NBA G League

NBA G League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2017–18 NBA G League season
Sport Basketball
Founded 2001
Inaugural season 2001–02
President Malcolm Turner
No. of teams 26 (27 in 2018–19)
Country United States
Canada
Continent FIBA Americas (Americas)
Most recent
champion(s)		 Raptors 905 (1st title)
Most titles Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Santa Cruz Warriors
Oklahoma City Blue
(2 titles each)
TV partner(s)
Official website GLeague.NBA.com

The NBA G League is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. The league was known as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) from 2001 to 2005, and the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) from 2005 until 2017.[1] The league started with eight teams until NBA commissioner David Stern announced a plan to expand the NBA D-League to fifteen teams and develop it into a true minor league farm system, with each NBA D-League team affiliated with one or more NBA teams in March 2005. At the conclusion of the 2013–14 NBA season, 33% of NBA players had spent time in the NBA D-League, up from 23% in 2011. As of the 2017–18 season, the league consists of 26 teams, all of which are either single-affiliated or owned by an NBA team.

For the 2017–18 season, the league rebranded to become the NBA G League as part of a multi-year partnership with Gatorade.[1]

History

National Basketball Development League (2001–2005)

The league began its play as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) in the 2001–02 season; the original eight franchises[1][2] were all located in the southeastern United States (specifically in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia).

NBA Development League (2005–2017)

In 2005, the league's name was changed to NBA Development League (NBA D-League)[1] as part of the new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA and a bid to appeal to more fans by showing their connection to the major league.[3] In the same offseason, Southwest Basketball, LLC lead by David Kahn was granted permission by the league to operate four new teams.[4] Southwest Basketball then purchased three existing franchises and one expansion team: the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, Austin Toros, Fort Worth Flyers[5] and the Tulsa 66ers.[6] The Arkansas RimRockers were also added from the ABA for the 2005–06 season. 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.[7] Shortly after, the league announced expansion teams in the Anaheim Arsenal[8] and the Los Angeles D-Fenders. The D-Fenders became the first D-League team to be directly owned by an NBA parent team, the Los Angeles Lakers.[9]

However, the westward expansion contributed to the contraction of the NBA-owned Roanoke Dazzle[10] and Fayetteville Patriots for that season.[11] The Florida Flame suspended operations due to arena scheduling difficulties.[12] After the 2006–07 season, there would be no more teams in the southeastern United States until the 2016 expansion team, the Greensboro Swarm.

After the 2006 to 2009 expansions, the league membership was fairly consistent with only a few relocations and suspensions. In 2009, the Houston Rockets entered into the first single-affiliation partnership, called the hybrid model, with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. This began a wave of NBA and D-League teams entering into single-affiliation agreements of both the hybrid and parent-team owned varieties. With more NBA involvement, the league once again began to expand and spread its footprint.

By 2015, the last multiple-affiliate team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, was purchased by the Indiana Pacers leading to the first season where all D-League teams were affiliated with only one NBA team. As there were no longer any unaffiliated D-League teams left, the remaining NBA teams began purchasing expansion franchises or hybrid partnership teams and placing them near the parent team. In 2015, the Toronto Raptors placed their own team, Raptors 905, in the Greater Toronto Area in Mississauga, Ontario.[13][14] In 2016, the D-League expanded by three more NBA parent club owned teams for the largest D-League expansion since 2007. The Charlotte Hornets created the Greensboro Swarm, the Brooklyn Nets created the Long Island Nets, and the Chicago Bulls created the Windy City Bulls.

NBA G League (2017–present)

Alternate Logo

In the 2017–18 season, the D-League entered into a multi-year partnership with Gatorade and announced it would be rebranded as the NBA Gatorade League.[2] When the league completed the change over to the new branding, it had changed to referring to itself as simply the "NBA G League".[15][16] It also continued its membership changes with the relocation of the Erie BayHawks to Lakeland, Florida, as the Lakeland Magic, a new Erie BayHawks franchise; and expansions in the Agua Caliente Clippers in Ontario, California; the Memphis Hustle in Southaven, Mississippi; and the Wisconsin Herd in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Los Angeles D-Fenders would also re-brand to the South Bay Lakers to reflect the league name change.

