Pacers assign GRIII to Mad Ants for rehab action; Anigbogu also sent

Glenn Robinson III will make his return to the basketball floor Thursday night. But not with the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers announced Thursday they have assigned Robinson to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team's NBA G-League affiliate, as a rehabilitation assignment. He has been recovering from left ankle surgery since October, and his participation in Thursday's Mad Ants game marks a significant step forward.

Robinson averaged 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds over 69 games with the Pacers last season, when he won the slam-dunk contest at NBA All-Star weekend.

The Pacers also assigned Ike Anigbogu to Fort Wayne, where Pacers two-way players Ben Moore and Edmond Sumner also are playing.