Pacers sign Mad Ants guard Gabe York to two-way deal

INDIANAPOLIS -- Just over a year ago, Gabe York finally broke into the NBA after eight seasons of professional basketball with a two-way contract with the Pacers, and on Thursday he got to break back in again through the same method.

The Pacers signed York to a two-way contract Thursday, filling the void left by guard Trevelin Queen, who was waived Wednesday after being suspended for a run-in with an official during a game with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers' G-League affiliate.

York, an All-Pac 12 pick at Arizona in 2015-16, averaged 22.1 points per game this season to crack 20 points per game for the second straight season. He scored 973 total points, the third-highest single-season total in Mad Ants history. The 6-3, 190-pound shooting guard became the all-time Mad Ants record holder with 316 3-pointers and broke his own single-season record with 161 3-pointers in a season. The Mad Ants' season ended Tuesday with a loss to the Capital City Go-Go in the G League playoff quarterfinals.

York played in two games with the Pacers in April of last season, averaging 10.5 minutes per game in those appearances and 4.0 points per game.

"I'm just excited for the opportunity," York said after his first practice with the Pacers on Thursday. "Thankful for the Pacers organization for giving me another chance and I just look forward to getting out there."

The last two season with the Pacers and Mad Ants mark the most stable portion of York's professional career. Prior to joining the Mad Ants for the 2021-22 season, he'd had two previous stops in the G League with the Erie Bayhawks and Lakeland Magic, but he'd also played in France, Germany, Greece, Israel and Italy.

"Last year, that was my first time ever coming back to a team as a professional," York said. "Everything I've done has been one year in, one year out. Being able to come back and have that comfortability with the whole organization knowing who I am, knowing what I bring to the table, knowing what type of guy I am, it felt right from the beginning this year."

The Pacers are close to being eliminated from postseason contention at 33-43 and 3 1/2 games back of the 10th-place Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference with five games left to play. However, they're using the remaining games to try to get work for younger players, which means York should see at least some action. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said York will likely only be available for three of the five games because of the terms of the two-way contract, but said he thinks its important for the Pacers to get him some experience.

"Loyalty and consistency should be rewarded," Carlisle said. "This is a decision that ownership has to approve of, but management and the coaching staff are completely in agreement that Gabe deserved this opportunity. It's great for him. It's great for us."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Gabe York returns to Pacers on two-way contract