Teams

Current teams

Eastern Conference
Division Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coach NBA affiliate Ownership
Atlantic Delaware 87ers Newark, Delaware Bob Carpenter Center 5,100 2007[lower-alpha 1] Eugene Burroughs Philadelphia 76ers Parent club
Erie BayHawks Erie, Pennsylvania Erie Insurance Arena 6,750 2017[lower-alpha 2] Josh Longstaff Atlanta Hawks[17] Parent club
Greensboro Swarm Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse 2,500 2016 Noel Gillespie Charlotte Hornets Parent club
Long Island Nets Uniondale, New York Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,500 2016 Ronald Nored Brooklyn Nets Parent club
Maine Red Claws Portland, Maine Portland Exposition Building 3,100 2009 Boston Celtics Hybrid
Westchester Knicks White Plains, New York Westchester County Center 5,000 2014 Mike Miller New York Knicks Parent club
Central Canton Charge Canton, Ohio Canton Memorial Civic Center 5,200 2001[lower-alpha 3] Nate Reinking Cleveland Cavaliers Parent club
Fort Wayne Mad Ants Fort Wayne, Indiana Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 13,000 2007 Steve Gansey Indiana Pacers Parent club
Grand Rapids Drive Walker, Michigan DeltaPlex Arena 4,500 2006[lower-alpha 4] Rob Werdann Detroit Pistons Hybrid
Raptors 905 Mississauga, Ontario Hershey Centre 5,000 2015 Jerry Stackhouse Toronto Raptors[14] Parent club
Windy City Bulls Hoffman Estates, Illinois Sears Centre 10,000 2016 Nate Loenser Chicago Bulls Parent club
Western Conference
Division Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coach NBA affiliate Ownership
Southwest Austin Spurs Cedar Park, Texas H-E-B Center at Cedar Park 7,200 2001[lower-alpha 5] Blake Ahearn San Antonio Spurs Parent club
Iowa Wolves Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena 16,110 2007 Minnesota Timberwolves Parent club
Oklahoma City Blue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Cox Convention Center 13,846 2001[lower-alpha 6] Mark Daigneault Oklahoma City Thunder Parent club
Rio Grande Valley Vipers Hidalgo, Texas State Farm Arena 5,500 2007 Matt Brase Houston Rockets Hybrid
Sioux Falls Skyforce Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sanford Pentagon 3,250 1989[lower-alpha 7] 2006 Nevada Smith Miami Heat Parent club
Texas Legends Frisco, Texas Dr Pepper Arena 4,500 2006[lower-alpha 8] Bob MacKinnon Jr. Dallas Mavericks Hybrid
Pacific Northern Arizona Suns Prescott Valley, Arizona Prescott Valley Event Center 5,100 2006[lower-alpha 9] Tyrone Ellis Phoenix Suns[18] Parent club
Reno Bighorns Reno, Nevada Reno Events Center 7,000 2008 Darrick Martin Sacramento Kings Parent club
Salt Lake City Stars Taylorsville, Utah Lifetime Activities Center-Bruin Arena 5,000 1997[lower-alpha 10] 2006 Dean Cooper Utah Jazz[19] Parent club
Santa Cruz Warriors Santa Cruz, California Kaiser Permanente Arena 2,505 1995[lower-alpha 11] 2006 Aaron Miles Golden State Warriors Parent club
South Bay Lakers El Segundo, California UCLA Health Training Center 750 2006[lower-alpha 12] Coby Karl Los Angeles Lakers Parent club
Announced future teams
Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joining Head coach NBA affiliate Ownership
Agua Caliente Clippers Ontario, California Citizens Business Bank Arena 10,832 2017 Casey Hill Los Angeles Clippers Parent club
College Park[lower-alpha 2] College Park, Georgia Georgia International Convention Center 3,500 2017[lower-alpha 2] 2019 TBA Atlanta Hawks Parent club
Lakeland Magic[lower-alpha 2] Lakeland, Florida RP Funding Center 8,178 2008 2017 Stan Heath Orlando Magic Parent club
Memphis Hustle Southaven, Mississippi Landers Center 8,362 2017 Glynn Cyprien Memphis Grizzlies Parent club
Washington Washington, D.C. St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena 4,200[20] 2018 TBA Washington Wizards Parent club
Wisconsin Herd Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh Arena 3,500 2017 Jordan Brady Milwaukee Bucks Parent club
  1. ↑ As the Utah Flash.
  2. 1 2 3 4 The original Erie BayHawks, at the time an affiliate of the Orlando Magic, were fully purchased and moved to Lakeland as the Lakeland Magic starting with the 2017 season. However, the Atlanta Hawks began operating their new development franchise in Erie, intending to move it to College Park, Georgia, once a new arena at Georgia International Convention Center is completed.
  3. ↑ As the Huntsville Flight.
  4. ↑ As the Anaheim Arsenal.
  5. ↑ As the Columbus Riverdragons.
  6. ↑ As the Asheville Altitude.
  7. ↑ Played in the Continental Basketball Association and the International Basketball League (1999–2001) before joining the NBA D-League in 2006.
  8. ↑ As the Colorado 14ers.
  9. ↑ As the Bakersfield Jam.
  10. ↑ Played as the Idaho Stampede in the Continental Basketball Association before joining the NBA D-League in 2006.
  11. ↑ As the Dakota Wizards; Played in the International Basketball Association and the Continental Basketball Association before joining the NBA D-League in 2006.
  12. ↑ As the Los Angeles D-Fenders; did not field a team for the 2010–11 season.

