Skyforce Season Review

After missing the organization's first season since being founded in 1989, the Sioux Falls Skyforce returned to the court in 2021-22.

It was a season of highs and lows, but ultimately the team finished 14-21 with a fighting shot at the Western Conference playoffs late in the season.

With some time to digest the season, Skyforce Head Coach Kasib Powell reflected on what it meant to be back playing in Sioux Falls and how each month brought great progression on and off the court for his team and staff.

"It was a great positive to be able to be back playing this season and we greatly missed playing in front of our fans," Powell said. "We were definitely behind the eight-ball when the season started because we missed last year.

But we were able to come together and give ourselves a chance (to make the playoffs) at the end of the season. That's what it's all about. It was very successful when talking about development. Not just our players, but our staff continued to grow, which is great, and as a whole makes me excited about the future of Skyforce basketball."

The organization saw the most NBA Call-Ups since the 1998-99 season (franchise high 10 Call-Ups), with seven total from five players. This is the third highest total in franchise history and first time since 2007-08 where the Skyforce has had multiple players earn several NBA Call-Ups (Powell earned two NBA Call-Ups that season).

Javonte Smart, Brandon Knight, Mychal Mulder, Micah Potter and DJ Stewart all earned NBA Call-Ups, with Smart and Knight earning multiple.

"It just shows you it comes from all different walks of life, " Powell said of his team's success earning NBA opportunities. "We had guys get to the NBA for the first time ever and ones that got back after spending an extended time in the league. It is so exciting, whichever side you are on. As a coach, it's what makes you realize what the league is all about. For our guys to be great teammates, do the right things and finally get that call is priceless. To be a small part of their dreams coming true is something I will never forget."

Mario Chalmers also earned an NBA Call-Up with the Miami HEAT while he was playing with the Grand Rapids Gold, after the NBA G League Showcase in Las Vegas. The two-time NBA Champion joined the Skyforce in January after his 10-day contract was up.

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After finishing 2-9 in the Showcase Cup, Sioux Falls got out to a 2-1 start of the 2022 regular season. The team then went on to lose the next eight games, with four-straight being in single digits.

"That was a very tough stretch of basketball for us," Powell admitted. "But we were learning through our losses. We were very young at that point and were in the mix in those games. It set us up to have success down the stretch."

The team did a 180-turn and were one of, if not, the hottest team in the G League. The Skyforce won seven of 10 games in February and had their longest home winning streak (five games) since the 2015-16 G League championship season.

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Miami HEAT two-way player Javonte Smart, who led the team in scoring in the regular season, played a key facet in the run.

His 27.7 points on 48.5 percent shooting and 45.7 percent from deep was good for second in the G League with a minimum of three games played in the month. Smart scored over 20-plus points in eight of nine games and secured three-straight games of 30-plus points.

"That was a great run for us," Powell said. "Our hard work was starting to pay off and we were clicking at the right time. Javonte (Smart) stepped up when we needed him and everyone around him was feeding off of it. They were also making it easier on him, too. It was a great stretch of basketball for us."

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The Force lost Stewart to a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs in the beginning of March, but sat at 11-13, just a game back of Austin for the sixth seed in the West during a two-game home swing with them on March 10-11. The Spurs swept the Force, but the team still showed great fight the rest of the season.

Sioux Falls, who was still within two games of a playoff spot with less than a week left of the regular season, eventually went 3-8 to finish the last 11 games after the Austin series and ultimately were on the outside looking in.

"Regardless of our start, the playoffs were always our goal," Powell said. "We had enough time to go on a run and it's disappointing we didn't accomplish that. We had our opportunities in March to get that done, but our season could have been over in February and we fought until the very end. That's all you can ask for as a coach."

For Powell, who has played at the highest level and been an assistant coach for a team that was playoff bound before COVID-19 ended the campaign, it was an opportunity to learn in his first-year as a head coach.

"The thing I learned the most was that staying even keel is very crucial," he said. "The season is like a roller coaster and you can't ride the emotions. Consistency is key and it was very tough to lose games, but I needed to maker sure our guys were continuing to get better and battling through the everlasting changes of the G League."

The season provided a great foundation for the future and Powell feels moving forward the Skyforce has a great outlook on the future.

"It was a a building block year," he noted. "We laid a great foundation. I know how much the playoffs mean to this city and the organization. Knowing what we can get better at in the offseason helps the curve for next season. We will hit the ground running and we're just excited for the future."