IT WAS a breakout campaign from Utah Jazz two-way guard Elijah Harkless in the G League this season, proving a vital member of the Salt Lake City Stars and emerging as a serious talent throughout the 2024/25 fixture.

On the season, Harkless averaged 26.9 points to go with 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game in an extremely productive season. Also boasting impressive shooting splits of 44.7 per cent FG, 42.2 per cent 3PT and 74.5 per cent FT, he was damaging at a high clip for the Stars over the course of his 19 games with the team.

After going undrafted in 2023, Harkless looked to make a name for himself in the G League in a bid to eventually reach the top level via a different route. After playing with the San Diego Clippers to close out 2024, Harkless was signed to a two-way contract with the Jazz.

Although he did not get NBA minutes to start his time in Utah, he made sure to make every opportunity with the team’s G League affiliate count, dominating his 19 appearances throughout the season and being awarded the G League’s Most Improved Player award.

Although not the tallest player at six-foot-three, Harkless is extremely shifty and can evade the defence with ease, while also being a consistent threat from behind the arc, punishing the opposition for giving him space on a regular basis.

Harkless is also unfazed by pressure from the opposition or even the opposition fans, averaging 31 points in road games and stepping up when playing in a hostile environment. As the Stars’ point guard, he often proved a calming presence in enemy territory with his timely shotmaking and solid playmaking.

Harkless was an inspired addition to the team, leading the team (along with Oscar Tshiebwe) to a postseason berth, with the Stars finishing the season as the third seed with a record of 21 wins and 13 losses. Unfortunately, the team’s star point guard was unavailable in the playoffs due to an untimely groin injury, with Salt Lake City eliminated in the second round.

For his efforts at G League level, Harkless even earned some minutes with the Jazz in their NBA matches, averaging three points and two rebounds across 10 games. Although those numbers may not jump off the page, it was his perimeter defence that caught the eye, having a real impact and even outshining some of his teammates at times on that side of the ball.

He was also named to the All-NBA G League Second Team for his campaign with the Stars, fully cementing himself as one of the premier guards of the competition and showing he is capable of contributing at NBA level.