Team ownership and NBA affiliations

Ownership models vary across the NBA G League. Growing willingness among NBA organizations to invest in the G League has led to two main models: direct ownership of G League teams by parent NBA clubs and single-affiliate partnerships in which the G League team remains independently owned while the parent club runs and finances basketball operations.

Parent club direct ownership began in 2006 when the Los Angeles Lakers bought their own NBA D-League franchise, originally known as the Los Angeles D-Fenders and since 2017–18 as the South Bay Lakers, followed by the San Antonio Spurs purchasing the Austin Toros in 2007 and the Oklahoma City Thunder purchasing the Tulsa 66ers in 2008. This led to more NBA teams to either purchase existing franchises or create expansion teams in order to have their own single-affiliation teams. In 2011, the Cleveland Cavaliers purchased the New Mexico Thunderbirds to become the Canton Charge and the Golden State Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards. In 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers purchased the inactive Utah Flash and moved them to Newark, Delaware, as the Delaware 87ers. In 2014, the New York Knicks became the seventh team to fully own and operate their own NBA D-League affiliate in the Westchester Knicks.[21] In 2015, the Toronto Raptors created their own expansion franchise, the Raptors 905. In 2017, the Timberwolves purchased the Iowa Energy and renamed the team the Iowa Wolves.[22]

In 2009, the Houston Rockets and Rio Grande Valley Vipers pioneered the single-affiliate partnership, also known as the hybrid model. In November 2010, the New Jersey Nets and Springfield Armor announced they would enter into a single-affiliate partnership that began in 2011–12. In June 2011, the New York Knicks and Erie BayHawks announced they would be singly-affiliated. In May 2012, the Portland Trail Blazers entered into a single-affiliation partnership with the Idaho Stampede. The following month, the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws announced a single-affiliation partnership. In June 2013, the Miami Heat announced that they had entered into a single-affiliated partnership with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. In July 2013, the Sacramento Kings and Reno Bighorns entered into a single-affiliation. The Stampede ended their affiliation with the Trail Blazers after the 2013–14 season and in June 2014 announced their affiliation with the Utah Jazz. The Armor moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, after the 2013–14 season and affiliated with the Detroit Pistons. From 2014 to 2017, the Memphis Grizzlies had a single-affiliation with the Iowa Energy. In 2015, the last multiple affiliate team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, was purchased by the Indiana Pacers making the 2015–16 season the first with all teams having single-affiliations.

In some cases, the hybrid affiliation led to the parent team buying their affiliate's franchise outright. On March 24, 2015, the Utah Jazz purchased their affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, and after one more season in Boise relocated the team to Salt Lake City. On April 11, 2016, the Phoenix Suns purchased their affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam, and announced the immediate relocation of the team to Prescott Valley, Arizona, as the Northern Arizona Suns beginning with the 2016–17 season.[18] On October 20, 2016, the Sacramento Kings bought the majority ownership of their affiliate of the previous eight seasons, the Reno Bighorns.[23] On December 14, 2016, the Magic purchased their affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, with the intention to relocate the team to Lakeland, Florida, in 2017.[24] In 2017, the Miami Heat purchased the controlling interest in the Sioux Falls Skyforce after being its primary affiliate since 2013.

Parent club ownership: Agua Caliente Clippers (by the Los Angeles Clippers), Austin Spurs (by the San Antonio Spurs), Canton Charge (by the Cleveland Cavaliers), Delaware 87ers (by the Philadelphia 76ers), Erie BayHawks (by the Atlanta Hawks), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (by the Indiana Pacers), Greensboro Swarm (by the Charlotte Hornets), Iowa Wolves (by the Minnesota Timberwolves), Lakeland Magic (by the Orlando Magic), Long Island Nets (by the Brooklyn Nets), Memphis Hustle (by the Memphis Grizzlies), Northern Arizona Suns (by the Phoenix Suns), Oklahoma City Blue (by the Oklahoma City Thunder), Raptors 905 (by the Toronto Raptors), Reno Bighorns (by the Sacramento Kings), Salt Lake City Stars (by the Utah Jazz), Santa Cruz Warriors (by the Golden State Warriors), Sioux Falls Skyforce (with the Miami Heat), South Bay Lakers (by the Los Angeles Lakers), Westchester Knicks (by the New York Knicks), the Windy City Bulls (by the Chicago Bulls), and the Wisconsin Herd (by the Milwaukee Bucks).

