CHARLOTTEHORNETSD-LEAGUEFRANCHISEFAQs
1.WherewilltheHornetsNBADevelopmentLeagueteambelocated?
TheHornetsD-LeagueteamwillbelocatedinGreensboro,NorthCarolina,andwillplayits24
homegamesatthesoon-to-be-renovatedFieldhouseattheGreensboroColiseumComplex.
Seatingcapacitywillbeapproximately2,300.
2.Whenwilltheteambeginplay?
TheteamwillbeginplayinNovember2016whenthe2016-17D-Leagueseasontipsoff,
becomingtheleague’s20thfranchise.
3.Whatwilltheteambecalled?
Theteam’snicknamewillbeannouncedatalaterdate.Coincidentally,wehavebeen
conductingfanresearchacrosstheregionforquitesometimewithregardstoteamname
concepts.TheteamnamewillbeconnectedtotheHornetsbrandidentity.
4.Willtheteam’scolorsbethesameastheHornets?
Yes,theteam’scolorswillbepurpleandteal.
5.HowcanIpurchasetickets?
TicketinformationandpricingfortheteamwillbeannouncedinJanuary2016.Fansinterested
ingainingprioritytopurchaseseasonticketscanmakedepositsof$25perseat.Thisdepositis
refundablelesscreditcardfees.
6.Whowillbetheheadcoachoftheteam?
Theheadcoachandcoachingstaffwillbeannouncedatalaterdate.
7.Whatplayerswillbeontheteam?
Whenanewfranchisejoinstheleague,anexpansiondraftisheldinwhichthenewteam
selects16playersfromapoolofunprotectedplayersamongtheleague’sotherteams.The
expansionteamwillthenholdthatplayer’sNBAD-Leaguerightsfortwoseasons.Each
returningteamcanprotectupto12ofitsplayersfrombeingselected.Inaddition,theHornets
willbeabletoassignandrecallplayersatanytime.
8.HowmanyplayersareonanNBADevelopmentLeagueteamroster?
Thereareaminimumof10playersonrosters,withtwoadditionalspotsforplayersplacedon
theinactive/injurylist.Ateam’sactiverostermayexpandtoupto13playersifitsparentclub
assignsplayersfromtheNBAroster.
9.HowaretheHornetsaffiliatedwiththeNBADevelopmentLeagueteam?
TheHornetsownandoperatetheD-Leagueteam,meaningtheHornetsdictateallbasketball
andbusinessoperationsfortheteam.TheHornetshaveaone-on-oneaffiliationwiththeDLeagueteam,whichallowstheD-Leagueteamtosharethesamephilosophiesandrunthe
samesetsastheHornets.Thisensuresaseamlesstransitionwhenplayersareassignedor
recalled.
10.WhendidtheHornetsbegintheprocessoflaunchinganNBADevelopmentLeagueteam?
TheHornetsannouncedtheirintenttolaunchaD-LeagueteamonMay4,2015.Thefranchise
sentanRFPtoeightcities/countiesthroughouttheCarolinasseekingthebesthomefortheDLeagueclubbeforeselectingGreensboro.
11.HaveanycurrentHornetsplayersorcoachesplayedorcoachedintheNBADevelopment
League?
HornetsguardsTroyDaniels(2013-14RioGrandeValleyVipers),P.J.Hairston(2013-14Texas
Legends),JeremyLamb(2012-13Tulsa66ers)andJeremyLin(2010-11RenoBighorns)haveall
playedintheD-League.HornetsassistantcoachesPatDelanyandSteveHetzelbothjoined
SteveClifford’sstaffafterspendingthe2013-14seasonasD-Leagueheadcoacheswiththe
SiouxFallsSkyforceandCantonCharge,respectfully.Inaddition,HornetsCommunity
AmbassadorMattCarrollplayedfortheRoanokeDazzlefrom2003-05,wherehewasnamed
2004-05D-LeagueMVP.
12.HowcanItryoutfortheteam?
TheteamwillholdanopentryoutforlocalplayersinOctober2016,priortothestartoftraining
camp.
D-LEAGUEFAQs
1.WhatistheNBADevelopmentLeague?
TheNBADevelopmentLeague,orNBAD-League,istheNBA’sofficialminorleague,preparing
players,coaches,officials,trainersandfrontofficestafffortheNBAwhileactingastheleague’s
researchanddevelopmentlaboratory.
2.WhenwastheNBADevelopmentLeagueestablished?
TheNBADevelopmentLeaguebeganplayduringthe2001-02seasonandentersits15thseason
in2015-16.
