Beal, Tatum Talk Skipping CBB for G League, Donating Pizzas for Hospital Workers

The Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal said Friday on Instagram Live they've raised nearly $290,000 for St. Louis Area Foodbank and Feeding America amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Fred Katz of The Athletic provided details from the Instagram conversation. Tatum and Beal, both St. Louis natives, announced an additional plan to donate 1,000 pizzas to hospital workers in the city from Imo's Pizza.

The NBA stars also discussed the emerging prospect path of going to the G League to earn guaranteed money rather than competing in college basketball for a year:

Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd, two of the top prospects in the 2020 recruiting class, announced this week they're going to compete in the G League instead of the NCAA.

Players who opt for the developmental program can receive a salary of up to $500,000, per ESPN.

"The program includes professional coaching, top prospects and veteran players who will combine training and exhibition competitions against the likes of G League teams, foreign national teams and NBA academies throughout the world," the ESPN report noted.

It's created a realistic route for top prospects to earn a salary while remaining in the United States for the mandated year between leaving high school and entering the NBA draft. Previously, players who wanted to opt for the pro game had to go overseas for opportunities.

Tatum, the No. 4 overall prospect in 2016, spent one year at Duke before getting selected with the third overall pick by the Celtics in 2017. Beal was rated as the fourth-best prospect in his class (2011) and played at Florida for a season before the Wizards grabbed him with the third choice in 2012.

They've charted similar paths, even both attending Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis. Now they've come together to raise money for those in need in their hometown because of COVID-19 while also helping those on the front lines fighting the virus.