Jump to content

NBA G League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Vjmlhds (talk | contribs) at 03:34, 28 November 2022 (use the number once it hits double digits). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"D-League" redirects here. For the Philippine Basketball Association's D-League, see PBA Developmental League.

NBA G League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2022–23 NBA G League season
FormerlyNBA D-League
SportBasketball
Founded2001
First season2001–02
PresidentShareef Abdur-Rahim
No. of teams30
CountriesUnited States (28 teams)
Canada (1 team)
Mexico (1 team)
ContinentsNorth America
Most recent
champion(s)		Rio Grande Valley Vipers
(4 titles)
Most titlesRio Grande Valley Vipers
(4 titles)
TV partner(s)
Sponsor(s)Gatorade
Official websiteGLeague.NBA.com

The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 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 15 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 2020–21 season, the league consists of 30 teams, 28 of which are either single-affiliated or owned by an NBA team, along with the NBA G League Ignite exhibition team.

In the 2017–18 season, Gatorade became the title sponsor of the D-League, and it was renamed the NBA G League.[2][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][3] 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.[4] In the same offseason, Southwest Basketball, LLC led by David Kahn was granted permission by the league to operate four new teams.[5] Southwest Basketball then purchased three existing franchises and one expansion team: the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, Austin Toros, Fort Worth Flyers[6] and the Tulsa 66ers.[7] 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.[8] Shortly after, the league announced expansion teams in the Anaheim Arsenal[9] 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.[10]

However, the westward expansion contributed to the contraction of the NBA-owned Roanoke Dazzle[11] and Fayetteville Patriots for that season.[12] The Florida Flame suspended operations due to arena scheduling difficulties.[13] 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.[14][15] 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)

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][3] which was officially shortened to "NBA G League" prior to the season.[16][17] 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 (now known as the Ontario Clippers); 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.

In December 2017, the NBA and the live streaming website Twitch announced that they would broadcast G League games on Twitch.[18] Games have also been aired on the ESPN Plus subscription service.

For the 2019–20 season, the G League will begin to offer select contracts to players that are not yet eligible to enter the NBA Draft.[19] Since 2006, players that are not at least nineteen years old by the end of the calendar year have been ineligible, creating what became known as the "one-and-done" rule where players joined a college basketball team for one season and would then leave for the NBA.[20] The new select contract is to be an alternative for players who do not want to or cannot attend a college, worth up to $125,000 for a season.[21] The league launched its prospects team, the NBA G League Ignite, in 2020.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic-curtailed 2019–20 season, the G League postponed the start of the following season. In January 2021, the league announced it would play all games at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, using the same isolation bubble as the 2020 NBA Bubble. Many teams opted out of participation, with 17 of the 28 teams from the 2019–20 season plus the new Ignite prospects team choosing to take part in the abbreviated bubble season beginning in February 2021.[22]

Teams

class=notpageimage|
Base locations of teams in the NBA G League. Colors represent conference alignment as of the 2022–23 season. Does not include Capitanes de Ciudad de México.