Single affiliation/hybrid model: Grand Rapids Drive (with the Detroit Pistons), Maine Red Claws (with the Boston Celtics), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (with the Houston Rockets), and the Texas Legends (with the Dallas Mavericks).

NBA teams with announced future affiliation: Washington Wizards (with Washington by parent club ownership in 2018).

NBA teams without an exclusive affiliate: Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland Trail Blazers.

Future expansion teams and locations

Expansion in the league was slow for the first years, but has rapidly increased since the movement towards single-affiliate teams has become the norm.

Confirmed expansion and relocations

On January 6, 2016, the Orlando Magic announced that they had begun the process of bringing an NBA D-League team to Central Florida or Northern Florida and sent RFPs to eight possible homes and venues for the team: Daytona Beach (Ocean Center), Estero (Germain Arena), Fort Myers (Lee County Civic Center), Jacksonville (Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena), Kissimmee (Silver Spurs Arena), Lakeland (Lakeland Center), and two venues in Orlando (HP Field House and CFE Arena). The team would begin to play in the 2017–18 season and would be directly owned and operated by the Magic and would not be a relocation of their then hybrid affiliate, the Erie BayHawks.[25] On June 30, the Magic had narrowed the list down to two cities: Kissimmee and Lakeland.[26] On December 14, 2016, the Magic purchased the BayHawks and will relocate the team to Lakeland for the 2017–18 season.[24]

On November 10, 2016, the Atlanta Hawks announced that they had bought and established a new D-League team that will play in a new arena in nearby College Park beginning with the 2019–20 season.[27] Beginning in 2017–18, the Hawks' G League franchise will play as the Erie BayHawks, following the Magic's purchase of the original franchise, until the arena in College Park is completed.[28]

On January 23, 2017, the Minnesota Timberwolves purchased the majority ownership of the Iowa Energy, which had a hybrid affiliation with the Memphis Grizzlies.[29] That same day, the Memphis Grizzlies announced they would be purchasing a new expansion team based in the Memphis suburb of Southaven, Mississippi, and playing at the Landers Center.[30]

On February 8, 2017, the Milwaukee Bucks announced it will place an expansion franchise in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the 2017–18 season.[31]

In 2015, Doc Rivers, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, had previously mentioned the need for the Clippers to own a NBA Development League team.[32] In April 2017, the Clippers began looking to add D-League affiliate either in nearby Ontario or Bakersfield for the 2017–18 season.[33][34] The Clippers reportedly have settled on the Ontario location and possibly be calling the team the Agua Caliente Clippers.[35][36] On May 15, the expansion team was confirmed.[37]

On September 17, 2015, Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said that the team's planned practice facility, to be located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., would be the full-time home of the WNBA's Washington Mystics. Leonsis also revealed at the time that there is a "serious discussion" about also having a D-League team play at the facility when it opens in 2018.[38] On June 21, 2017, Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld confirmed that the team had acquired the right to own and operate a G League team beginning with the 2018–19 season and that the team would play in the 4,200-seat facility.[39]

Expansion candidate locations

On October 12, 2015, it was announced that Omaha, Nebraska, was pursuing a D-League franchise. Gary Green, the owner of the Omaha Storm Chasers, said the NBA approved the idea of a franchise while also mentioning the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets as possible affiliates. Green said, "We've had talks with the NBA and the guys in the D-League and they absolutely want to have a team in Omaha... We have a deal with the D-League in place, we just gotta find a franchise now." The potential home for an Omaha team could be CenturyLink Center Omaha, Ralston Arena, or Baxter Arena.[40][41]

On January 6, 2016, Rochester, Minnesota, filed paperwork to host the D-League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves to play out of the Mayo Civic Center.[42] However, when the Timberwolves purchased the Iowa Energy, there was no mention of relocating the team.

