News release from the NBA Development League:
NBA Development League enjoys record breaking 12th season
League Sets Records for NBA Player Assignments and NBA D-League Alumni in the NBA
Total Attendance Surpasses 1 Million Mark for Fourth Straight Year
(May 1, 2013) NEW YORK – The NBA Development League had a record breaking 12th season that included all-time marks for total NBA player assignments (184) and NBA D-League alumni competing in the NBA (132).
Additionally, the 2012-13 NBA D-League season saw an all-time high 11 NBA teams owning or operating their minor league affiliate, including first-time singly-affiliated relationships between the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws, and the Portland Trail Blazers and Idaho Stampede.
The league concluded the season by announcing a record 17 teams will take the floor for the 2013-14 season beginning in November, when the Delaware 87ers, owned and operated by the Philadelphia 76ers, tip off their inaugural campaign to become the 12th single affiliate team. Since the inaugural NBA D-League season in 2001-02 that featured eight teams, the league has more than doubled the number of teams.
Highlights from the 2012-13 NBA D-League season include:
On-the-Court Successes
The league continued to be the leader in developing top NBA prospects with an all-time high 58 NBA players – including a record 11 who were first round NBA Draft selections in 2012 – assigned to their NBA D-League affiliates a record 184 times this season.
Additionally, the NBA D-League had 31 players earning 36 GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA.
NBA D-League Alumni in the NBA
30 percent of all NBA players now boast NBA D-League experience with a record 132 players on NBA rosters at the end of the regular season, including 76 of whom went on to play in the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
Attendance
The NBA D-League reached the one million total attendance plateau (regular season and postseason) for a fourth straight year (1,123,124), up three percent over the previous season.
Worldwide Visibility
The NBA D-League forged new deals with a national television network – CBS Sports Network – and its first global streaming partner – YouTube – enabling all 415 games to be televised or streamed internationally across the league’s family of media outlets, including NBA TV.
Jersey Partnerships
Three NBA D-League teams secured jersey partnerships bringing the total to a record five teams for the 2012-13 season: Erie BayHawks (LECOM), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Lone Star National Bank), Texas Legends (Choctow Casino Resorts; Veracruz, Mexico), Springfield Armor (MGM Springfield), and Los Angeles D-Fenders (MGM Resorts International).
The Legends historic partnership with the state of Veracruz, Mexico marked the first non-team city to have its name and slogan “Veracruz Incomparable” prominently featured on the jersey of a professional sports team.
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