Posted: Sept. 19, 2005
NEW YORK, September 19 – The National Basketball Association announced today its new affiliation and assignment system for the NBA Development League. Under this system, each of the eight current D-League teams will be affiliated with either three or four NBA teams, and the NBA teams may assign players in their first two seasons to play in the D-League.
The Phoenix Suns have been assigned affiliation with the Albequerque Thunderbirds, which will be coached by five time NBA champion and former University of New Mexico star player Michael Cooper.
“This is another step in the right direction to assist in the continuing development of players,” said Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations. “It has long been our goal to have team affiliations between the NBA and the D-League and this structure should be mutually beneficial to both leagues and the players.”
“This is terrific news for basketball fans in D-League markets”, said Phil Evans, NBA Development League President. “Now, in addition to seeing the best basketball players in the world not currently in the NBA, they will have the opportunity to see current NBA players as well, some of whom will be future NBA stars. We've now made a quality entertainment product even better.”
This affiliation and assignment system will be reviewed by the NBA after the 2005-06 season, and if additional D-League teams are added for the 2006-07 season, affiliations will be adjusted to correspond with the total number of D-League teams..
Assignment Rules: