Tulsa 66ers Announce 2007-08 Schedule
July 24, 2007 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, Okla., July 24, 2007 - The Tulsa 66ers of the NBA's Development League announced today that 19 of their 24 home games will be played on weekends at Expo Square Pavilion, with only five weekday contests, allowing Tulsa families the opportunity to see professional basketball when it best fits their schedules.
The 66ers open the 2007-08 NBA Development League season on the road and open at home on Nov. 30 against the Colorado 14ers. The 66ers will play 50 games, 24 at home, 24 on the road, and two at the D-League's fourth annual Martin Luther King Showcase Jan. 14-17 in Boise, Idaho.
"Our schedule couldn't be better," said team president Jono Helmerich. "With 19 home games falling on the weekend, we can offer our fans from all over Oklahoma a chance to see professional basketball and have an enjoyable evening of family entertainment at affordable prices."
The schedule tips off with road games against the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants on Friday, Nov. 23, and Sioux Falls Skyforce on Saturday, Nov. 24. The 66ers return for the home opener against the 14ers on the following Friday. Official game times will be announced at a later date.
A highlight to the Tulsa 66ers schedule comes when the San Antonio Spurs' wholly owned D-League team, the Austin Toros, will make their debut at the Pavilion on Sunday, Dec. 30. The Los Angeles D-Fenders, owned by the LA Lakers, will visit Tulsa on Thursday, Feb. 14.
Also an exciting date for 66ers fans will be the first appearance by the 2007 NBA Development League Champions, the Dakota Wizards, on Thursday, Jan. 24.
There are 14 teams in the D-League this season, each affiliated with one to three NBA teams, giving fans multiple chances to see future NBA stars at Expo Square Pavilion. Tulsa continues its affiliate relationships with the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks, and add the Dallas Mavericks.
Midway through the season, All-Stars from the D-League will be showcased during the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. The D-League All-Star Game will be played as part of the NBA Jam Session. All-Stars will be selected by a vote that includes fans, as well as D-League players and coaches. Last season, Will Conroy and Alan Anderson represented Tulsa in the first NBA D-League All-Star Game.
With the expansion to 14 teams, the D-League is realigning into three divisions for the 2007-08 season. The Southwest and West divisions will feature five teams while the Central division will have four. The Tulsa 66ers will play in the Southwest division. Tulsa will play divisional foes eight times during the regular season while squaring off with non-division opponents twice.
"The realignment and scheduling structure encourages divisional rivalries," D-League President Dan Reed said. "Plus, with this scheduling system, we had the ability to cut down on travel which we believe, in turn, will provide for a better product on the floor."
The Divisions for the 2007-08 season will break down as follows:
Central
Dakota
Fort Wayne
Iowa
Sioux Falls
Southwest
Albuquerque
Colorado
Rio Grande Valley
Tulsa Austin
West Idaho
Anaheim Bakersfield
Los Angeles
Utah
Fans interested in ticket information should route their way to www.tulsa66ers.com or call (918) 585-8444. Season tickets start as little as $192 per seat for all 24 home games.
About the NBA D-League
Entering its seventh season, the NBA Development League - the NBA's minor league established to develop talent across all disciplines for the NBA - has relocated its headquarters from Greenville, S.C. to New York City to help foster the D-League's continued growth by giving it direct access to the support and resources of the NBA and WNBA. During the 2006-07 season, 19 NBA teams assigned 24 players to D-League rosters, and 14 NBA teams called-up 16 players (âGatorade Call-ups') while 31 D-League alumni participated in the NBA Playoffs. Additionally, every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has worked in the D-League, while coaches, athletic trainers and front office executives are also being developed. The 2007-08 NBA season will also include the first-ever D-League coach to be promoted to the NBA with Sam Vincent taking over head coaching duties for the Charlotte Bobcats.
The NBA Development League includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (Calif.), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Los Angeles D-Fenders (Calif.), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.). Expansion teams for the 2007-08 season have will include the Utah Flash (UT), the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Texas), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Ind.) and Iowa Energy (IA).
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NBA G League Stories from July 24, 2007
- Bakersfield Jam To Tip-Off D-League Season November 24 - Bakersfield Jam
- Dakota Wizards To Tip-Off Season November 23 - Dakota Wizards
- Austin Toros Schedule Set For 2007-08 Season - Austin Spurs
- Fort Wayne Mad Ants Announce Schedule - Indiana Mad Ants
- Flash Open Inaugural Season November 24 - Utah Flash
- Stampede To Tip-Off D-League Season November 23 - Idaho Stampede
- Colorado 14ers Set to Tip-Off NBA D-League Season Nov. 23 - Colorado 14ers
- Skyforce Announces 2007-08 Schedule - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Thunderbirds To Begin Third Season November 23 - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- All-Star Game, D-League Showcase HeadLine 2007-08 NBA Development League Schedule - G League
- Tulsa 66ers Announce 2007-08 Schedule - Tulsa 66ers
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