D-League: HoopsHabit Broadens Coverage

The National Basketball Development League, or “D-League,” is the NBA’s official minor league — it was founded in 2001. Similar to the players that make up the D-League; the NBDL is also a project undergoing development. The season runs from late November to early April, including the postseason. Dating back to the end of last season, 27 percent of players in the NBA have D-League experience, the league also develops coaches, referees and front-office staff for the big show. It’s very much beneficial to the game, as well as business, of basketball in America.

The league is made up of 17 teams: the Austin Toros, Bakersfield Jam, Canton Charge, Erie BayHawks, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Idaho Stampede, Iowa Energy, Los Angeles D-Fenders, Maine Red Claws, Reno Bighorns, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Santa Cruz Warriors, Springfield Armor, Texas Legends, Tulsa 66ers and Delaware 87ers

During the summer I reached out to Kevin Dana, a broadcaster for the Santa Cruz Warriors — Golden State’s D-League affiliate to learn a little more; here’s what he had to say.

"“It’s (D-League) entering its 13th season, and I think maybe its 8th completely under the NBA umbrella. It’s young. The league started out as 8 teams, all in the Southeast region of the United States and was completely a bus league, from what I’ve been told. It then shrunk to 6 before expanding and eventually leaving the Southeast altogether. So in the last nine seasons including this one, the D-League has gone from 6 to 17 teams; the league has indeed been expanding (albeit many of those teams were former CBA franchises and just jumped ship when the CBA imploded, but still) at a pretty good rate, and that’s with a few teams folding along the way (Arkansas RimRockers, Utah Flash (now the Delaware 87ers), and Florida Flame, for example). And the 30-for-30 model isn’t just some pie-in-the-sky idea; Orlando has come out and said they want a D-League team; I’ve heard the Nuggets are potentially interested; and there was an article in the Salt Lake Tribune not too far back about the Jazz wanting to put a D-League team in St. George.”"

Here’s the list of teams, their affiliates and available training camp rosters — the season begins Friday, Nov. 22.

