Sergio Guerra, Sports Editor/Photographer 

The Greensboro Swarm defeated the Stockton Kings 119–104 on Friday night in Game 2 of the NBA G League Finals to win its first ever championship. 

Road to the Finals 

The Charlotte Hornets affiliate swept its way through the post-season with a perfect 5–0 record. The Swarm cruised past the first round, blowing out the Maine Celtics 112–90 on Tuesday, March 31. The match marked a lot of firsts for Greensboro—its first-ever home playoff game and first-ever playoff win. Marcus Garrett and PJ Hall led the Greensboro Swarm with 18 points each, while Jaylen Sims added 16 en route to the victory. The result set the stage for an Eastern Conference Semifinals clash against the sixth-seeded Capital City Go-Go. 

In front of its home fans, the Greensboro Swarm was able to win against the Go-Go 118–108, with Tidjane Salaun spearheading the victory with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. The win didn’t come easily, especially in the fourth quarter, where Capital City was able to mount a 13–0 run to cut the lead to one possession. However, Greensboro would answer back with a 10–0 run of its own to punch its ticket to the conference finals, where it faced the No. 1-seeded Osceola Magic. 

The Eastern Conference Finals were the first playoff match that the Greensboro Swarm did not have the luxury of hosting, with Osceola’s superior record forcing the Swarm to travel to Kissimmee, Florida. Greensboro didn’t falter, never trailing in the match and defeating the Magic 134–121. Terrell Brown Jr. led the Swarm off the bench with 24 points and added six assists. In the Western Conference, the Stockton Kings took down the South Bay Lakers 101–97 to set up the NBA G League Finals. 

The Finals Come to Greensboro 

The Greensboro Swarm were put in a prime position to grab a commanding lead in the series, earning the opportunity to host Game 1 of the Finals. The Swarm made sure to take full advantage, taking down the Stockton Kings 111–107 in front of a packed Novant Fieldhouse. Marcus Garrett logged 21 points and seven rebounds on the way to the win, with Liam McNeeley posting a 14-point and 13-rebound double-double.  

Greensboro had to grind out the win, with the game within one possession with as little as six seconds remaining. However, two clutch free throws from Jaylen Sims put the game out of reach for Stockton. 

The NBA G League Finals are a best-of-three series, which meant that Greensboro was just one win away from its first-ever championship. However, Game 2 would be hosted by Stockton, with a potential Game 3 coming back to the Novant Health Fieldhouse. 

The Swarm are Champions 

The Greensboro Swarm were crowned champions after defeating the Stockton Kings 119–104 in California. Greensboro also becomes the first NBA G League Champion since the 2022-23 season to sweep the entire playoff bracket.  

Tosan Evbuomwan earned NBA G League Finals MVP honors and averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in the series. In Game 2 of the Finals, the two-way forward led the way for the Swarm with 22 points and seven rebounds. Greensboro’s perimeter defense was working overtime, limiting the Kings to just five 3-pointers throughout the match.  

The Charlotte Hornets became the first franchise to win the NBA Summer League and the G League Championship in the same season. The accolades prove that Charlotte’s future in basketball is bright. Now attention shifts to the NBA play-in tournament, where, on Tuesday, April 14, the Charlotte Hornets will host the Miami Heat. Should the Hornets win, they will be facing the loser of the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers match for the honor of playing the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons.