NBA D-League

The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001. In March 2005, 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. For the 2010•11 season, the league consists of 16 teams. At the conclusion of the 2008-09 NBA season, 20 percent of NBA players had spent time in the NBA D-League.

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 contributed to the contraction 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 NBA D-League teams remain in the league's original Southeastern footprint. On November 5, 2009, Frisco made history by hiring Nancy Lieberman as head coach, the first female head coach to lead an NBA or NBA D-League team.

On January 4, 2010, the league announced its first national television agreement with Versus. Versus is slated to carry 10 regular season games and 6 playoff games throughout 2010, airing on Saturday nights beginning January 16.

All-Star Game

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 annual All-Star game was held 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 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).^[9]

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.^[10] 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.^[11]

The 2010 D-League All-Star game was held on February 13, 2010, at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. 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.^[12] 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.^[13]

D-League Showcase

The league stages an annual NBA D-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 in 2011.

Draft

The NBA D-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 10 round draft utilizes a "serpentine" format, meaning the order alternates in each round.

Player allocations

Players for NBA 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,^[14] 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 highest player ever to be assigned is Hasheem Thabeet, the second player selected in the 2009 NBA 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.

Successful NBA call-ups

Many former NBA draftees, waived players and undrafted players have played in the NBA D-League. Some of the called-up D-League players that went on to have successful NBA careers include Rafer Alston, Louis Amundson, Chris Andersen, Kelenna Azubuike, Matt Barnes, Devin Brown, Will Bynum, Matt Carroll, Eddie Gill, Stephen Graham, Jason Hart, Chuck Hayes, Anthony Johnson, Dahntay Jones, Jamario Moon, Mikki Moore, Smush Parker, Bobby Simmons, Ime Udoka, Von Wafer, C. J. Watson, and Mike Wilks.^[15] Aside from these players, there are several successful NBA players who were assigned to the D-League in their first and second season, such as José Juan Barea, Brandon Bass, Andray Blatche, Aaron Brooks, Jordan Farmar, Marcin Gortat, Ramon Sessions and Martell Webster.^[16]

In the 2009•10 NBA season, a record of 27 players have been called up for a record 40 times. Several of those players earned a season-long contracts after being key contributors, including Anthony Tolliver, Chris Hunter and Reggie Williams (all Golden State Warriors), Sundiata Gaines (Utah Jazz), Chris Richard (Chicago Bulls), and Mario West (Atlanta Hawks).^[15]

Currently, there are only 11 players with D-League experience who won an NBA title: Tremaine Fowlkes with the Detroit Pistons in 2003•04; Devin Brown and Mike Wilks with the San Antonio Spurs in 2004•05; Earl Barron and Dorell Wright with the Miami Heat in 2005•06; James White with the San Antonio Spurs in 2006-07; Gabe Pruitt with the Boston Celtics in 2007•08; and Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell, Sun Yue and Shannon Brown with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008•09.^[17] Bobby Simmons and Aaron Brooks are the only former D-League players to win an NBA end of season award, taking Most Improved Player award with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004•05(Simmons), and with the Houston Rockets in 2009-2010(Brooks).^[18]

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.^[19]

Thirty-five former NBA D-League players were on the 2006•07 NBA opening day roster. The number increased to 44 players in 2007•08 and then 60 players in 2008•09.^[20][21] In the 2009 NBA Playoffs, an all-time high of 49 players were named to playoff rosters, 17 of whom also spent time in the D-League that season.^[22] In the 2009•10 season, the number of former D-League players on NBA opening day roster increased and reached the all-time high of 63 players.^[16]

As of April 14, 2009, there are 143 call-ups to the NBA, involving 89 players. The franchise with the most call-ups in D-League history is Columbus/Austin (15). They are followed by Asheville Tulsa (14); Fayetteville (11); Colorado (9); Huntsville/Albuquerque, Charleston/Florida, Roanoke and Sioux Falls (8); Iowa (6); Fort Worth and Idaho (5); Dakota, Fort Wayne and Mobile (4); Bakersfield and Los Angeles (3); Rio Grande Valley and Anaheim/Springfield (2) and Arkansas, Erie, Greenville and Utah (1).^[15]

Teams

Current teams

Future expansion and relocation

The Los Angeles D-Fenders are currently inactive for the 2010•2011 season. They are expected to return for the 2011•2012 season with a new venue, possibly in the Southern California.^[23]

The Toronto Raptors are engaged in discussions to bring a D-League team to Southern Ontario,^[24] most likely to Hamilton, but Oshawa remains a possibility.^[25] The Inland Empire, California, region is also being considered as an expansion site.

The Manchester Millrats, of the Premier Basketball League (PBL), formed with a long-term goal of joining the D-League and had opened preliminary talks with the NBA about a partnership with the Boston Celtics and playing at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.^[26] However, with the announcement of the Maine Red Claws as a Celtics affiliate, the future of the Millrats is unclear. ^[27]

The owner of the Halifax Rainmen, also of the PBL, is currently pursuing ownership of a D-League team in Halifax, Nova Scotia.^[28] Other possible locations for D-League teams include Toledo, Ohio;^[29] Harlem, New York; Youngstown, Ohio; Richmond, Virginia; Little Havana, Florida; and Trenton, New Jersey in the East; and Wenatchee, Washington in the West.^[30]

Inactive teams

Defunct teams

League development

Champions

Note: For the 2001•02 and 2002•03 seasons, (and resuming with the 2007•08 season onwards) the championship has been a best-of-three game series.

Awards

Most Valuable Player

• 2001•2002 Ansu Sesay, Greenville Groove
• 2002•2003 Devin Brown, Fayetteville Patriots
• 2003•2004 Tierre Brown, Charleston Lowgators
• 2004•2005 Matt Carroll, Roanoke Dazzle
• 2005•2006 Marcus Fizer, Austin Toros
• 2006•2007 Randy Livingston, Idaho Stampede
• 2007•2008 Kasib Powell, Sioux Falls Skyforce
• 2008•2009 Courtney Sims, Iowa Energy
• 2009•2010 Mike Harris, Rio Grande Valley Vipers

All-Star Game MVP

• 2006•2007 Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Fort Worth Flyers
• 2007•2008 Jeremy Richardson, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
• 2008•2009 Blake Ahearn, Dakota Wizards and Courtney Sims, Iowa Energy
• 2009•2010 Brian Butch, Bakersfield Jam

Rookie of the Year

• 2001•2002 Fred House, North Charleston Lowgators
• 2002•2003 Devin Brown, Fayetteville Patriots
• 2003•2004 Desmond Penigar, Asheville Altitude
• 2004•2005 James Thomas, Roanoke Dazzle
• 2005•2006 Will Bynum, Roanoke Dazzle
• 2006•2007 Louis Amundson, Colorado 14ers
• 2007•2008 Blake Ahearn, Dakota Wizards
• 2008•2009 Othyus Jeffers, Iowa Energy
• 2009•2010 Alonzo Gee, Austin Toros

Defensive Player of the Year

• 2001•2002 Jeff Myers, Greenville Groove
• 2002•2003 Mikki Moore, Roanoke Dazzle
• 2003•2004 Karim Shabazz, Charleston Lowgators
• 2004•2005 Derrick Zimmerman, Columbus Riverdragons
• 2005•2006 Derrick Zimmerman, Austin Toros
• 2006•2007 Renaldo Major, Dakota Wizards
• 2007•2008 Mouhamed Sene, Idaho Stampede, and Stephane Lasme, Los Angeles D-Fenders
• 2008•2009 Brent Petway, Idaho Stampede
• 2009•2010 Greg Stiemsma, Sioux Falls Skyforce

Impact Player of the Year

• 2007•2008 Morris Almond, Utah Flash
• 2008•2009 Eddie Gill, Colorado 14ers
• 2009•2010 Brian Butch, Bakersfield Jam

See also

• NBA Development League Standings
• List of developmental and minor sports leagues

