Shooting guard Trevelin Queen, who is on a two-way contract with the Rockets, has been named the NBA G League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2021/22 season, the league confirmed in a press release. Our JD Shaw was the first to report the news (via Twitter).
Queen signed a two-way deal with Houston in December, but has only appeared in 10 games with the NBA club this season. The 25-year-old saw more action in the G League, emerging as the go-to scorer for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as the Rockets’ G League affiliate posted a 24-10 regular season record and claimed the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
In 19 NBAGL games, Queen averaged 25.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and an eye-popping 3.3 steals in 35.0 minutes per contest, recording a shooting line of .480/.337/.796. It was his second season with the Vipers after going undrafted out of New Mexico State in 2020.
Queen beat out a pair of other players on NBA rosters – Pistons guard Saben Lee and Lakers two-way guard Mason Jones – in the G League’s MVP vote. Lee and Jones finished second and third, respectively.
Queen wasn’t the only member of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to take home some hardware this week. The team’s head coach, Mahmoud Abdelfattah, was named the NBAGL Coach of the Year, while general manager Travis Stockbridge earned G League Executive of the Year honors.
Because Queen’s two-way contract doesn’t cover the 2022/23 season, he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency this summer.
G- League MVP, the definition of a backhanded compliment
Yeah, better to not be recognized at all… I’m sure that’s how Trevelin felt.
I mean, he is part of a young rebuilding club. Probably it’s at least an argument for him to get more playing time, and he’s only 25. If it was the Celtics or Suns G-League affiliates I’m sure he’d agree with you though.
These guys work hard in arena’s that have 20 people watching. Getting recognized for your hard work is something the military has done forever. It’s good for morale of the league and it reinforces his desire to make a NBA squad. The league has really helped players get bettee and eventually get a two way contract or even make a team. I don’t think he hated the award and it allows other teams to take notice.
Saban Lee finished second and he’s on a two way with Detroit. He hasn’t quite made enough strides to stay up with the parent club but he’s making decent money.
Saban Lee’s contract 3 yr(s) / $5,143,840 and he played maybe 15 games with the Pistons at the NBA level.
First time I read title, I thought it was about a location like a casino steamboat that won an award. Then I read it as travelling queen and thought it was a mascot or fan.