On April 12, 2016, the former owners of the Bakersfield Jam, after selling the club to the Phoenix Suns, announced that they had been working with the D-League to secure a new franchise and affiliation before the 2016–17 season;[18] however, the owners were not able get a team established prior to the 2016 deadline.[43]

On March 30, 2017, the New Orleans Pelicans announced their intentions to have an owned-and-operated development team by the 2018–19 season located in the Gulf South region.[44] The organization then announced they were looking at 11 different locations: Mobile in Alabama; Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport, St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana; Gulfport-Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi; and Pensacola, Florida.[45] The list was narrowed when the Pelicans' received six proposals their April 25 deadline: Baton Rouge, Jackson, Mobile, Pensacola, Shreveport, and St. Tammany Parish.[46] Mobile and St. Tammany Parish have since been removed from consideration.[47][48]

Defunct / relocated teams

Team City Year(s) Former NBA affiliates Notes
Albuquerque / New Mexico Thunderbirds Albuquerque, New Mexico 2005–2011 Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz Became the Canton Charge
Anaheim Arsenal Anaheim, California 2006–2009 Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers Became the Springfield Armor
Arkansas RimRockers North Little Rock, Arkansas 2004–2007 Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors Suspended by owners
Asheville Altitude Asheville, North Carolina 2001–2005 None Became the Tulsa 66ers
Bakersfield Jam Bakersfield, California 2006–2016 Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz Became the Northern Arizona Suns
(North) Charleston Lowgators Charleston, South Carolina 2001–2004 None Became the Florida Flame
Colorado 14ers Broomfield, Colorado 2006–2009 Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors Became the Texas Legends
Columbus Riverdragons Columbus, Georgia 2001–2005 None Became the Austin Toros
Dakota Wizards Bismarck, North Dakota 2006–2012 Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards Became the Santa Cruz Warriors
Erie BayHawks Erie, Pennsylvania 2008–2017 Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors Became the Lakeland Magic
Fayetteville Patriots Fayetteville, North Carolina 2001–2006 Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks Folded by league
Florida Flame Fort Myers, Florida 2004–2006 Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic Folded by owners
Fort Worth Flyers Fort Worth, Texas 2005–2007 Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers Suspended by owners
Greenville Groove Greenville, South Carolina 2001–2003 None Folded by league
Huntsville Flight Huntsville, Alabama 2001–2005 None Became the Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Idaho Stampede Boise, Idaho 2006–2016 Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz Became the Salt Lake City Stars
Mobile Revelers Mobile, Alabama 2001–2003 None Folded by league
Roanoke Dazzle Roanoke, Virginia 2001–2006 New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards Folded by league
Springfield Armor Springfield, Massachusetts 2009–2014 New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers Became the Grand Rapids Drive
Tulsa 66ers Tulsa, Oklahoma 2005–2014 Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks Became the Oklahoma City Blue
Utah Flash Orem, Utah 2007–2011 Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz Became the Delaware 87ers

Team timeline

Current teams in tan
Former teams or former names in blue
Announced future teams in green

Washington NBA G League team Wisconsin Herd Memphis Hustle College Park NBA Development League team Erie BayHawks (2017–) Agua Caliente Clippers Windy City Bulls Long Island Nets Greensboro Swarm Raptors 905 Westchester Knicks Maine Red Claws Reno Bighorns Lakeland Magic Erie BayHawks (2008–2017) Delaware 87ers Utah Flash Rio Grande Valley Vipers Iowa Wolves Iowa Energy Fort Wayne Mad Ants Sioux Falls Skyforce Salt Lake City Stars Idaho Stampede Santa Cruz Warriors Dakota Wizards Texas Legends Colorado 14ers Northern Arizona Suns Bakersfield Jam South Bay Lakers Los Angeles D-Fenders Grand Rapids Drive Springfield Armor Anaheim Arsenal Arkansas RimRockers Fort Worth Flyers Roanoke Dazzle Mobile Revelers Canton Charge New Mexico Thunderbirds Huntsville Flight Greenville Groove Fayetteville Patriots Austin Spurs Austin Toros Columbus Riverdragons Florida Flame North Charleston Lowgators Oklahoma City Blue Tulsa 66ers Asheville Altitude

Player allocations

With the exception of players under two-way contracts (explained below), players for NBA G League teams do not sign contracts with the individual teams, but with the league itself. G League team rosters consist of a total of 12 players, 10 (or fewer) being G League players and two (or more) NBA players. The rosters are made up in a number of ways: the previous years' players, players taken in the G 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 Spurs), NBA team assignments, and local tryouts.

Each NBA team can assign two first-year or second-year players to its affiliated G League team. If more than two NBA players are assigned to a team, the team must reduce the number of G League players to keep the total roster size to 12. An NBA player will continue to be paid his NBA salary and will continue to be included on his NBA team's roster on the inactive list while playing in the G League.[49] Each team also has local tryouts, and one player from the tryouts is assigned to the team.

The minimum age to play in the G League is 18,[50] 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. The tallest player ever to be assigned was Hasheem Thabeet at 7'3", the second player selected in the 2009 NBA draft. The tallest player to ever play in the G League was England's Paul Sturgess at 7'7", who played with the Texas Legends during the 2013–14 season.

NBA teams can call up players as many times as they choose, and there is no limit to the number of times an NBA player with three years or less experience can be assigned to the G League. Starting in 2011–12, veteran NBA players could be assigned with their consent.[51] The first example of such was with Yi Jianlian, who the Dallas Mavericks assigned to the Texas Legends for two games.

The 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement for the NBA, which took effect with the 2017–18 season, includes changes to G League allocation rules. While most G League players continue to be under contract to the league, each NBA team is allowed to sign two players to two-way contracts with the players still primarily being a part of a team's G League roster, but can freely move to their respective NBA team for up to 45 days in the regular season, as well as be a part of the team's roster before the start of the season (including NBA training camps) and after the conclusion of the G League's regular season (though they are not allowed to be on a team's playoff roster or play in a playoff game).[52] Unlike other G League players, who can be called up by any NBA team, two-way players can only be called up by their contracted NBA team. Players under two-way contracts are not counted against the NBA team's regular roster limit, and can be assigned to a G League affiliate for development while also getting a larger salary whenever they are called up to the parent team. For teams that do not have a one-to-one affiliation with a G League team, a process similar to the "flexible assignment" rule is being used to determine the placement for their own two-way contracts in the G League until every team has their proper affiliation underway. In addition, salaries for two-way players are much higher than those for regular G League players. As of the 2017–18 season, G League players who are not on two-way contracts earn either $19,500 or $26,000 during the league's season.[1] By contrast, two-way players' salaries while in the G League, which are pro-rated according to the number of days the player is with his G League team, are based on an annual salary between $50,000 and $75,000,[53] and while these players are with their NBA team, they will earn a pro-rated portion of the NBA minimum rookie salary (which will be $815,615 in the 2017–18 season).[54]

Draft

The NBA G League Draft occurs each season and is the major source from which teams build their rosters. Team rosters are made up of returning players (players who were on the team during the previous season), allocated players (players who have local significance), and drafted players. The 8 round draft utilizes a "serpentine" format, meaning the order alternates in each round; Team A who selected first in Round 1 will select last in Round 2, while Team B who selected last in Round 1 will get the first pick in Round 2. Round 3 was added in 2014

Successful NBA call-ups

Many former NBA draftees, waived players and undrafted players have played in the NBA D-League. Bobby Simmons and Aaron Brooks are the only former D-League players to win an NBA end-of-season award; both won the Most Improved Player Award with Simmons getting it with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004–05 and Brooks earning it with the Houston Rockets in 2009–10.[55][56]

In the 2008 NBA draft, the Idaho Stampede's Mike Taylor was drafted 55th by the Portland Trail Blazers. He became the first player from the NBA D-League to be drafted by an NBA team. He was subsequently traded and signed a rookie contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.[57] In the 2014 draft, two D-League players were selected for the first time: P. J. Hairston was drafted 26th (which was also the first time a D–League player was drafted in the first round in the NBA) and Thanasis Antetokounmpo was the 51st pick.

Other noteworthy D-League call-ups include Jeremy Lin, 2011 NBA champion JJ Barea and 2017 NBA champion Matt Barnes.[58]

Annual events

All-Star Game

The 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.[59]

The second annual All-Star game was held on February 16, 2008, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The Blue team beat the Red team, 117–99, and Jeremy Richardson was named the MVP. In addition to the NBA D-League All-Star Game, the league debuted its first Dream Factory Friday Night events, which modeled after the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events. The events consists of Three-Point Shootout (won by Adam Harrington), Slam Dunk Contest (won by Brent Petway) and game of H-O-R-S-E (won by Lance Allred).[60]

The 2009 D-League All-Star game was held on February 14, 2009, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Red Team defeated the Blue Team, 113–103, and Blake Ahearn and Courtney Sims were named co-MVPs.[61] Along with the All-Star game, the NBA D-League ran their second annual Dream Factory Friday Night events. H-O-R-S-E, which debuted last year, was won by Will Conroy of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. The Three-Point Shootout was won by Blake Ahearn of the Dakota Wizards, and the Slam Dunk Contest was won by James White of the Bakersfield Jam.[62]

