NBA Development League

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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.

1 History
2 Successful NBA call-ups
3 Special events
4 Player allocations
5 2008-09 NBA Development League teams
6 Future expansion
7 Inactive teams
8 Defunct teams
9 Champions
10 NBA Development League MVPs
11 See also
12 References
13 External links

History Edit

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] Today, no D-League teams remain in the NBDL's original Southeastern footprint.

Successful NBA call-ups Edit

Many former NBA draftees, waived players and undrafted players have played 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, Brandon Bass, Andray Blatche, Devin Brown, Matt Carroll, Jordan Farmar, Chuck Hayes, Anthony Johnson, C.J. Miles, Jamario Moon, Mikki Moore, Bobby Simmons, Jose Juan Barea, Ime Udoka, C.J. Watson, Martell Webster.

Currently, there are only 2 players with D-League experience who won an NBA title, Devin Brown with San Antonio Spurs in 2004-05 season and Gabe Pruitt with Boston Celtics in 2007-08 season.

In 2008 NBA Draft, Portland Trail Blazers drafted Mike Taylor from Idaho Stampede. 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 Los Angeles Clippers.^[8]

35 former NBA D-League players were on the 2006-07 NBA opening day roster. The number increased into 44 players on 2007-08 and then 60 players on 2008-09 NBA season.^[9]

Special eventsEdit

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.^[10]

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.^[11]

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 Edit

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,^[12] 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.^[13]

2008-09 NBA Development League teamsEdit

^[14]

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 Edit

The league has targeted the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas for a potential expansion location, for the 2009-10 season.^[15] The Toronto Raptors are engaged in discussions to bring a D-League team to Southern Ontario by 2009-10,^[16] most likely to Hamilton, but Oshawa remains a possibility.^[17] Palm Springs, California is also being considered as an expansion site.

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.^[18] 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.^[19] The owner of the Halifax Rainmen is currently pursuing ownership of a D-League team in Halifax, Nova Scotia.^[20] Other possibilities in the East for D-League teams include Toledo, Ohio^[21]; Harlem, New York; Youngstown, Ohio; and Trenton, New Jersey.^[22]

Inactive teamsEdit

Team	City	Active Year(s)	NBA Affiliates
Arkansas RimRockers	Little Rock, Arkansas	2004-2007	Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat
Florida Flame	Fort Myers, Florida	2001-2006	Miami Heat (“local” affiliate), Orlando Magic ("local" affiliate), Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
Fort Worth Flyers	Fort Worth, Texas	2005-2007	Dallas Mavericks ("local" affiliate), Charlotte Bobcats, Philadelphia 76ers

Defunct teamsEdit

Team	City	Active Year(s)	NBA Affiliates	Notes
Asheville Altitude	Asheville, North Carolina	2001-2005	N/A	moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
(North) Charleston Lowgators	Charleston, South Carolina	2001-2004	Miami Heat (“local” affiliate), Orlando Magic ("local" affiliate), Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics,	moved to South Fort Myers, Florida
Columbus Riverdragons	Columbus, Georgia	2001-2005	San Antonio Spurs	moved to Austin, Texas
Fayetteville Patriots	Fayetteville, North Carolina	2001-2006	Charlotte Bobcats ("local" affiliate), Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks	Folded by league
Greenville Groove	Greenville, South Carolina	2001-2003	None	Folded by league
Huntsville Flight	Huntsville, Alabama	2001-2005	Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat	moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico
Mobile Revelers	Mobile, Alabama	2001-2003	None	Folded by league
Roanoke Dazzle	Roanoke, Virginia	2001-2006	Washington Wizards ("local" affiliate), Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets	Folded by league

ChampionsEdit

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)^[23]	Huntsville Flight
2004-2005	Asheville Altitude	90-67^[24]	Columbus Riverdragons
2005-2006	Albuquerque Thunderbirds	119-108^[25]	Fort Worth Flyers
2006-2007	Dakota Wizards	129-121 (OT)	Colorado 14ers
2007-2008	Idaho Stampede	89-95, 90-89, 108-101^[26]	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.