3.HowmanyteamsareintheNBADevelopmentLeague?
Thereareanall-timehigh19NBAD-Leagueteamsheadingintothe2015-16season,eachof
whichissinglyaffiliatedwithoneNBAteam.
Theyinclude:AustinSpurs(SanAntonioSpurs),BakersfieldJam(PhoenixSuns),CantonCharge
(ClevelandCavaliers),Delaware87ers(Philadelphia76ers),ErieBayHawks(OrlandoMagic),
FortWayneMadAnts(IndianaPacers),GrandRapidsDrive(DetroitPistons),IdahoStampede
(UtahJazz),IowaEnergy(MemphisGrizzlies),LosAngelesD-Fenders(LosAngelesLakers),
MaineRedClaws(BostonCeltics),OklahomaCityBlue(OklahomaCityThunder),Raptors905
(TorontoRaptors),RenoBighorns(SacramentoKings),RioGrandeValleyVipers(Houston
Rockets),SantaCruzWarriors(GoldenStateWarriors),SiouxFallsSkyforce(MiamiHeat),
TexasLegends(DallasMavericks)andWestchesterKnicks(NewYorkKnicks).
4.HowmanygamesareinanNBADevelopmentLeagueseason?
EachNBAD-Leagueteamsplaysa50-gameschedule,including24homegames,24roadgames
andtwogamesaspartoftheNBADevelopmentLeagueShowcase.
5.Whendotheregularseasonandplayoffsbeginandend?
TheregularseasonbeginsinNovemberandrunsintoApril.InApril,theplayoffsconsistofthree
rounds,allofwhichfollowabest-of-threeseriesformat.
6.HowcanIwatchgames?
MostNBAD-LeagueregularseasongamesarestreamedliveonYouTubeandNBADLeague.com
andavailableondemand–bothatnocost.Nationallytelevisedgamesarenotavailableliveon
YouTube,butareavailableforarchiveviewing.
7.HowcanIfollowtheNBAD-League?
TheofficialwebsiteoftheNBAD-LeagueisNBADLeague.com.YoucanalsodownloadtheNBA
D-LeaguemobileappforiOsandAndroiddevices.Onsocialmedia,youcanfollowtheNBADLeagueonFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,VineandSnapchat(“nbadleague”).
8.HowmanyNBADevelopmentLeagueplayershavemadeittotheNBA?
Arecord170playerswithNBAD-LeagueexperiencewereonNBArostersattheendofthe
2014-15regularseason,representinganall-timehigh38percentoftheleague.
ThisgroupincludesbothplayerswhowereassignedfromtheNBAtotheNBAD-Leagueand
playerswhowerecalledupfromtheNBAD-LeaguetotheNBA.
Duringthe2014-15season,arecord47playerswerecalleduptotheNBAarecordtotalof63
times.Atotalof56NBAplayerswereassignedtotheNBAD-Leaguearecord195times.
9.WhoaresomeofthebestNBAplayerswhohaveplayedintheNBADevelopmentLeague?
TopplayerswhohavebeenassignedtotheNBAD-LeagueincludeSunsguardEricBledsoe,Jazz
centerRudyGobert,PistonsguardReggieJacksonandRocketsforwardTerrenceJones.
TopplayerswhowerecalledupfromtheNBAD-LeagueincludeSpursguardDannyGreen,Heat
guardGeraldGreen,HornetsguardJeremyLinandHeatcenterHassanWhiteside.
10.WhatisaCall-Up?
ACall-UpoccurswhenaplayerundercontractwiththeNBAD-LeagueissignedbyanNBAteam
toanNBAcontract.Overthepastthreeseasons,anaverageof38playershavereceivedaCallUp.
11.Whatisanassignment?
AnassignmentoccurswhenanNBAteamsendsaplayertoitsNBAD-Leagueaffiliate.That
playerremainsunderNBAcontractandtheassigningNBAteamhastheexclusiverightsto
recallthatplayeratanytime.
Overthepastthreeseasons,anaverageof58NBAplayershavebeenassignedtotheNBADLeagueanaveragetotalof188times(playerswithunderthreeyearsofservicecanbeassigned
anunlimitednumberoftimeseachseason).
12.Howmanyteamsmaketheplayoffs?
Theplayoffruleshavechangedastheleaguehasexpanded.In2015,eightteamsmadethe
playoffs–fourineachconference.Thisincludedthewinnersofeachofthefourdivisionsand
twoWildCardteamsineachconference–thetoptwoteamsineachconferenceonthebasisof
regularseasonrecordregardlessofdivision.
