Phoenix Suns Ignite Future with Bakersfield Jam
September 25, 2014 - NBA G League (G League)
Bakersfield Jam News Release
BAKERSFIELD, September 25, 2014 - The Bakersfield Jam held their Annual Jam Season Tip-Off Event on Tuesday night at the Dignity Health Event Center, celebrating their new partnership with the Phoenix Suns with three special guest speakers: Lon Babby (President of Basketball Operations), Ryan McDonough (General Manager), and Jeff Hornacek (Head Coach). Jam season-ticket holders, partners, sponsors, and business associates were in attendance to hear the Suns speakers talk about their exclusive relationship with the Bakersfield Jam.
"In this business, you develop instincts," said Babby, describing a spring meeting with Jam owner Stan Ellis and Jam managing partner David Higdon. "And all I had to do was look in Stan and David's eyes and shake their hands. They are men with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. We knew this was the right partnership for us, and nothing has dissuaded us of that since then."
During the evening's event, over 400 guests were on hand to meet-and-greet the three Suns executives, as well as Suns Head Pro Personnel Scout and acting Jam General Manager Bubba Burrage and new Jam Head Coach Nate Bjorkgren.
"Before I started working with the Suns, I worked for the Boston Celtics for 10 years," said McDonough. "And as we were trying to figure out who a good partner to (affiliate) with would be, we asked a number of people who they thought the best D-League situation was..... It was almost unanimous that it was Bakersfield. The proximity from Boston to Bakersfield made that impossible, but in Phoenix, we thought it would be a good fit. We knew it was where we wanted it to be."
In explaining to the audience that the Jam will be using the same offensive and defensive systems that Phoenix uses, Hornacek stated, "This makes it easier for us. When these guys come down here and play, they shouldn't skip a beat."
The evening concluded with a live auction that raised over $30,000 for the Bakersfield Jam Education Foundation; a charity whose vision is to work with churches, schools, and organizations to engage every neighborhood so that schools are supported, students excel, families are healthy and whole, and communities thrive. The proceeds will be utilized for programs in the Oildale community.
"As always, it's great to have all of our Jam partners in attendance for our Jam Season Tip-Off Event," said Higdon. "We look forward to the future with our gracious partners Lon, Ryan, and Jeff. The night was incredible and I would like to thank the entire staff for all of their hard work in making the event successful."
The 2014-15 campaign marks the first season of a single-affiliation partnership with the Phoenix Suns, with which the team has worked with since 2011. Through this relationship, also known as a "hybrid" partnership, the Suns will oversee and fund all aspects of the Jam's basketball operations while the local ownership in Bakersfield will continue to manage the team's business operations and community outreach.
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