Current teams

Team City Pod Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coach NBA affiliate
Eastern Conference
Capital City Go-Go Washington, D.C. East Entertainment and Sports Arena 4,200[23] 2018 Mike Williams Washington Wizards
Cleveland Charge Cleveland, Ohio Central Wolstein Center 8,500[a] 2001[b] Mike Gerrity Cleveland Cavaliers
College Park Skyhawks[c] College Park, Georgia East Gateway Center Arena 3,500 2017[c] Steve Gansey Atlanta Hawks[24]
Delaware Blue Coats Wilmington, Delaware East Chase Fieldhouse 2,500 2007[d] Coby Karl Philadelphia 76ers
Fort Wayne Mad Ants Fort Wayne, Indiana Central Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 13,000 2007 Tom Hankins Indiana Pacers
Grand Rapids Gold Grand Rapids, Michigan Central Van Andel Arena 11,500 2006[e] Andre Miller Denver Nuggets
Greensboro Swarm Greensboro, North Carolina South Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse 2,500 2016 Jordan Surenkamp Charlotte Hornets
Lakeland Magic[c] Lakeland, Florida South RP Funding Center 8,178 2008 Joe Barrer Orlando Magic
Long Island Nets Uniondale, New York East Nassau Coliseum 13,500 2016 Ronnie Burrell Brooklyn Nets
Maine Celtics Portland, Maine East Portland Exposition Building 3,100 2009 Alex Barlow Boston Celtics
Motor City Cruise Detroit, Michigan Central Wayne State Fieldhouse 3,000 2003[f] 2006 DJ Bakker Detroit Pistons
Raptors 905 Mississauga, Ontario East Paramount Fine Foods Centre 5,000 2015 Eric Khoury Toronto Raptors[15]
Westchester Knicks White Plains, New York
Bridgeport, Connecticut[g]		 East Westchester County Center
Total Mortgage Arena[g]		 5,000
9,000		 2014 Derrick Alston New York Knicks
Windy City Bulls Hoffman Estates, Illinois Central Now Arena 10,000 2016 Henry Domercant Chicago Bulls
Wisconsin Herd Oshkosh, Wisconsin Central Oshkosh Arena 3,500 2017 Chaisson Allen Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference
Austin Spurs Cedar Park, Texas South H-E-B Center at Cedar Park 7,200 2001[h] Petar Božić San Antonio Spurs
Birmingham Squadron[c] Birmingham, Alabama South Legacy Arena 17,654 2019[i] TJ Saint New Orleans Pelicans
Capitanes de Ciudad de México Mexico City, Mexico South Mexico City Arena 22,300 2017 2021 Ramón Díaz Sánchez None
Iowa Wolves Des Moines, Iowa Central Wells Fargo Arena 16,110 2007 Jeff Newton Minnesota Timberwolves
Memphis Hustle Southaven, Mississippi South Landers Center 8,362 2017 Jason March Memphis Grizzlies
NBA G League Ignite Henderson, Nevada West Dollar Loan Center 5,567 2020 Jason Hart None
Oklahoma City Blue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma West Paycom Center 18,203 2001[j] Kameron Woods Oklahoma City Thunder
Ontario Clippers Ontario, California West Toyota Arena 10,832 2017 Paul Hewitt Los Angeles Clippers
Rio Grande Valley Vipers Edinburg, Texas South Bert Ogden Arena 9,000 2007 Kevin Burleson Houston Rockets
Salt Lake City Stars West Valley City, Utah West Maverik Center 12,500 1997[k] 2006 Scott Morrison Utah Jazz[25]
Santa Cruz Warriors Santa Cruz, California West Kaiser Permanente Arena 2,505 1995[l] 2006 Seth Cooper Golden State Warriors
Sioux Falls Skyforce Sioux Falls, South Dakota Central Sanford Pentagon 3,250 1989[m] 2006 Kasib Powell Miami Heat
South Bay Lakers El Segundo, California West UCLA Health Training Center 750 2006[n] Miles Simon Los Angeles Lakers
Stockton Kings Stockton, California West Stockton Arena 11,193 2008[o] Bobby Jackson Sacramento Kings
Texas Legends Frisco, Texas South Comerica Center 4,500 2006[p] George Galanopoulos Dallas Mavericks
  1. ^ The Wolstein Center has a full basketball capacity of 13,610 seats
  2. ^ As the Huntsville Flight.
  3. ^ a b c d 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. The Atlanta Hawks began operating their new development franchise in Erie in 2017, before moving it to College Park, Georgia, when their new arena at Georgia International Convention Center was completed in 2019. A third franchise began using the BayHawks' name with a new franchise owned by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 until their renovated arena in Birmingham was completed in 2021.
  4. ^ As the Utah Flash.
  5. ^ As the Anaheim Arsenal.
  6. ^ As the Long Beach Jam in the American Basketball Association. Joined the D-League as the Bakersfield Jam in 2006.
  7. ^ a b Temporary home location due to arena closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  8. ^ As the Columbus Riverdragons.
  9. ^ The New Orleans Pelicans purchased an expansion team that began play as the Erie BayHawks in the 2019–20 season with intentions of moving to Birmingham, Alabama, for the 2021–22 season
  10. ^ As the Asheville Altitude.
  11. ^ Played as the Idaho Stampede in the Continental Basketball Association before joining the NBA D-League in 2006.
  12. ^ As the Dakota Wizards; Played in the International Basketball Association and the Continental Basketball Association before joining the NBA D-League in 2006.
  13. ^ Played in the Continental Basketball Association and the International Basketball League (1999–2001) before joining the NBA D-League in 2006.
  14. ^ As the Los Angeles D-Fenders; did not field a team for the 2010–11 season.
  15. ^ As the Reno Bighorns.
  16. ^ As the Colorado 14ers.

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. This was followed by the San Antonio Spurs purchasing the Austin Toros (now the Austin Spurs) in 2007, and the Oklahoma City Thunder purchasing the Tulsa 66ers (now the Oklahoma City Blue) 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, with the Warriors moving the Wizards a year later to become the Santa Cruz Warriors. In 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers purchased the inactive Utah Flash and moved them to Newark, Delaware as the Delaware 87ers (now the Delaware Blue Coats, and playing in that state's largest city of Wilmington). 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.[26] 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.[27]

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 (now the Stockton Kings) 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.[28] In 2021, the team relocated to Detroit after being purchased by the Pistons, becoming the Motor City Cruise. On October 20, 2016, the Sacramento Kings bought the majority ownership of their affiliate of the previous eight seasons, the Reno Bighorns,[29] and would eventually move the team to Stockton, California as the Stockton Kings after the 2017–18 G League season.[30] On December 14, 2016, the Magic purchased their affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, with the intention to relocate the team to Lakeland, Florida, in 2017.[31] In 2017, the Miami Heat purchased the controlling interest in the Sioux Falls Skyforce after being its primary affiliate since 2013. In July 2019, the Boston Celtics acquired its affiliate, Maine Red Claws.

Parent club ownership:

Single affiliation/hybrid model:

NBA teams without an exclusive affiliate:

G League teams without an exclusive affiliate:

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 October 24, 2018, the Pelicans announced plans to place their G League team in Birmingham, Alabama, to play in Legacy Arena located in the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex by 2021 or 2022. As the arena needed to be renovated, the Pelicans' affiliate began play the 2019–20 season as the Erie BayHawks after the Atlanta Hawks' affiliate moved to College Park.[32][33] The team was confirmed to relocate for the 2021–22 season and the BayHawks ceased operations following the 2020–21 season when it could not obtain a fourth franchise and NBA partner.

On December 7, 2017, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that he was looking into having a G League expansion team in Mexico City potentially as early as 2018.[34] In September 2019, Raúl Zárraga of NBA Mexico stated that the league is working on adding a team in Mexico for the 2020–21 season.[35] On December 12, 2019, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that current Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional team, Capitanes de Ciudad de México will be joining the G League in the 2020–21 season on a five-year agreement.[36] During the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, a normal 2020–21 season did not occur and the Capitanes were not mentioned as members for the G League's 2021 season.[22] They announced they still plan on joining in 2021–22.[37] It would be the NBA's first official team in Mexico after testing the market with exhibition and regular season games in the city.[38]

On July 29, 2020, the Detroit Pistons announced that they had purchased the Northern Arizona Suns from the Phoenix Suns and will move the team to Detroit to play in the new Wayne State Arena for the 2021–22 season as the Motor City Cruise.[39]

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
Canton Charge Canton, Ohio 2011–2021 Cleveland Cavaliers Became the Cleveland Charge
(North) Charleston Lowgators Charleston, South Carolina 2001–2004 None Became the Florida Flame
Colorado 14ers Broomfield, Colorado 2006–2009 Chicago Bulls, 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
Erie BayHawks Erie, Pennsylvania 2017–2019 Atlanta Hawks Became the College Park Skyhawks
Erie BayHawks Erie, Pennsylvania 2019–2021 New Orleans Pelicans Became the Birmingham Squadron
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
Northern Arizona Suns Prescott Valley, Arizona 2016–2021 Phoenix Suns Became the Motor City Cruise
Reno Bighorns Reno, Nevada 2008–2018 Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz Became the Stockton Kings
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 Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Seattle SuperSonics Became the Oklahoma City Blue
Utah Flash Orem, Utah 2007–2011 Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz Became the Delaware 87ers

Team timeline

  • Tan = Current teams
  • Blue = Former teams or former names
  • Green = Announced future teams
Capitanes de Ciudad de MéxicoBirmingham SquadronErie BayHawks (2019–)Capital City Go-GoWisconsin HerdMemphis HustleCollege Park SkyhawksErie BayHawks (2017–2019)Agua Caliente ClippersWindy City BullsLong Island NetsGreensboro SwarmRaptors 905Westchester KnicksMaine CelticsMaine Red ClawsStockton KingsReno BighornsLakeland MagicErie BayHawks (2008–2017)Delaware Blue CoatsDelaware 87ersUtah FlashRio Grande Valley VipersIowa WolvesIowa EnergyFort Wayne Mad AntsSioux Falls SkyforceSalt Lake City StarsIdaho StampedeSanta Cruz WarriorsDakota WizardsTexas LegendsColorado 14ersMotor City CruiseNorthern Arizona SunsBakersfield JamSouth Bay LakersLos Angeles D-FendersGrand Rapids GoldGrand Rapids DriveSpringfield ArmorAnaheim ArsenalArkansas RimRockersFort Worth FlyersRoanoke DazzleMobile RevelersCleveland ChargeCanton ChargeNew Mexico ThunderbirdsHuntsville FlightGreenville GrooveFayetteville PatriotsAustin SpursAustin TorosColumbus RiverdragonsFlorida FlameNorth Charleston LowgatorsOklahoma City BlueTulsa 66ersAsheville Altitude

Player allocations

NBA G League players generally 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) and NBA team assignments. 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,[40] 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 base annual salary is US$35,000 plus housing and insurance benefits. Players who are called up for NBA get bonuses totalling up to US$50,000.[41]

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 7'8", who played with the Texas Legends during the 2013–14 season.

Draft

See also: List of first overall NBA G League draft picks

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), players waived by an NBA team who are designated as an affiliate player to their respective G League affiliate, 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,

The league holds an annual Player Invitational, where prospects hope to earn eligibility for the upcoming draft.[42]

Draft rights player rule

Since 2014–15, an NBA team that declines to sign an NBA draft pick can have them sign directly with their G League affiliate. Previously, an unsigned NBA pick could not be protected by the organization's G League affiliate, and the player might have ended up on the G League team of another organization.[43]

Affiliate players

Players waived by an NBA team during training camp and up until the start of the regular season can be designated as affiliate players and allocated to the NBA team's G League affiliate. Each team is allowed four affiliate players. These are players that an NBA team is interested in developing in their own system. The affiliate players, however, still remain as free agents that any NBA team can sign.[44]

Assignment

Standard assignment

Each NBA team can assign two first-year or second-year players who are under a standard NBA contract 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.[45]

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.[46] The first example of such was with Yi Jianlian, who the Dallas Mavericks assigned to the Texas Legends for two games.

Two-way contract

The 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement for the NBA, which took effect with the 2017–18 season, included changes allowing each NBA team to sign two players on two-way contracts. Those players spend most of their time on the 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).[47] Only players with four or less years of NBA experience are eligible for two-way contracts.[48]

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,[49] and while these players are with their NBA team, they will earn a pro-rated portion of the NBA minimum rookie salary (which was $815,615 in the 2017–18 season).[50]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way players in 2020–21 were initially allowed to play up to 50 games in the NBA.[51] Late in the season, restrictions were further lifted, allowing them to play more than 50 games as well as being eligible for the NBA playoffs.[52][53]

Successful NBA call-ups

Many former NBA draftees, waived players and undrafted players have played in the NBA D-League. Bobby Simmons, Aaron Brooks, and Pascal Siakam are the only former D-League players to win an NBA end-of-season award; all won the Most Improved Player Award with Simmons getting it with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004–05, Brooks earning it with the Houston Rockets in 2009–10 and Siakam receiving it with the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-19 NBA season.[54][55] Khris Middleton became the first former D-League player to be named an NBA All-Star when he was selected to participate in the 2019 All-Star Game.[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 2019 NBA Champion Jeremy Lin; Hassan Whiteside; 2011 NBA champion J. J. Barea; 2014, 2019 and 2020 NBA champion Danny Green; 2015, 2017 and 2018 NBA champion Shaun Livingston; and 2017 NBA champion Matt Barnes.[58][59]

Annual events

All-Star Game

Main article: NBA Development League 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.[60]

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).[61]

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.[62] Along with the All-Star game, the NBA D-League ran their second annual Dream Factory Friday Night events. H-O-R-S-E 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.[63]

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.[64] 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.[65]

The game continued until 2017, with games continuing to be held during NBA All-Star Weekend at the same site. In 2018, it was replaced by a game between G League all-stars and the Mexican national team held in Los Angeles. After that, this contest did not return in any form.

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 evolved into a four-day event in which each team plays two games apiece. From 2005 to 2017, 15 players were called-up or recalled during or immediately following the Showcase.

As of 2019, the event's location was the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Because of limited space at the conference center site, all games are played without spectators, although TV and Internet coverage is available for all games. The 2019 showcase was a series of mini-tournaments in which the winning team shared a $100,000 grand prize.