13.IsthereanNBADevelopmentLeagueAll-StarGame?
Yes,theNBAD-LeagueAll-StarGamehasbeenpartofNBAAll-StarWeekendsince2007.The
leaguealsoputsonitsownthree-pointandslamdunkcontests.
14.HowareAll-Starsselected?
TheAll-Starsareselectedbyavoteofalloftheleague’sheadcoaches.Playersareeligiblefor
All-Starvotingiftheyplayinatleasthalfoftheirteam’sgamesthroughapredetermineddate
inlateJanuary.PlayersmustbeonanactiveNBAD-LeaguerosteratthetimeoftheAll-Star
Gameinordertocompeteandtheleaguereplacesanyineligibleplayers.
15.WhocoachestheAll-Starteams?
Thetwospotsgototheheadcoachesoftheteamswiththebestrecordineachconferenceat
thecompletionofAll-StarvotinginlateJanuary.
16.WhenistheNBADevelopmentLeagueDraft?
TheNBAD-LeagueDraftistypicallyheldinthelastweekofOctoberorthefirstweekof
November.ThisoccursafterNBAstart-of-seasonrostersarefinalized.
17.Whoiseligibletobedrafted?
Theleaguesignsabout180playerseachyeartojointhepoolofdraft-eligibleprospects.They
includecollegeplayerswhowentundraftedintheNBADraft,internationalprospects,and
playerswhowererecentlywaivedbyNBAteamsfollowingtrainingcamp.Playersmustbe18
yearsoldtobeeligiblefortheNBAD-LeagueDraft,asopposedtotheNBA’sageminimumof
19.
18.HowmanyplayersareonanNBADevelopmentLeagueroster?
Thereareaminimumof10playersonrosters,withtwoadditionalspotsforplayersplacedon
theinactive/injurylist.Ateam’sactiverostermayexpandtoupto13playersifitsparentclub
assignsplayersfromtheNBAroster.
19.HowdoNBADevelopmentLeaguecontractswork?
NBAD-Leagueplayerssignstandardone-yearcontractswiththeleague,notindividualteams,
accordingtothreedifferentsalaryscales.(ThisexcludesplayersonassignmentfromtheNBA,
whoremainunderNBAcontract.)
20.WheredoNBADevelopmentLeagueplayerscomefrom?
ThereareeightdifferentpathsaplayercantaketotheNBAD-League:
• NBAteamscanassignplayerstotheirNBAD-Leagueaffiliateandrecallthematany
time.
• NBAteamscandraftplayersandsignthemtoNBAD-Leaguecontracts,thusretaining
theirrightsthroughthe“DraftRightsPlayer”rule.
• NBAteamscandesignateuptofourplayersthattheycutduringtrainingcampas
“affiliateplayers,”meaningthoseplayerswilljointhatteam’sNBAD-Leagueaffiliate
(shouldtheplayerschoosetosignintotheNBAD-League).Theseplayersaresigned
undercontractwiththeleagueratherthantheteam,however,meaningtheyare
technicallyfreeagentswhocanbecalleduptoanyofthe30NBAteams.
• NBAD-Leagueteamsholdlocaltryoutseachoffseasonandcaninviteuptofiveplayers
fromthesetryoutstotheirtrainingcamps.
• TheNBAD-Leagueholdsadrafteveryyearconsistingofnearly200playerswhohave
signedcontractswiththeleague.In2014,thedraftconsistedofeightrounds.
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•
•
PlayerswhoreturntotheNBAD-Leagueare,byrule,re-acquiredbytheteamsthatthey
playedforwithinthelasttwoseasons(ReturningPlayers).
OncetheNBAD-Leagueseasonbegins,playerswhosignNBAD-Leaguecontractsare
placedintoarotatingwaiverpoolsothatteamscanclaimthem.
Ifaplayerfromhighschool,collegeoroverseasenterstheNBAD-Leaguewithoutever
havingdeclaredfortheNBADraft,hewillalsojointhewaiverpool.Thatplayerremains
NBADraft-eligiblebutisnoteligibletobecalleduptotheNBA.
Whenanewfranchisejoinstheleague,anexpansiondraftisheldinwhichthenewteam
selects16playersfromapoolofunprotectedplayersamongtheleague’sotherteams.The
expansionteamwillthenholdthatplayer’sNBAD-Leaguerightsfortwoseasons.Each
returningteamcanprotectupto12ofitsplayersfrombeingselected.