"Austin Toros: San Antonio SpursHead Coach – Ken McDonaldCameron Bennerman – GCourney Fells – GGreg Gantt – GMyck Kabongo – GTre Kelley – GRonald Murray – GJonathan Simmons – GMichael Sturns – GTerrance Woodbury – G, FKeith Chamberlain – FJazwyn Cowan – FEric Dawson – FJosh Howard – FKyle Hunt – FYan Moukoury – FNotable player last season: Corey JosephBakersfield Jam: (Shared Affiliate) Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors and Utah JazzHead Coach – Will VoigtDerick Beltran – GMarkeith Cummings – GBrandon Fortenberry – GAaron Johnson – GJoshua Lowery – GAkeem Scott – GCarlos Strong – GBilly Baptist – FJames Nunnally – FJordan Demercy – FDmitry Pirshin – FDoug Thomas – FJeremy Williams – FBrian Butch – CMac Koshwal – CAugustine Okosun – C,FNotable player last season: Damian JamesCanton Charge: Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach: Steve HetzelBo Spencer – GRemon Nelson – GZane Johnson – GLorne Jackson – GRobert Hite – GJorge Gutierrez – GD’Aundray Brown – GAntoine Agudio – GRashad Anderson – G, FAlejo Rodriguez – FMichael Lee – FKevin Jones – FTravis Franklin – FShane Edwards – FGilbert Brown – FTyrell Biggs – FLongar Longar – CNotable Player last season: Jon LeuerErie BayHawks: New York KnicksHead Coach: Gene CrossNick Covington – GAndre Jones – GGabe Rogers – GMustafa Shakur – G (<<< Remarkable)Scott Suggs – GDarren White – GC.J. Aiken – FDoug Anderson – FJustin Brownlee – FRicky Davis – FTerence Jennings – FC.J. Leslie – FMike Moore – FAndrae Nelson – FKevin Rogers – FJeremy Tyler – CNotable player last season: Ivan JohnsonIdaho Stampede: Portland Trailblazers (First year as a single affiliate) Head Coach: Michael PeckCarlon Brown – GReggie Hamilton – GCoby Karl – G (Last season’s NBA Coach of the Year George Karl‘s son)Durrell Summers – GReggie Hearn – GSteven Pledger – GDion Dixon – GJustin Harper – FJaJuan Johnson – FDallas Lauderdale – F (Davidson University, Stephen Curry‘s best teammate during the team’s Cinderella run through the NCAA Tournament)Sean Evans – FJason Ellis – FTracy Smith – FKellen Thorton – FNotable player last season: Nolan SmithIowa Energy: Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington WizardsHead Coach: Nate BjorkgrenChris Allen – GPatrick Christopher – GDiante Garrett – GOthyus Jeffers – GJeff Jones – GGarland Judkins – GKalin Lucas – GD.J. Smedley – GReginald Becton – FMoses Ehambe – FAgustus Gilchrist – FEsian Henderson – FMarcus Johnson – FEric Wise – FJarvis Varnado – CBen Strong – GLos Angeles D-Fenders: Los Angeles LakersHead Coach: Mark Madsen (Not a typo, I repeat — not a typo)Elijah Millsap – GOrien Greene – GCourtney Fortson – GJosh Magette – GMuhammad El-Amini – GMaurice McNeil – FKyisean Reed – FJamario Moon – FPhil Jones – FDami Sapara – FJarrid Famous – CAnthony Stover – CNotable player last season: Robert SacreRio Grande Valley Vipers: Houston RocketsHead Coach: Nevada SmithB.J. Young – GGary Talton – GDwayne Lathan – GChris Johnson – GTroy Daniels – GMike Black – GTony Bishop Jr. – FGary Cox – FAaron – FAkeem Ellis – FJahaziel Howard – FDario Hunt – FJames Johnson – FBrandon Moore – FKevin Parrom – FNotable player last year: Glen RiceSioux Falls Skyforce: Miami HeatHead Coach: Pat DelanyA.J. Davis – GJoe Davis – GQuincy Douby – GLarry Drew II – GLewis Jackson – GGrant Johnson – GDeAndre Liggins – GJeffrey Remmington – GRoshun Wynne Jr. – GRyan Evans – FRobert Martina – FAnthony Mason Jr. – FJamine Peterson – FBill Walker – F (Micheal Beasley’s teammate at Kansas State University, formerly with the Knicks)Justin Hamilton – CPhil Jones – CNotable player last year: Dexter PittmanTexas Legends: Dallas Mavericks Head Coach: Eduardo NajeraRoy Booker – GChris Douglas-Roberts – GJavier Gonzalez – GTerrel Harris – GMickey McConnell – GSean Singletary – GBooker Woodfox – GSammy Yeager – GJeremy Atkinson – FRamon Dyer -FDevin Ebanks -FTravis Garrison – FAdtrick McKinney – FEric Micheal – FEly Melvin – FPaul Sturgess – CNotable player last year: Rashad McCantsSpringfield Armor: Brooklyn NetsLorenzo Brown – GJamesOn Curry -GTyshwan Edmondson – GLance Hurdle -GJustin Johnson – GTahj Tate – GAdonis Thomas – GL.D. Williams – GJoevan Catron – FGary Forbes – FDennis Horner -FQuinn McDowell – FWillie Reed – FMarcus Hubbard – CBrian Addison – CNotable player last year: Tyshawn Taylor"

Training camp begins this week, but this is only the beginning of HoopsHabit’s (Open 24/7) coverage of the D-League. Please bear with us as we grow to become experts on the NBA’s developing minor league system, it’s only going to be more fun as time goes on.

This is the genesis of HH’s coverage of the NBADL, we’re going to learn a lot this season.

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