NBA development league team moves to Frisco

by PegNews wire

Texas D-League Management, LLC purchased the Colorado 14ers and will relocate the team to Frisco, according to an announcement today by NBA Development League President Dan Reed. The team will begin play in Frisco at the Dr. Pepper Arena for the 2010-11 season, but will not play during 2009-10 in order to transition.

Donnie Nelson, Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations and general manager, will be the principal owner and operator of the team. Nelson brings 23 years of NBA experience with him to the team in Frisco, including 11 years in Dallas’ front office, along with coaching stints with the Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns. Nelson’s ownership group includes Evan Wyly, a Dallas native and the chairman of Green Mountain Energy, the nation’s leading provider of cleaner electricity and carbon offset solutions. Colorado 14ers owner Tim Wiens will retain a minority ownership stake in the team. Nelson, Wyly and Frisco Mayor Maher Maso joined Reed at today’s announcement, which was hosted at the Mavericks’ practice facility located inside American Airlines Center.

“We’re very excited to be in Frisco, an area with deep fan support and a history of successful sports teams,” said Reed. “We're thrilled to welcome such a well-respected and experienced group to the NBA D-League ownership ranks. Not only are Donnie Nelson’s basketball credentials terrific, but he has assembled a group with impressive business credentials as well. Donnie’s investment in an NBA D-League team is a great validation of both our league’s past success and future growth prospects.” The Frisco team’s new name, colors and logo, along with the coaching staff, will be announced at a later date.

"Texas is one of the hottest basketball markets in the world. We plan to bring an exciting, high octane brand of basketball that's both affordable and fun for the entire family,” said Nelson. “Our team will have a chance to hone their skills in the newly renovated Dr. Pepper center in Frisco. The NBA D-League continues to provide high level competition and excellent opportunities for both its fans and players."

When the team begins play in 2010, it will be directly affiliated with up to three NBA teams, which will be able to assign first and second year players to the club up to three times during a season.

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league and featured 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams during the 2008-09 season. This Fall, two new NBA D-League teams will begin play in Portland, Maine and Springfield, Mass.-- the birthplace of basketball. Eighty-four former NBA Development League players were on 2008-09 NBA end-of-season rosters, amounting to almost 20 percent of NBA players, and the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

Source: NBA Communications