21.HowlongarethequartersinanNBADevelopmentLeaguegame?
LikeintheNBA,eachquarterlasts12minutes.Overtimeperiodsarethreeminutescompared
totheNBA’sfiveminutes.
22.Howlongistheshotclock?
LikeintheNBA,theshotclocklasts24seconds.
23.Whatarethemeasurementsofthecourtandequipment?
Therimshang10feetfromthefloor,sittingonoppositeendsofacourtthat’s50feetwideand
94feetlong.
Bothendsofthefloorfeatureafreethrowline,15feetfromtherim,anda3-pointarcthat
runsfrom23feet,9inchesfromthebasketatthetopoftheperimeterto22feetatthe
baselines.Thecorner3-pointerhasbecomeoneoftheleague’smostpopularshotsbecauseof
thedifference.
Thebasketballitselfhasacircumferencewithinamaximumof29inchesandaminimumof
28.5inchesandhasapressurebetween7.5and8.6pounds.
24.AreanyoftherulesinNBADevelopmentLeaguegamesdifferentfromtherulesinNBA
games?
Yes.TheNBAusestheNBADevelopmentLeagueasatestinggroundfornewruleseachseason.
Duringthe2014-15season,thefollowingruleswereinplaceinNBAD-Leaguegames:
• Theinternationalgoaltendingrule:Aplayercanknocktheballawaywhenitisonthe
rim.
• Thecoach’schallenge:Coachescaninitiateinstantreplayreviewofrefereecallsof
personalorshootingfouls,includingoffensivefouls,aswellasthoseplaysthathave
beenidentifiedastriggersforinstantreplay.Toinitiateachallenge,acoachmustcalla
timeoutandimmediatelysignaltotherefereesthataplayisbeingchallenged.The
•
•
•
refereeswillthenreviewtheeventinquestionanddeterminewhethertoupholdor
changetheoriginalcall.Thechallengingteamwillretainitstimeoutifthechallengeis
successfulandwillloseitstimeoutifitisunsuccessful.Teamswillbegrantedone
challengeduringregulationandanotherchallengeineachovertimeperiod.An
additionalchallengeinregulationwillbegrantedifthefirstchallengeissuccessful.
The“advancerule”:Ateamwithpossessioncanstopplay,substituteandadvancethe
balltothe28-footmarkinthefrontcourtwithoutusingatimeout.Eachteamisgranted
one“advance”thatcanbeusedinthelasttwominutesofthefourthquarteraswellas
inthelasttwominutesofanyovertimeperiods.
Theaway-from-the-playfoulrule(alsoknownastherulethatattemptstocombat
“Hack-a-Shaq”):Anaway-from-the-playfoulisdefinedasanyillegalcontactbythe
defensewhichoccurseitherdeliberatelyawayfromtheimmediateareaofoffensive
action,priortotheballbeingreleasedonathrow-in,orboth.Ifanaway-from-the-play
fouliscommittedatanypointinthegame,personalandteamfoulswillbeassessedand
onefreethrowattemptwillbeawardedtoanyplayerinthegameatthetimethe
personalfoulwascommitted.
Teamfoullimitswillbeincreasedfromfourperperiodtofiveperperiodbeforefree
throwsarerewarded.
25.WherecanIbuyticketstoanNBADevelopmentLeaguegame?
Ticketsforeveryteamareavailableoneachteam’swebsite.
26.HasanNBADevelopmentLeagueplayereverbeendraftedintotheNBA?
SixplayershavebeendraftedintotheNBAoutoftheNBAD-League.Theseplayersenteredthe
NBAD-Leagueeitheroutofhighschool–theleague’sageminimumis18ratherthantheNBA’s
19–orasearlyentrycollegeplayers.
Theyinclude:MikeTaylor(2008),LataviousWilliams(2009),ChuChuMaduabum(2011),Glen
RiceJr.(2013),ThanasisAntetokounmpo(2014)andP.J.Hairston(2014).In2014,Hairston
becamethefirstfirst-roundNBADraftpicktheNBAD-Leaguehaseverproduced,and
AntetokounmpobecamethefirstinternationalprospectevertobedraftedoutoftheNBADLeague.
27.WhatdoaffiliationsbetweenNBAandNBADevelopmentLeaguesentail?
Therearetwotypesofaffiliations:one-to-oneaffiliation,inwhichtheNBAteamfullyownsand
operatesitsNBAD-Leagueteam;and“hybrid”affiliation,inwhichtheNBAteammanagesand
fundsthebasketballoperationswhilelocalownershipmaintainscontrolofthebusinessand
communityrelationsaspectsoftheteam.
