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The National Basketball Association has two affiliated minor leagues: the NBA G League (formerly the NBA D-League) and the NBA Summer League. The NBA G League was founded in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) and was renamed the NBA Development League in 2005. The league received its current name in 2017 after a deal with Gatorade. The NBA G League has produced many stars, including Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, and four-time DPOY Rudy Gobert.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year the NBA G League was founded | 2001 |
| Original name | National Basketball Development League (NBDL) |
| Year the name was changed to NBA Development League (NBA D-League) | 2005 |
| Year the name was changed to NBA G League | 2017 |
| Number of original teams | 8 |
| Location of the original teams | Southeastern United States |
| Number of players called up to the NBA in the first season | 8 |
| First NBDL champion | Greenville Groove |
| Date of the first NBDL championship | April 8, 2002 |
| Year the NBA G League began offering select contracts to players not eligible for the NBA draft | 2019 |
| Year the NBA G League launched its prospects team, the NBA G League Ignite | 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
The National Basketball Development League (NBDL)
The NBDL began with eight franchises, each with its own NBDL-branded logo differentiated by team colours. These teams were spread across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. The league made sponsorship deals with Reebok and television broadcasting deals with ESPN2 and Fox Sports South to broadcast select games during the first season, including the NBDL Finals. This made the NBDL one of the few minor league operations to have nationally televised games.
The first NBDL championship took place on April 8, 2002, and was won by the Greenville Groove, who beat the North Charleston Lowgators. Eight players were called up to the NBA during the season, including Chris Andersen, the first player drafted by an NBDL team.
In 2005, the NBDL was renamed the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) as part of a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA. This was an attempt to appeal to more fans by showing the connection between the NBDL and the NBA. The league expanded under a plan by NBA commissioner David Stern to develop it into a true minor-league farm system, with each team affiliated with one or more NBA teams. By 2014, one-third of NBA players had spent time in the league, an increase from 23% in 2011.
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The NBA G League
In 2005, the league was renamed the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) as part of a collective bargaining agreement with the NBA, aiming to strengthen the connection between the two leagues and appeal to a broader fan base. This rebranding also witnessed the expansion of the league with the addition of new teams, such as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, Austin Toros, Fort Worth Flyers, and Tulsa 66ers. The league continued to expand in 2006, reaching California with the Bakersfield Jam and adding four teams from the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).
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The Continental Basketball Association (CBA)
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has an affiliated minor league called the G League (formerly the National Basketball Development League and later the NBA Development League). The G League began play in the 2001-02 season with eight franchises, all located in the Southeastern United States. The league expanded after 2005 under a plan by NBA commissioner David Stern to develop it into a true minor-league farm system, with each team affiliated with one or more NBA teams.
Before the G League, the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association (CBA) served some of the purposes of a minor league for the NBA for many years. However, there were no direct developmental agreements between CBA and NBA teams. The CBA included teams such as the Dakota Wizards, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Idaho Stampede, and the Colorado 14ers.
The CBA was used as a developmental league by the NBA for over two decades. In 1999, a player named Chris Andersen became the first player drafted by an NBDL team. In 2006, four teams from the CBA joined the D-League: the Dakota Wizards, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Idaho Stampede, and the Colorado 14ers.
The G League has since expanded to include independent teams such as the Mexico City Capitanes, and in 2020, the league launched its prospects team, the NBA G League Ignite. The league has also begun to offer select contracts to players who are not yet eligible for the NBA draft, creating an alternative pathway for players who do not want to or cannot attend college.
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The International Basketball League
The IBL ceased operation as an independent entity in March 2014 and combined with the West Coast Basketball League (WCBL). Teams were then split into an 'International Conference' and 'Continental Conference' based on their geographical location. Some teams that were part of the IBL joined other leagues, including the Akron Cougars (who joined the Universal Basketball League, although this league folded before the first season), the Battle Creek Knights (who joined the Independent Basketball Association), the Dayton Air Strikers (who rejoined the Premier Basketball League), and the Gary Splash (who also joined the Independent Basketball Association).
The IBL was founded on a set of unique rules designed to encourage a fast-paced, high-scoring brand of basketball. The IBL also featured teams from China and Japan, which temporarily relocated to the United States for the IBL season. In 2010, the Albany Legends became the first team in the Northeastern United States to join the IBL.
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The Basketball League (TBL)
TBL's inaugural season commenced with ten teams, and the Albany Patroons defeated the Yakima SunKings in a best-of-three series to become the first TBL champions. The 2020 season began with twelve teams, but it was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and no playoffs were held. The 2021 season saw an expansion to twenty-nine teams, with the Enid Outlaws crowned as champions after defeating the Syracuse Stallions.
The 2022 season witnessed an even larger participation, with forty-four teams vying for the title. The Shreveport Mavericks emerged as champions, besting the Albany Patroons. The following season, in 2023, forty-nine teams competed, and the Potawatomi Fire clinched the championship by defeating the St. Louis Griffins. This season also marked the dissolution of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC), which had engaged in interleague play with TBL franchises the previous year.
TBL has continued to thrive, with thirty-nine teams participating in the 2024 season. Once again, the Potawatomi Fire rose to the top, securing their second TBL championship by defeating the St. Louis Griffins in a best-of-three series. TBL has also fostered partnerships with entities like HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology platform, to enhance the experience for teams, players, and fans.
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Frequently asked questions
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has two affiliated minor leagues: the G League (formerly called the "NBA D-League") and the NBA Summer League. The G League was founded in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL).
National Basketball Development League (NBDL)
2017
NBA Development League (NBA D-League)
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