News release from the NBA Development League:
2013-14 NBA Development League schedule announced
Delaware 87ers Tip Off Inaugural Campaign
Season Features An All-Time High 14 Teams With Single NBA Affiliations
NEW YORK (September 5, 2013) – The NBA Development League today announced its schedule for the 2013-14 regular season, which features 17 teams playing 50 games each. The league’s upcoming 13th season includes an all-time high 14 NBA D-League teams having single-affiliation relationships with their NBA parent clubs.
The NBA D-League season tips off on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. ET when the Maine Red Claws host rival Springfield Armor and the Erie BayHawks host the Canton Charge. Opening night continues with three 8 p.m. ET games: Reno Bighorns at Sioux Falls Skyforce, Iowa Energy at Tulsa 66ers and Fort Wayne Mad Ants at Texas Legends. The Bakersfield Jam travels to face the Idaho Stampede at 9 p.m. ET, while the season’s first night concludes with the Santa Cruz Warriors hosting the Austin Toros at 10:30 p.m. ET.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Delaware 87ers play their first NBA D-League game when the team travels to Canton to take on the Charge at 7 p.m. ET. Later that night, the 2012-13 NBA D-League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers begin defense of their title against the Los Angeles D-Fenders in California at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The 2013-14 NBA D-League season will again feature three divisions: East (Canton, Delaware, Erie, Fort Wayne, Maine, and Springfield), Central (Austin, Iowa, Rio Grande Valley, Sioux Falls, Texas and Tulsa), and West (Bakersfield, Idaho, Los Angeles, Reno, and Santa Cruz).
“We’re excited to get the 13th NBA D-League season underway with an action-packed opening weekend filled with 15 games over three days,” said Dan Reed, NBA D-League President. “Not only are we thrilled to welcome the Delaware 87ers as our 17th team, but we’re pleased that they join 13 other NBA D-League teams to be singly-affiliated with their NBA parent clubs.”
The Bighorns will once again host the NBA D-League Showcase, the League’s midseason scouting event, from Jan. 5-9, 2014 in Reno, Nev., with the specific game schedule to be announced at a later date. The NBA D-League All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 in New Orleans in conjunction with NBA All-Star activities.
The regular season comes to a close on Saturday, April 5 with seven games. The 2014 NBA D-League postseason will begin shortly thereafter.
Of the 14 singly-affiliated NBA D-League teams, six teams are fully owned and operated by their NBA parent club, including Austin (San Antonio Spurs), Canton (Cleveland Cavaliers), Delaware (Philadelphia 76ers), Los Angeles (Los Angeles Lakers), Tulsa (Oklahoma City Thunder), and Santa Cruz (Golden State Warriors). An additional seven teams have a hybrid relationship with their NBA parent club, including Erie (New York Knicks), Idaho (Portland Trail Blazers), Maine (Boston Celtics), Rio Grande Valley (Houston Rockets), Sioux Falls (Miami Heat), Springfield (Brooklyn Nets) and Reno (Sacramento Kings). The hybrid partnership gives an NBA team control of the NBA D-League team’s basketball operations while local ownership retains control of the business. Texas has a one-to-one relationship with the Dallas Mavericks.
Fans can follow top NBA prospects and their favorite teams online at www.nbadleague.com for live games, highlights, and insider analysis. The 2013-14 NBA D-League broadcast schedule will be furnished at a later date.
The complete 2013-14 NBA D-League regular season schedule may be downloaded here.
About the NBA Development League
The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 14 teams with direct affiliations to NBA franchises, the league offers professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Thirty percent of players in the NBA at the end of the 2012-13 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on https://fortwayne.gleague.nba.com/.
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