G League Ignite name Jason Hart as head coach
The G League Ignite named former USC assistant Jason Hart as the team's new head coach, G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced Thursday.
Hart replaces Brian Shaw, who's reportedly joining the Los Angeles Clippers' coaching staff.
"From the moment I looked at this opportunity, I was confident that this was the ideal job for me," Hart said.
Hart, 43, enjoyed nine seasons in the NBA with nine different teams after being drafted 49th overall in 2000 by the Milwaukee Bucks. Following his retirement in 2010, Hart coached at the high school level in his hometown of Los Angeles before working as an assistant at Pepperdine and USC.
"Since my retirement from the NBA, I have coached basketball at every level, learning what it takes to help young men achieve their dreams of playing in the NBA," Hart added. "I will give every ounce of energy and knowledge that I have to making sure each young man is able to fulfill his potential."
The Ignite completed their inaugural campaign with an 8-8 record before getting eliminated in the quarterfinals of the G League playoffs. Ignite standouts Jalen Green (No. 2), Jonathan Kuminga (7), and Isaiah Todd (31) were all selected in last month's NBA draft.