NBA Development League

NBA Development League
Sport Basketball
Founded 2001
No. of teams 16
Country(ies) Flag of the United States.svg United States
Most recent
champion(s)
Idaho Stampede
TV partner(s) NBA TV
Official website NBA.com/dleague

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. In 2007-08, the league had 14 teams, with each D-League team being affiliated with 1 or 2 NBA teams. For the 2008-09 season, the league will have 16 teams.

Contents

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 February 2006, the D-League expanded to California for the first time with the addition of the Bakersfield Jam. 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. [7]

Successful NBA call-ups

Many former NBA draftees and waived players have participated in the NBA D-League. Some of the NBA D-League players that have gone on to successful NBA careers include Rafer Alston, Chris Andersen, Kelenna Azubuike, Matt Barnes, Devin Brown, Matt Carroll, Jordan Farmar, Chuck Hayes, Jamario Moon, Mikki Moore, Bobby Simmons, Jose Juan Barea, Ime Udoka, C.J. Watson, Ramon Sessions.

15% of NBA players on end of season 2007-08 rosters had spent time in the NBA Development League at some point in their career.

Special events

The NBA Development League 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.[8]

The second game was on February 16, 2008 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Blue team beat the Red team, 117-99 and Jeremy Richardson was the MVP. In addition to the NBA D-League All-Star Game, the league debuted its DREAM FACTORY FRIDAY NIGHT events - which included a three-point competition, a slam dunk contest and a game of H.O.R.S.E.[9]

The league also stages an annual NBA 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. In 2008, it took place on January 14-17 in Boise, Idaho. In 2009, it will take place January 5-8 in Orem, Utah.

Player allocations

Players for D-League teams do not sign contracts with the individual teams, but with the league itself. D-League team rosters consist of 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. If more than two NBA players are assigned to a team, the team must reduce the number of D-League players to keep the total roster size to 12. Each team also has local tryouts, and one player from the tryouts is assigned to the team. The minimum age to play in the NBDL is 18,[10] unlike the NBA which requires players to be 19 years old and one year out of high school in order to sign an NBA contract or be eligible for the draft.

NBA teams can call up players as many times as they choose, but a player can only be assigned to the NBA D-League three times in a season.[11]

2008-09 NBA Development League teams

[12]

NBA Development League
Central Division
Team City NBA Affiliates
Dakota Wizards Bismarck, ND Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards
Erie BayHawks Erie, PA Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers
Fort Wayne Mad Ants Fort Wayne, IN Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks
Iowa Energy Des Moines, IA Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns
Sioux Falls Skyforce Sioux Falls, SD Charlotte Bobcats, Minnesota Timberwolves
Southwest Division
Team City NBA Affiliates
Albuquerque Thunderbirds Albuquerque, NM Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat
Austin Toros Austin, TX San Antonio Spurs
Colorado 14ers Broomfield, CO Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets
Rio Grande Valley Vipers Hidalgo, TX Houston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets
Tulsa 66ers Tulsa, OK Oklahoma City Thunder
West Division
Team City NBA Affiliates
Anaheim Arsenal Anaheim, CA Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers
Bakersfield Jam Bakersfield, CA Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic
Idaho Stampede Boise, ID Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors
Los Angeles D-Fenders Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Lakers
Reno Bighorns Reno, NV New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings
Utah Flash Orem, UT Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz

Future expansion

The league has targeted the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas for a potential expansion location, for the 2009-10 season.[13] The Toronto Raptors are engaged in discussions to bring a D-League team to Southern Ontario by 2009-10,[14] most likely to Hamilton, but Oshawa remains a possibility.[15]

Two groups are vying for affiliation with the Boston Celtics. The Portland City Council has agreed to lease the Portland Exposition Building to a group of investors that wants to bring an NBA Development League team to Maine's largest city.[16] In addition to this group the Manchester Millrats, of the American Basketball Association, formed with a long-term goal of joining the D-League, have opened preliminary talks with the NBA about a partnership with the Boston Celtics and playing at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.[17] The owner of the Halifax Rainmen is currently pursuing ownership of a D-League team in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[18] Other possibilities in the East for D-League teams include Toledo, Ohio[19]; Harlem, New York; Youngstown, Ohio; Trenton, New Jersey Rockford, Illinois and Sioux City, Iowa .[20]

Inactive teams

Defunct teams

Champions

Season Winner Score Runner-up
2001-2002 Greenville Groove 81-63, 75-68 North Charleston Lowgators
2002-2003 Mobile Revelers 92-82, 71-77, 75-72 Fayetteville Patriots
2003-2004 Asheville Altitude 108-106 (OT)[21] Huntsville Flight
2004-2005 Asheville Altitude 90-67[22] Columbus Riverdragons
2005-2006 Albuquerque Thunderbirds 119-108[23] Fort Worth Flyers
2006-2007 Dakota Wizards 129-121 (OT) Colorado 14ers
2007-2008 Idaho Stampede 89-95, 90-89, 108-101[24] Austin Toros

Note: In the 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 seasons, (and resuming with the 2007-08 season) the championship has been a best-of-three game series.

NBA Development League MVPs

See also

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 (2006-04-19). "NBA approves Lakers' ownership of D-League team", ESPN. 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. Brennan, Matthew (2007-02-21). "Mensah-Bonsu, East Team Come Out On Top". NBA.com. NBA. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  9. Wurst, Matt (2008-02-16). "Stars Work, Play Hard in D-League All-Star Game". NBA.com. NBA. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  10. "D-League lowers the age requirement to 18". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  11. Brennan, Matthew. "D-League 101: A Beginner’s Guide". NBA.com. NBA. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  12. 'Hawks earn spot in D-League's Central Division
  13. Sefko, Eddie (2007-11-29). "Frisco may get new D-League team", The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved on 2007-11-29. 
  14. Smith, Doug (2008-01-15). "D-League coming to T.O.?", The Toronto Star. Retrieved on 2008-01-15. 
  15. Radley, Scott (2008-01-16). "Hey, it ain't the NBA ...", The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
  16. "NBDL team for Portland", Times Argus Online (2008-04-9). Retrieved on 2008-04-15. 
  17. http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=d4103f45-eca4-4545-a703-ca2cee47952c&headline=Millrats+talk+future+with+NBA
  18. Lucus, Chad (2008-03-19). "Sayonara, ABA. Hello, NBDL?", WCSH. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
  19. NBA, Toledo Mud Hens discuss bringing minor-league team to arena
  20. May, Peter (2008-02-03). "A Maine focus in D-League", Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  21. "Flight can't reach Altitude for NBDL title", USA Today (2004-04-26). Retrieved on 2007-03-30. 
  22. "Asheville 90, Columbus 67: Altitude Repeat as NBDL Champions". NBA.com. NBA (2005-04-23). Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  23. Stevenson, Stefan (2006-04-23). "T-Birds get an A-plus, take home a trophy", Albuquerque Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-03-30. 
  24. NBA Development League: Austin at Idaho

External links