NBA Development League

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NBA Development League
NBA Development League logo.
Sport Basketball
Founded 2001
No. of teams 12 current
Country Flag of United States United States
Current champions Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Official website NBADleague.com

The NBA Development League, or D-League, is the National Basketball Association's officially sponsored and operated developmental basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), the D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001. In March 2005, NBA commissioner David Stern announced a plan to expand the D-League to fifteen teams and develop it into a true minor league farm system, with two NBA teams sharing each D-League team. For 2006-07, the league will have 12 teams, with each D-League team being affiliated with between 1 and 3 NBA teams.

Contents

[edit] History

The league began play as the NBDL in the 2001-2002 season; the original eight franchises were all located in the southeastern United States (specifically in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia). Some of these teams were purchased by private owners and relocated — at the same time the league's name was changed — in the summer of 2005 in a bid to appeal to more fans nationwide. As a result, franchises were established in or moved to Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma. In 2006, the D-League is taking an even further westward direction, as in February the Bakersfield Jam announced their entry into the league, being the first team from California. Two months later, the league announced that four teams from the Continental Basketball Association were joining the league: the Dakota Wizards, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Idaho Stampede, and a team originally slated for CBA expansion, the Colorado 14ers.[1][2] A few days after that, the league announced that Anaheim, California, would be getting a team.[3] One week after that, they announced that the Los Angeles Lakers have purchased a team, making them the first NBA team to own a D-League team.[4] The westward expansion and box office struggles have led to the closing of the NBA-owned Roanoke Dazzle[5] and Fayetteville Patriots.[6] The Florida Flame have suspended operations due to arena scheduling difficulties (but hope to return in 2007-08).[7] It appears that league expansion is already underway for the 2007-08 season, as the owners of the Utah Jazz have announced a new expansion team in Orem, Utah to begin play then.[8] Also, teams in Rio Grande Valley [9] and Des Moines, Iowa [10] have been announced to begin play that same season. The league hopes to have at least 16 teams for 2007-08. Many former NBA draftees and waived players participated in the league's inaugural season. Soon, NBA teams began signing successful players from the NBDL. Some of the more successful NBA players who have played in the NBDL/D-League include Rafer Alston, Matt Carroll, Chris Andersen, Devin Brown, Bobby Simmons, Marcus Fizer, Mateen Cleaves, and Smush Parker.

[edit] Special events

The NBADL held its first all-star game February 17, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. As with the NBA's showcase game, a fan vote determined the starting lineup for each team. The East won 114 to 100, with Pops Mensah-Bonsu named the game's MVP.[11]

The league also stages an annual D-League Showcase in which all of the league's teams play each other in a "carnival" format. In 2007, it took place on January 15-17 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

[edit] Player allocations

Players for D-League teams do not sign contracts with the individual teams, but with the league itself. D-League team rosters are a total of 12 players, 10 (or fewer) being D-League players and 2 (or more) NBA players. The rosters are made up in a number of ways - the previous years' players, players taken in the D-League draft, allocation players (meaning players who are assigned to a team with which they have a local connection, such as a University of Texas player being assigned to the Austin Toros), NBA team assignments, and local tryouts. Each NBA team can assign two first or second year players to its affiliated D-League team. Each team's roster has 10 D-League players and two NBA players. If more than two NBA players are assigned to an D-League team, the D-league team must reduce its roster to 12. Each D-League team also has local tryouts and one player from the tryouts is assigned to the team.

NBA teams can call up players as many times as they choose, but a player can only be sent down to the D-League three times in a season.[12]

[edit] 2006-07 NBA Development League Teams and their NBA affiliations

[edit] Eastern Division

[edit] Western Division

[edit] Inactive for 2006-07 season

[edit] Scheduled to begin play in 2007-08 (future local affiliates in parentheses)

[edit] Defunct teams

[edit] Champions

Season Winner Score[13] Runner-up
2001-2002 Greenville Groove 2-0 North Charleston Lowgators
2002-2003 Mobile Revelers 2-1 Fayetteville Patriots
2003-2004 Asheville Altitude 108-106 (OT)[14] Huntsville Flight
2004-2005 Asheville Altitude 90-67[15] Columbus Riverdragons
2005-2006 Albuquerque Thunderbirds 119-108[16] Fort Worth Flyers

[edit] NBA Development League MVPs

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Four teams to leave CBA for NBA Development League", Continental Basketball Association, 2006-04-06. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  2. ^ "NBA Development League Expands To Four Cities", NBA.com, 2006-04-06. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  3. ^ "NBA Development League Expands To Anaheim", NBA.com, 2006-04-11. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  4. ^ Sheridan, Chris. "NBA approves Lakers' ownership of D-League team", ESPN, 2006-04-19. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  5. ^ "D-League Will No Longer Operate Roanoke Dazzle", NBA.com, 2006-05-01. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  6. ^ "D-League Will No Longer Operate In Fayetteville", NBA.com, 2006-05-02. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  7. ^ "12 teams to comprise NBA Development League in 2007-08", oursportscentral.com, 2006-05-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
  8. ^ "Jazz Notes: D-League team expected in Orem", Salt Lake Tribune, 2006-12-01. Retrieved on 2006-12-02.
  9. ^ Associated Press. "NBA Development League to expand to South Texas", Houston Chronicle, 2007-01-26. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  10. ^ Witosky, Tom. "Des Moines set to announce new pro basketball team", Des Moines Register, 2007-02-26. Retrieved on 2007-02-27.
  11. ^ Brennan, Matthew (2007-02-21). Mensah-Bonsu, East Team Come Out On Top. NBA.com. NBA. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  12. ^ Brennan, Matthew. D-League 101: A Beginner’s Guide. NBA.com. NBA. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  13. ^ In the 2001–2001 and 2002–2003 seasons, the Championship was a best of three game series
  14. ^ "Flight can't reach Altitude for NBDL title", USA Today, 2004-04-26. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  15. ^ Asheville 90, Columbus 67: Altitude Repeat as NBDL Champions. NBA.com. NBA (2005-04-23). Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  16. ^ Stevenson, Stefan. "T-Birds get an A-plus, take home a trophy", Albuquerque Tribune, 2006-04-23. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


NBA Development League
East Division: Arkansas RimRockers | Austin Toros | Dakota Wizards | Fort Worth Flyers | Sioux Falls Skyforce | Tulsa 66ers
West Division: Albuquerque Thunderbirds | Anaheim Arsenal | Bakersfield Jam | Colorado 14ers | Idaho Stampede | Los Angeles D-Fenders
Suspended operations: Florida Flame
Expected to begin play in 2007-08: Iowa | Rio Grande Valley | Utah
Defunct/Former Teams: Asheville Altitude | Charleston Lowgators | Columbus Riverdragons | Fayetteville Patriots
Greenville Groove | Huntsville Flight | Mobile Revelers | Roanoke Dazzle
Men's professional basketball leagues
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