The 2010 D-League All-Star game was held on February 13, 2010, at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas. The Western Conference team defeated the Eastern Conference Team, 98–81. Bakersfield Jam center Brian Butch, who scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, was named as the MVP of the game.[63] The NBA D-League also ran their third annual Dream Factory Friday Night events. The inaugural Shooting Stars Competition was won by a team of Pat Carroll, Trey Gilder and Carlos Powell. The Three-Point Shootout was won by Andre Ingram of the Utah Flash, and the Slam Dunk Contest was won by Dar Tucker of the Los Angeles D-Fenders.[64]

NBA G League Showcase

The league stages an annual NBA G League Showcase in which all of the league's teams play each other in a "carnival" format. The showcase was first played in 2005 was originally intended solely as a scouting event for NBA general managers and scouts, but has evolved into a fan-friendly four-day event in which each team plays two games apiece. Since the inception of the event in 2005, there have been 15 players called-up or recalled during or immediately following the Showcase. The showcase has been hosted in Columbus, Georgia (2005), Fayetteville, North Carolina (2006), Sioux Falls, South Dakota (2007), Boise, Idaho (2008), Orem, Utah (2009), Boise, Idaho (2010), South Padre Island, Texas (2011), Reno, Nevada in 2012 and 2013, Santa Cruz, California in 2015, and Mississauga, Ontario in 2017.

Honors

List of champions

YearChampion
2002 Greenville Groove
2003 Mobile Revelers
2004 Asheville Altitude
2005 Asheville Altitude
2006 Albuquerque Thunderbirds
2007 Dakota Wizards
2008 Idaho Stampede
2009 Colorado 14ers
2010 Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2011 Iowa Energy
2012 Austin Toros
2013 Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2014 Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2015 Santa Cruz Warriors
2016 Sioux Falls Skyforce
2017 Raptors 905