Before Las Vegas, host cities were 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 and 2018. It was not held in 2016.

NBA G League International Challenge

Main article: NBA G League International Challenge

Honors

List of champions

Main article: List of NBA G League champions
Year Champion NBA affiliate(s)
2002 Greenville Groove None
2003 Mobile Revelers None
2004 Asheville Altitude None
2005 Asheville Altitude None
2006 Albuquerque Thunderbirds Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics and Utah Jazz
2007 Dakota Wizards Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards
2008 Idaho Stampede Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics
2009 Colorado 14ers Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets
2010 Rio Grande Valley Vipers Houston Rockets
2011 Iowa Energy Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns
2012 Austin Toros San Antonio Spurs
2013 Rio Grande Valley Vipers Houston Rockets
2014 Fort Wayne Mad Ants Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks
2015 Santa Cruz Warriors Golden State Warriors
2016 Sioux Falls Skyforce Miami Heat
2017 Raptors 905 Toronto Raptors
2018 Austin Spurs San Antonio Spurs
2019 Rio Grande Valley Vipers Houston Rockets
2020 None[a]
2021 Lakeland Magic Orlando Magic
2022 Rio Grande Valley Vipers Houston Rockets
  1. ^ The season was terminated because of the pandemic. The Wisconsin Herd had the best record in the league at the time of season termination.