Currently,10NBAteamsfullyownandoperatetheirNBAD-Leagueaffiliates:
theCavaliers,Jazz,Knicks,Lakers,Pacers,Raptors,Sixers,Spurs,ThunderandWarriors.
EightteamshavehybridaffiliationswiththeirNBAD-Leagueaffiliates:
theCeltics,Grizzlies,Heat,Kings,Magic,Pistons,RocketsandSuns.
TheDallasMavericksandTexasLegendsalsohaveaone-to-oneaffiliation.
NBAteamsprimarilyusetheirNBAD-Leagueaffiliatesasaplacetodeveloptheiryoungtalent.
Playerswiththreeyearsofserviceorlesscanbesent,or“assigned,”totheNBAD-Leaguean
unlimitednumberoftimes.TheNBAteamretainsanassignedplayer’srightsandcanrecallthat
playeratanytime.
NBAteamsofteninstallthesameoffensiveanddefensivesystems–includingthesame
terminologyandevensomeofthesameplays–ontheirNBAD-Leagueaffiliates.Thestaffs
withintheorganizationareinconstantcommunicationaboutthedevelopmentoftheirmajor-
andminor-leaguetalent.
28.HowdoNBAfranchisesnotaffiliatedwithanNBAD-Leagueteamassignplayers?
WiththePacers’acquisitionoftheMadAnts,theNBAD-League’sflexibleassignmentsystem–
whichwasinstitutedpriortothe2014-15season–willcontinuetoenablethe11independent
NBAteamstoassignplayerstotheNBAD-Leaguefordevelopmentorrehabilitationfrominjury
duringthe2015-16season.
UponreceiptofanassignmentfromanindependentNBAteam,theNBAD-Leaguewillidentify
anyNBAD-Leagueteamwillingtoaccepttheassignedplayer.TheassigningindependentNBA
teamwillthenchoosethedestinationforassignmentbetweenthoseteams.IfnoNBADLeagueteamiswillingtoaccepttheassignedplayer,hewillbeassignedtooneofthehybrid
affiliateteamspursuanttoalottery.
29.WhatistheNBADevelopmentLeagueShowcase?
NBAD-LeagueShowcaseistheNBAD-League’sannualin-seasonscoutingevent,whenallofits
teamsconvergeinonecitytoplayinfrontofNBAgeneralmanagersandplayerpersonnel
executivesfromall30NBAteams.The2015eventmarkedthe11thNBAD-LeagueShowcase.
ShowcasetraditionallycoincideswiththetimewhenNBAteamscanbeginsigningplayersto
10-daycontracts,sincethemajorityoftheplayerssignedto10-daycontractsareGATORADE
Call-UpsfromtheNBAD-League.
30.Howdo10-dayNBAcontractswork?
Eachseason,fromearlyJanuarytoearlyApril,NBAteamscansignfreeagentsto10-day
contracts.Aplayercanbesignedtoamaximumoftwoconsecutive10-daycontractsbeforea
teammusteithersignhimfortheremainderoftheseasonorreleasehim.
31.WhichteamshavewonthemostNBADevelopmentLeaguetitles?
TheAshevilleAltitude,Colorado14ersandRioGrandeValleyVipersareeachtiedforthemost
titleswonwithtwo.(OnlytheVipersarestillanactivefranchise.)
32.WhoistheNBADevelopmentLeague’sall-timeleadingscorer?
RenaldoMajor,aneight-yearveteranoftheDakotaWizards(nowtheSantaCruzWarriors)and
BakersfieldJam,istheleague’sall-timeleadingscorerwith4,653pointsthroughthe2014-15
season.HepassedFortWayneMadAntsveteranRonHoward(4,324points)inDecember2014
afterHowardhadpassedMajorduringthe2013-14season.
33.HowcanItryoutfortheNBADevelopmentLeague?
TheleagueholdsaNationalTryoutonceeachyear.Participantsmustfilloutanapplicationand
makea$350onlinepayment.Theeventislimitedto220players,andbetween25and40
typicallysigncontractsandbecomeeligiblefortheNBAD-LeagueDraft.
TwoplayersfromtheNBAD-LeagueNationalTryouthavegoneontoreachtheNBA:Dennis
Horner(Nets)andDwightBuycks(Raptors,Lakers).
Additionally,eachNBAD-Leagueteamholdsitsownlocaltryout(s)priortothestartofthe
seasonandcaninviteuptofiveoftheparticipantstoitspreseasontrainingcamp.