References

1. ^ "Four teams to leave CBA for NBA Development League". Continental Basketball Association. 2006-04-06. http://www.cbahoopsonline.com/news_detail.html?newsid=766. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
2. ^ "NBA Development League Expands To Four Cities". NBA.com. 2006-04-06. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/expansion_060406.html. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
3. ^ "NBA Development League Expands To Anaheim". NBA.com. 2006-04-11. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/anaheim_060411.html. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
4. ^ Sheridan, Chris (2006-04-19). "NBA approves Lakers' ownership of D-League team". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2414330. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
5. ^ "D-League Will No Longer Operate Roanoke Dazzle". NBA.com. 2006-05-01. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/roanoke_060501.html. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
6. ^ "D-League Will No Longer Operate In Fayetteville". NBA.com. 2006-05-02. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/fayetteville_060502.html. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
7. ^ "12 teams to comprise NBA Development League in 2007-08". oursportscentral.com. 2006-05-08. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3307417. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
8. ^ Brennan, Matthew (2007-02-21). "Mensah-Bonsu, East Team Come Out On Top". NBA.com. NBA. http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/dleague_mvp_070217.html. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
9. ^ Wurst, Matt (2008-02-16). "Stars Work, Play Hard in D-League All-Star Game". NBA.com. NBA. http://www.nba.com/dleague/allstar2008/recap.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
10. ^ "Sims And Ahearn Named Co-MVPs As Red Defeats Blue In All-Star Game". NBA.com/DLeague. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 14, 2009. http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20090214/DLBDLR/recap.html. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
11. ^ "James White Soars To NBA D-League Slam Dunk Championship". NBA.com/DLeague. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 13, 2009. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/dream_factory_090213.html. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
12. ^ "Brian Butch Captures MVP Honors In 2010 All-Star Game". NBA.com/DLeague. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 13, 2010. http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20100213/ESTWST/recap.html. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
13. ^ "Haier Shooting Stars Set Record At Dream Factory Friday Night". NBA.com/DLeague. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 12, 2010. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/dream_factory_recap_100212.html. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
14. ^ "D-League lowers the age requirement to 18". ESPN.com. ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2407522. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
15. ^ ^{a b c} "NBA Development League: All-Time Gatorade Call-Ups". NBA.com. 2009-04-14. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/alltimecallups.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
16. ^ ^{a b} "63 Former NBA D-League Players On 2009 Opening Night Rosters". NBA.com. 2009-10-27. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/nba_rosters_2009.html. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
17. ^ "NBA Development League: Former NBA D-Leaguers In The 2009 NBA Finals". NBA.com. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/nba_finals_2009.html. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
18. ^ "Simmons Named Most Improved". NBA.com. 2005-04-28. http://www.nba.com/news/simmons_050428.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
19. ^ "Idaho’s Mike Taylor Becomes First D-League Player Drafted By An NBA Team". NBA.com. 2008-06-26. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/taylor_080627.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
20. ^ "NBA Development League: Former D-Leaguers In The NBA". NBA.com. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/nba_rosters_0708.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
21. ^ "60 Former NBA D-League Players On 2008 NBA Opening Night Rosters". NBA.com. 2008-10-30. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/nba_rosters_081030.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
22. ^ "All-Time High 49 Players With NBA D-League Experience On NBA Playoff Rosters". NBA.com. 2009-04-18. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/playoff_rosters_09.html. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
23. ^ Bresnahan, Mike (May 21, 2010). "D-Fenders, Lakers' minor league affiliate, will take one-year hiatus". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/21/sports/la-sp-defenders-20100522. Retrieved July 6, 2010. |
24. ^ Smith, Doug (2008-01-15). "D-League coming to T.O.?". The Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/article/293974. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
25. ^ Radley, Scott (2008-01-16). "Hey, it ain't the NBA ...". The Hamilton Spectator. http://www.thespec.com/article/310148. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
26. ^ http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=d4103f45-eca4-4545-a703-ca2cee47952c&headline=Millrats+talk+future+with+NBA
27. ^ http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=265252&ac=PHspt
28. ^ Lucus, Chad (2008-03-19). "Sayonara, ABA. Hello, NBDL?". WCSH. http://thechronicleherald.ca/hullo/read/18/15832/15832#msg-15832. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
29. ^ NBA, Toledo Mud Hens discuss bringing minor-league team to arena
30. ^ May, Peter (2008-02-03). "A Maine focus in D-League". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/03/bumps_didnt_derail_celtics/?page=4. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
31. ^ "Flight can't reach Altitude for NBDL title". USA Today. 2004-04-26. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nbdl/2004-04-26-altitude-flight-title-game_x.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
32. ^ "Asheville 90, Columbus 67: Altitude Repeat as NBDL Champions". NBA.com. NBA. 2005-04-23. http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20050423/ASHCOL/recap.html. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
33. ^ Stevenson, Stefan (2006-04-23). "T-Birds get an A-plus, take home a trophy". Albuquerque Tribune. http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2006/apr/23/t-birds-get-an-a-plus-take-home-a-trophy/. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
34. ^ NBA Development League: Austin at Idaho
35. ^ NBA Development League: Utah at Colorado
36. ^ NBA Development League: Tulsa at Rio Grande Valley

External links

• The Official Site of the NBA D-League
• D-League - Basketball-Reference.com
• DraftExpress.com D-League Blog
• NBA D-League on Twitter
• NBA D-League on Facebook
• NBA D-League on Flickr
• NBA D-League on YouTube
• NBA D-League on Tumblr

Categories: NBA Development League | Basketball leagues