Jarrett Jack Rumors

To bolster a team with so many 18- and 19-year-olds, players like Johnson, 33, and Jarrett Jack, 37, were brought in to not only fill out the numbers, but to provide mentorship to the young players — something Johnson says could be invaluable as they enter the NBA. “For these guys to be able to come to this program, play with (veterans), get that experience of living on their own and all the extra stuff, you know, they get that before they’re thrown in the fire,” Johnson said. “Coming into the program I was like ‘What a great idea getting experience first, before they get to the NBA.’ I just kind of got thrown into the fire, and God bless I had such great vets that steered me in the right direction.”

While the G League and college routes come with their own challenges, the similarities between what these players are going through and what life is like in the NBA is something that Jack says can’t be overstated. “It’s totally different from college,” Jack said. “It’s a situation where you can lock in and focus on the craft, work on your professional future. (You) get acclimated to what your lifestyle and what your day-to-day is gonna be going forward and you do that without having homework and other things that come with more of a college life. You’re just able to put 24 hours a day into being better, understanding how to be effective on a job. So, I think that’s where this program is really, really crucial and can be beneficial to a lot of people that college may not be the route necessary route for.”