NBDL Season Opens Friday
November 17, 2004 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
The NBA's National Basketball Development League opens its fourth season Friday, November 19 when the Fayetteville Patriots visit the Roanoke Dazzle. Opening weekend continues Saturday with the Huntsville Flight visiting the Columbus Riverdragons and the Asheville Altitude traveling to Fayetteville.
Defending NBDL champion Asheville will unveil its 2004 title banner at the home opener against the Flight on Sunday. Opening weekend concludes with the D-League's newest entry, the Florida Flame, playing host to Roanoke Sunday evening in Ft. Myers.
Listed below are some bullet points that we thought you might find interesting as the NBDL season tips off. Please know that the NBDL Communications Office is available to assist you in any area 24/7. Please don't hesitate to reach out. You can count on us continuing to reach out to you.
As we tip off year four, we just thought you should know that...
· The NBDL begins year four with six teams in the Southeastern region of the United States. The six teams are the Asheville (N.C.) Altitude, Columbus (Ga.) Riverdragons, Fayetteville (N.C.) Patriots, Huntsville (Ala.) Flight, Florida (Ft. Myers) Flame and Roanoke (Va.) Dazzle. We are dedicated to our current markets and committed to making the NBDL an integral part of these communities in the Southeast.
· The NBDL added one locally owned team this season (Florida Flame), and is actively considering adding more locally owned teams for the 2005-06 season in other regions of the country. Currently, the NBA owns five of six NBDL teams.
· The NBDL's initial commitment to development has not changed. The competition for positions in the NBDL, as a player, coach, referee or member of the front office, is still as intense as ever.
· During the first three seasons the NBDL produced 28 players who were called up to NBA teams on 39 different occasions. There are nine (9) former NBDL coaches who are now assistant coaches or scouts in the NBA. Eleven (11) referees and five (5) athletic trainers have also been called up. Thirty-five (35) front office executives have earned positions in major league sports, 29 under the NBA umbrella.
· There were 15 former NBDL players on NBA opening day rosters this season, up from 10 last season and four (4) following the first season. Sixty-four (64) NBDL players were on NBA summer league rosters in 2004 and 52 were on 2004 NBA vet camp rosters.
· The NBDL is the only basketball minor league with a television contract. Twenty-one (21) regular season games and two NBDL post-season tournament games are scheduled to be shown on NBA TV. Games will be aired on a tape-delayed basis every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. beginning November 24.
· The NBDL is also the only minor league with a weekly live national TV show, "This Week in the NBDL". The show airs every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on NBA TV beginning December 2.
· NBA TV is available to 66 million U.S. homes through Comcast, Time Warner, Cox Communications, Cablevision, DIRECTV and DISH Network and can be seen in 39 other countries, including Russia, France, Israel, Spain, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
· What a great opportunity for players who have the dream of playing in the NBA. The NBDL is the "NBA's Minor League". Scouts from NBA teams see NBDL players play virtually every night. About 60-percent of all NBDL games have been scouted LIVE by NBA teams in the first three seasons. There are NBA scouts from 11 teams already scheduled at our first 17 games this season.
· NBDL teams play a 48-game regular season schedule to allow for more practice time and development of player skills. Each NBDL team played one preseason game against another NBDL team.
· NBDL Players are very involved in the community where they play. They are active in programs at local schools through the NBDL Read To Achieve Initiative, School Day Programs, Sportsmanship Programs, etc.
· The NBDL gives basketball fans an in-arena experience that mirrors the NBA, while at the same time allowing greater access to, and interaction with, players and coaches.
· Every NBDL Player is given the opportunity to grow both on and off the court. The league has a unique and comprehensive array of Player Development Programs such as continuing education through on-line learning systems, career counseling, life skills, internships and off-season job opportunities.
· Many NBDL coaches (head and assistant) have NBA playing experience, making it easy to impart knowledge of the league and what it takes to get there. Eight of 12 NBDL coaches have either played or coached in the NBA.
NBA G League Stories from November 17, 2004
- Altitude Top Flight in NBDL Preseason - Huntsville Flight
- NBDL Season Opens Friday - G League
- Riverdragons Celebrate Tip-Off of 2004-05 Season This Saturday - Columbus Riverdragons
- Altitude Begin the Sale of Individual Single Game Tickets - Asheville Altitude
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