Awards

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 McCann, Michael (February 14, 2017). "The G League: 12 takeaways on NBA's new deal". Sports Illustrated. Time, Inc. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Amick, Sam (February 14, 2017). "NBA Development League to become Gatorade League". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  3. ↑ "NBDL ADOPTS NEW NAME, LOGO, AND BALL". NBA.com. July 19, 2005. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Thunder moving 66ers from Tulsa to Oklahoma City". Tulsa World. July 19, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  5. ↑ "NBADL homepage with relocation announcements". NBADL. August 1, 2005. Archived from the original on August 1, 2005.
  6. ↑ "Tulsa 66ers set for 9th season". Tulsa Today. November 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Four Teams Leaving CBA for NBA D-League". InsideHoops.com. April 6, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  8. ↑ "NBA Development League Expands To Anaheim". NBA.com. April 11, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  9. ↑ Sheridan, Chris (April 19, 2006). "NBA approves Lakers' ownership of D-League team". ESPN. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  10. ↑ "D-League Will No Longer Operate Roanoke Dazzle". NBA.com. May 1, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  11. ↑ "D-League Will No Longer Operate In Fayetteville". NBA.com. May 2, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  12. ↑ "12 teams to comprise NBA Development League in 2007–08". oursportscentral.com. May 8, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  13. ↑ Rogers Digital Media (May 27, 2015). "Leiweke: Raptors D-League team coming to GTA". Sportsnet. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  14. 1 2 "MLSE Purchases NBA D-League Team As League Expands To 19 Teams For 2015-16 Season". Raptors 905. June 29, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ "NBA Continues to Flex Its Muscles With New and Improved G League". CLNSradio. June 21, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Welcome to the NBA G League: Learn About The NBA’s Official Minor League". G League. June 20, 2017.
  17. ↑ Dunlap, Evan (April 15, 2014). "NBA D-League: Orlando Magic to partner with Erie BayHawks, according to report". Orlando Pinstriped Post. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 "Phoenix Suns Buy Bakersfield Jam; Relocate Team to Prescott Valley, Arizona". OurSports Central. April 12, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Stampede-Jazz Affiliation". NBA/Idaho Stampede. June 10, 2014. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Entertain & Sports Arena". St. Elizabeths East. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  21. ↑ "NBA D-League Expands to 18 as Knicks Purchase Team". NBA.com. March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Timberwolves finalize purchase of NBA D-League team Iowa Energy". Fox Sports. May 3, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Sacramento Kings Buy Controlling Interest in NBA Development League's Reno Bighorns". OurSports Central. October 20, 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Orlando Magic Purchase NBA D-League's Erie BayHawks". OurSports Central. December 14, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Orlando Magic officially looking to bring D-League team to Florida". Orlando Magic Daily. January 7, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Kissimmee, Lakeland finalists for Magic's D-League location". Orlando Sentinel. June 30, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Atlanta Hawks buy NBA D-League team that will play in College Park". Atlanta Business Chronicle. November 10, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Atlanta Hawks' NBA D-League Team to Begin Play in 2017". OurSports Central. January 31, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Minnesota Timberwolves to purchase NBA D-League's Iowa Energy". NBA. January 23, 2017.
  30. ↑ Wallace, Michael (January 23, 2017). "Grizzlies bring D-League franchise to Mid-South". Grind City Media (Memphis Grizzlies).
  31. ↑ "Bucks select Oshkosh as home for new Development League team". Milwaukee Business Journal. February 7, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Doc Rivers says the Clippers ‘need’ their own D-League team". foxsports.com. December 17, 2015.
  33. ↑ "LA Clippers eyeing D-League team for 2017-18 season". D-League Digest. April 15, 2017.
  34. ↑ "LA Clippers looking to add D-League affiliate". NBA.com. April 29, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Sources: Clippers to make Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario D-League team". ESPN.com. May 9, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Clippers close to making Ontario D-League team a reality". Los Angeles Daily News. May 10, 2017.
  37. ↑ "L.A. Clippers Purchase NBA Development League Team". NBA D-League. May 15, 2017.
  38. ↑ Dybas, Todd (September 17, 2015). "Wizards' pursuit of a D-League team reaches a 'serious' level with facility plans". The Washington Times. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  39. ↑ Dybas, Todd (June 20, 2017). "Washington Wizards purchase a G League team". The Washington Times. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  40. ↑ Report: MiLB team owner says ‘deal in place’ for D-League expansion in Omaha
  41. ↑ TBL: Storm Chasers owner Gary Green discusses the Mets playoff chances and NBDL news for Omaha
  42. ↑ Will Timberwolves come here for D-League?
  43. ↑ "Bakersfield Jam will not return for 2016-17 NBADL season". The Bakersfield Californian. June 11, 2016.
  44. ↑ "New Orleans Pelicans Announce Intent to Launch Owned-And-Operated NBA Development League Franchise in Gulf South Region". NBA.com. March 30, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Mobile on preliminary list of sites for Pelicans' NBA D League affiliate". AL.com. March 31, 2017.
  46. ↑ "Pelicans narrow list of D-League team sites". Sun Herald. April 25, 2017.
  47. ↑ "Report: St. Tammany Parish decides not to bid to host Pelicans’ D-League team". Sports NOLA. May 16, 2017.
  48. ↑ "Shreveport finalist for NBA g-league team". KSLA. July 12, 2017.
  49. ↑ "CBA Principal Deal Points". NBA. August 4, 2005. Retrieved January 19, 2011. The player will continue to be paid his NBA salary and will continue to be included on his NBA team's roster (on the inactive list) while playing in the NBADL.
  50. ↑ "D-League lowers the age requirement to 18". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
  51. ↑ "NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Seen Giving Boost To NBA Development League". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on December 13, 2011.
  52. ↑ Coon, Larry (June 30, 2017). "82. What is a Two-Way player?". NBA Salary Cap FAQ. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  53. ↑ "2017 NBA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT – PRINCIPAL DEAL POINTS" (PDF). NBA. January 19, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  54. ↑ Coon, Larry (June 30, 2017). "22. What is the minimum salary a player can receive?". NBA Salary Cap FAQ. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  55. ↑ "Simmons Named Most Improved". NBA.com. April 28, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
  56. ↑ "Rockets' Brooks named NBA's most improved player". NBA.com. April 23, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  57. ↑ "Idaho's Mike Taylor Becomes First D-League Player Drafted By An NBA Team". NBA.com. June 26, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
  58. ↑ "Notable Players From NBA's D-League". SI.com. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  59. ↑ Brennan, Matthew (February 21, 2007). "Mensah-Bonsu, East Team Come Out On Top". NBA.com. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
  60. ↑ Wurst, Matt (February 16, 2008). "Stars Work, Play Hard in D-League All-Star Game". NBA.com. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  61. ↑ "Sims And Ahearn Named Co-MVPs As Red Defeats Blue In All-Star Game". NBA.com/DLeague. February 14, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  62. ↑ "James White Soars To NBA D-League Slam Dunk Championship". NBA.com/DLeague. February 13, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  63. ↑ "Brian Butch Captures MVP Honors In 2010 All-Star Game". NBA.com/DLeague. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 13, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  64. ↑ "Haier Shooting Stars Set Record At Dream Factory Friday Night". NBA.com/DLeague. February 12, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
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