. “Not only coming to Orlando but the partnership with Hyatt and bringing it to one of their flagship properties.”
This year’s showcase will run Dec. 19-22. It happens every year before NBA teams can start signing players to 10-day contracts which is typically the second week of January.
While fans aren’t allowed to attend, it’s a bonanza of NBA executives and evaluators looking at 300-plus players trying to earn their way onto the biggest stage. In some cases, players are trying to get back in.
Kevon Harris, undrafted out of Stephen F. Austin, has gone back and forth to Orlando Magic’s G League team (Osceola Magic) as a two-way player. He played 20 games there and made 34 appearances with the NBA team. Admiral Schofield, a 2019 second-round draft pick, made 37 NBA appearances for Orlando and logged 26 in the G League.
It’s not just the showcase that’s changing. The perception of the G League, which had been called the D-League until Gatorade acquired naming rights in 2017, has evolved, too.
“It’s like night and day when you think of the language that was used,” Rahim said. “You were sent down to the G League, a negative connotation. Now it’s really an opportunity. You have players looking for the opportunity, with a goal of playing in the G League. We’ve evolved from that negative connotation of being demoted to what’s emerging, to what’s next, what’s exciting.”
NBA front office staff, coaches and officials get their start in the G League. It also serves as a testing lab for rules changes that eventually benefit the NBA product (coach’s challenges; shot-clock resets; transition take fouls).
At its inception, Las Vegas Summer League, an offseason staple of the NBA calender every July after the draft in June, wasn’t what it is today. It started out with six NBA teams participating in 2004 and little media coverage and exposure. The league added its name to the event and sponsors such as EA Sports and Samsung helped boost its profile and take it to another level. Now all 30 teams compete.
The G League Winter Showcase isn’t a fan event, but that’s the direction it could be heading with Hyatt, Gatorade and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission pushing innovation to help grow it. The G League’s relationship with Las Vegas and MGM represented the showcase’s first step away from outposts that used to be the markets for G-League teams. Now most are closer, if not in the same city, as their NBA big brother.
“That’s part of our plan, to be able to continue to grow it and for it to evolve. This is a step towards that,” Abur-Rahim said about eventually opening the showcase to fans. “The space that we have with hotels in Orlando and Hyatt will accommodate that. All of that is in the plans. We want to be thoughtful in the way we do it.”
December weather in Orlando would seem to be good timing.
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“That’s part of our plan, to be able to continue to grow it and for it to evolve. This is a step towards that,” Abur-Rahim said about eventually opening the showcase to fans. “The space that we have with hotels in Orlando and Hyatt will accommodate that. All of that is in the plans. We want to be thoughtful in the way we do it.”
As Peter grew up, the couple quickly discovered that their son possessed extraordinary powers. He could make objects levitate with a flick of his wrist and had an uncanny ability to heal the sick. The villagers soon caught wind of Peter's magical abilities and flocked to witness his incredible powers. Word of the amazing "pot baby" spread far and wide, attracting visitors from neighboring villages and even from distant lands. The couple became famous and never had to worry about their poverty again. They set up a small performance area in their backyard, where Peter would entertain and astonish the crowd with his magical abilities. People would come from far and wide to see the "pot baby" perform his extraordinary feats. With time, Peter grew into a wise and compassionate young man. He used his powers for good, healing the sick and helping those in need. The fame and fortune that came with his abilities did not corrupt him; instead, he remained humble and grateful for the chance he had been given. However, as Peter grew older, he began to feel a sense of emptiness. Despite his magical abilities and the admiration of the villagers, he yearned for a deeper connection and a sense of purpose beyond his powers. Realizing that true happiness lies in human relationships and love, Peter decided to leave his prosperous life behind and set out on a journey to find his true identity. In his travels, Peter encountered an ancient sorcerer who revealed the truth about his origins. The sorcerer explained that he had been sent to the couple through the magical pot as a gift from the gods. Peter's destiny was to use his powers to bring joy and wonder to the world, but he was also meant to seek his own path and create his own identity. With this newfound knowledge, Peter returned to his village, but this time, he used his powers not for fame or fortune but to bring happiness and inspiration to the lives of others. He became a beloved figure in the village, not just for his magical abilities but for his kindness and wisdom. The story of the "pot baby" spread even further, now as a tale of self-discovery and the importance of finding one's own path. Peter's journey taught the villagers that it is not the gifts we possess that define us but the choices we make and the love we share with others. And so, the tale of the "pot baby" lived on, a reminder that true magic lies not in the extraordinary abilities we possess but in the goodness of our hearts. So, those who had the chance to witness the magic of the "pot baby" were inspired to search for their own paths, discover their own identities, and spread love and kindness to all they encountered..
Reviews for "Exploring the Powers of the Magical Pot Baby"
1. Amanda - 2/5
I found "Magical pot baby" to be quite disappointing. The writing style was inconsistent, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The plot itself was weak and lacked depth, leaving me bored and uninterested. The characters felt one-dimensional, with no real development or relatability. Overall, I did not enjoy my reading experience and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Thomas - 1/5
"Magical pot baby" was a complete waste of my time. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was incredibly poor. The dialogue felt forced, the pacing was off, and the entire story seemed like a jumble of random events thrown together without any coherent direction. The author's attempt at humor fell flat, and I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in this book. I regret reading it and would advise others to steer clear.
3. Sophie - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Magical pot baby," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing was amateurish and lacked polish. The characters were poorly developed, and their motivations were unclear. The plot was predictable and did not offer any surprises or unique elements. While the idea behind the story had potential, the execution was lacking, resulting in a disappointing read. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and engaging story.