Free-agent big man Derrick Favors plans to sign an NBA G League contract for the upcoming season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
It’s unclear which team Favors will play for. His returning rights aren’t already held by any NBAGL club, and it sounds like he plans to join the league directly rather than inking an Exhibit 10 contract with an NBA team that wants to make him an affiliate player. If he signs a G League contract in the coming days, the 32-year-old would be eligible to be selected in this year’s NBAGL draft on Oct. 28.
Favors has appeared in 790 NBA regular-season games and another 42 playoff contests across 12 seasons with the Nets, Jazz, Pelicans and Thunder, averaging 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per night. The veteran forward/center was out of the league for most of last season — he signed a 10-day contract with the Hawks in January, but didn’t play at all for Atlanta.
Speaking to Scotto, Favors explained why he has decided to go the G League route as he pursues an NBA comeback.
“I still love the game. I love everything about it,” he said. “I love the whole process of working out, getting better, the weight room and conditioning, and the on-court work. … I’m 32. I want to keep paying until my body tells me I can’t play anymore. I’m playing until the wheels fall off.
“I still feel like I’ve got a lot more years left in me, and I still feel like I can compete at a high level. I still feel like I can help a team. I think I’ve shown in the past that I can adjust to any role that I’m in. I can come into the game on the offensive and defensive end. I can still do a lot of things out there on the court with the right team and the right situation to help a team either win a championship or be a mentor to a younger team.”
According to Favors, he received some interest from teams overseas, but didn’t seriously consider going that route, since he feels the G League represents his best path to get back to the NBA.
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