NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA Development League opens its 12th season Friday, coming off a record-breaking season in which 43 players were called up to the NBA.

The NBA's minor league begins its 50-game schedule with a notable change. Players can now be assigned from an NBA team an unlimited amount of times for the first three years of their careers. They could previously only be sent down in their first two years, with three assignments total.

The 16-team league has 11 directly affiliated with an NBA club, the most ever, and 20 percent of the players on NBA rosters to open the season had D-League experience.

The D-League reached a deal to have games shown on YouTube, and CBS Sports Network will air 12 regular-season games plus postseason action.