Awards

Main article: List of NBA G League awards

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e McCann, Michael (February 14, 2017). "The G League: 12 takeaways on NBA's new deal". Sports Illustrated. Time, Inc. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "NBA Development League to Become NBA Gatorade League" (Press release). NBA Media Ventures, LLC. February 14, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Amick, Sam (February 14, 2017). "NBA Development League to become Gatorade League". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  4. ^ "NBDL ADOPTS NEW NAME, LOGO, AND BALL". NBA.com. July 19, 2005. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  5. ^ "Thunder moving 66ers from Tulsa to Oklahoma City". Tulsa World. July 19, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  6. ^ "NBADL homepage with relocation announcements". NBADL. August 1, 2005. Archived from the original on August 1, 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ "Tulsa 66ers set for 9th season". Tulsa Today. November 1, 2013.
  8. ^ "Four Teams Leaving CBA for NBA D-League". InsideHoops.com. April 6, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  9. ^ "NBA Development League Expands To Anaheim". NBA.com. April 11, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  10. ^ Sheridan, Chris (April 19, 2006). "NBA approves Lakers' ownership of D-League team". ESPN. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  11. ^ "D-League Will No Longer Operate Roanoke Dazzle". NBA.com. May 1, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  12. ^ "D-League Will No Longer Operate In Fayetteville". NBA.com. May 2, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  13. ^ "12 teams to comprise NBA Development League in 2007–08". oursportscentral.com. May 8, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  14. ^ Rogers Digital Media (May 27, 2015). "Leiweke: Raptors D-League team coming to GTA". Sportsnet. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "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.
  16. ^ Kotloff, Brian (June 20, 2017). "Welcome to the NBA G League: Learn About The NBA's Official Minor League". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "NBA Continues to Flex Its Muscles With New and Improved G League". CLNSradio. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  18. ^ Wolf, Jacob (December 13, 2017). "NBA to broadcast G League games on Twitch". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  19. ^ "NBA G League Introduces Professional Path for Elite Basketball Prospects". OurSportsCentral.com. October 18, 2018.
  20. ^ Medcalf, Myron (July 26, 2012). "Roots of one-and-done rule run deep". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014.
  21. ^ "NBA's G League to offer top prospects $125K contracts as an option to a 'one-and-done' season in college basketball". CBS Sports. October 18, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "NBA G League To Begin Play at Disney In February". NBA G League. January 8, 2021.
  23. ^ "Entertain & Sports Arena". St. Elizabeths East. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Robbins, Jesse (March 24, 2015). "Utah Jazz Purchase the Idaho Stampede". SaltLakeCity.GLeague.NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  26. ^ "NBA D-League Expands to 18 as Knicks Purchase Team". NBA.com. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  27. ^ "Timberwolves finalize purchase of NBA D-League team Iowa Energy". Fox Sports. May 3, 2017.
  28. ^ "Phoenix Suns Buy Bakersfield Jam; Relocate Team to Prescott Valley, Arizona". OurSports Central. April 12, 2016.
  29. ^ "Sacramento Kings Buy Controlling Interest in NBA Development League's Reno Bighorns". OurSports Central. October 20, 2016.
  30. ^ "Sacramento Kings NBA G League Franchise Reveals Identity As Stockton Kings" (Press release). NBA G League. April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  31. ^ "Orlando Magic Purchase NBA D-League's Erie BayHawks". OurSports Central. December 14, 2016.
  32. ^ "New Orleans Pelicans set to announce G-League affiliate in Birmingham". The Times-Picayune. October 23, 2018.
  33. ^ "Pelicans to bring NBA G League team to Birmingham by 2022". wvtm13.com. October 23, 2018.
  34. ^ "N.B.A. Plans to Put a Minor-League Team in Mexico City". The New York Times. December 7, 2017.
  35. ^ Arnon de Mello: “Queremos el próximo año equipo de G-League en México” - Carlos Herrera Luyando, NBA México, 19 September 2019
  36. ^ "NBA G League Expands to Mexico City in Landmark Partnership with Capitanes". NBA G League. December 12, 2019.
  37. ^ "NBA G-LEAGUE ANUNCIA EL INICIO DE SU TEMPORADA 2021 CAPITANES DEBUTARÁ EN LA SIGUIENTE TEMPORADA(2021-2022)". Capitanes. January 8, 2021.
  38. ^ "NBA will establish G-League team in Mexico City as soon as next season, per report". SB Nation. December 7, 2017.
  39. ^ "Detroit Pistons Purchase Northern Arizona Suns From Phoenix Suns". Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  40. ^ "D-League lowers the age requirement to 18". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
  41. ^ Big Pay Raises Coming for G League Players - Marc Stein, The New York Times, April 17, 2018
  42. ^ Lester, Justin (August 13, 2017). "Social Roundup: NBA G League Player Invitational in Chicago". gleague.nba.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017.
  43. ^ "NBA G League 101: NBA Draft Rights Players". GLeague.NBA.com. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  44. ^ "NBA G League 101: Affiliate Players". gleague.nba.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017.
  45. ^ "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.
  46. ^ "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 February 27, 2012.
  47. ^ Coon, Larry (June 30, 2017). "82. What is a Two-Way player?". NBA Salary Cap FAQ. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  48. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions: NBA G League". gleague.nba.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017.
  49. ^ "2017 NBA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT – PRINCIPAL DEAL POINTS" (PDF). NBA. January 19, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  50. ^ Coon, Larry (June 30, 2017). "22. What is the minimum salary a player can receive?". NBA Salary Cap FAQ. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  51. ^ Taylor, Cody (January 15, 2021). "NBA discussing the possibility of adding extra roster spot for teams". USA Today. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  52. ^ "Report: NBA officially eliminates game limit for two-way players". Sportsnet.ca. March 11, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  53. ^ Goldberg, Wes (April 17, 2021). "Why Warriors' Juan Toscano-Anderson is outgrowing his 2-way contract". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  54. ^ "Simmons Named Most Improved". NBA.com. April 28, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
  55. ^ "Rockets' Brooks named NBA's most improved player". NBA.com. April 23, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  56. ^ Schlosser, Keith (January 30, 2020). "Khris Middleton and Rudy Gobert Join Fellow G League Alum Siakam As NBA All-Stars". NBA G League. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  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 August 8, 2017.
  59. ^ "Seven D-League players who have made an NBA impact". Windy City Bulls.com. June 9, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  60. ^ Brennan, Matthew (February 21, 2007). "Mensah-Bonsu, East Team Come Out On Top". NBA.com. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
  61. ^ Wurst, Matt (February 16, 2008). "Stars Work, Play Hard in D-League All-Star Game". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  62. ^ "Sims And Ahearn Named Co-MVPs As Red Defeats Blue In All-Star Game". NBA.com/DLeague. February 14, 2009. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  63. ^ "James White Soars To NBA D-League Slam Dunk Championship". NBA.com/DLeague. February 13, 2009. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  64. ^ "Brian Butch Captures MVP Honors In 2010 All-Star Game". NBA.com/DLeague. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 13, 2010. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  65. ^ "Haier Shooting Stars Set Record At Dream Factory Friday Night". NBA.com/DLeague. February 12, 2010. Archived from the original on February 19, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to NBA G League.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NBA_G_League&oldid=1124270775"