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Will Birmingham join the National Basketball Development League?

June 19, 2003
Philip Evans, president of the National Basketball Development League and Bruce Burge visit Birmingham as a possible expansion site for the 2003-04 season. They were joined on the tour by local businessman Jon Creel.

The NBDL, which played its first season in 2001-02, is a minor league farm system wholly owned by the National Basketball Association. The NBA formed the NBDL to have more direct control over the development of players, coaches, officials, and office staff. With the formation of the NBDL, the NBA then severed ties with the Continental Basketball Association, which for years had a working agreement with the NBA. Each NBDL team plays over 50 games during a November through March season.

	Bruce Burge

Burge is very familiar with Birmingham, having been at times a co-owner of the East Coast Hockey League's Birmingham Bulls and arenafootball2's Birmingham Steeldogs. Burge currently works as the league's sponsorship sales director.

One of the group's tour stops was Hoover High School to look at their facilities. "We've always thought Birmingham would be a good market for the NBDL. I was a little concerned about the venues available. Obviously, we're building our product in the Southeast and we were looking for a venue a little more intimate than the BJCC, although that's an impressive facility," Evans said.

Creel agreed, saying, "Birmingham is one place they want to be. With the caliber of basketball that comes out of the universities around here, they want to create their franchises with them."

While all of the current franchises are owned by the NBA, Evans said they are now looking for local owners for franchises. "Late last week we decided formally to begin considering local ownership for the first time. Since we made that internal announcement, my phone has been ringing off the hook. I had a gentleman in Birmingham who was interested in a team this fall. If we do something that quickly, I wanted to meet with him and take a look around," Evans said.

Two of the league's eight franchises folded after last season, primarily due to poor attendance. Ironically, they are both the only champions the league has ever had; the Greenville Groove, who won the first year, and the Mobile Revelers, who won last year. However, the league's expansion plan is aggressive and they would like to add up to 24 teams within the next two years. "The fact that we weren't able to get off the ground as quickly in Mobile as we would have liked was a contributing factor in our deciding to partner with the right local owner. The right local partner can generate interest, we believe, and support in an NBDL team much more quickly than we can, even with the resources of the NBA behind us," Evans said.

"We're in negotiations, but I think it's a little premature at this point. I need to meet with some other folks and see if we can make arrangements (for a team). It would be good for the city. Because it is an NBA franchise, NBA-sanctioned, it gives them more respect than the football teams like the WFL or something along those lines," Creel said.

November 2003

		2003-04                  National Basketball Development League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Asheville Altitude		Charleston Lowgators		Columbus Riverdragons		Fayetteville Patriots		Huntsville Flight
	Roanoke Dazzle

Epilogue
The National Basketball Development League did not award any new franchises for the 2003-04 season.

In 2005 the league changed their name to the NBA Development League, or "D League" for short.

In 2017 the league changed their name once again, this time to the NBA G League, or "G League" for short. This was done because the league's title sponsor is Gatorade.

In 2018, the National Basketball Association's New Orleans Pelicans announced they will place an NBA League team in Birmingham beginning with the 2021 season.

		Teams of the                  NBDL/D League/G League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Agua Caliente Clippers 2017-18 to 2021-22		Albuquerque Thunderbirds 2005-06 to 2009-10		Anaheim Arsenal 2006-07 to 2008-09		Arkansas RimRockers 2005-06 to 2006-07		Asheville Altitude 2001-02 to 2004-05
	Austin Toros 2005-06 to 2013-14		Austin Spurs 2014-15 to 2025-26		Bakersfield Jam 2006-07 to 2015-16		Birmingham Squadron 2021-22 to 2025-26		Canton Charge 2011-12 to 2020-21
	Capital City Go-Go 2018-19 to 2025-26		Cleveland Charge 2021-22 to 2025-26		Charleston Lowgators 2003-04		College Park Skyhawks 2019-20 to 2025-26		Colorado 14ers 2006-07 to 2008-09
	Columbus Riverdragons 2001-02 to 2004-05		Dakota Wizards 2006-07 to 2011-12		Delaware 87ers 2013-14 to 2017-18		Delaware Blue Coats 2018-19 to 2025-26		Erie BayHawks 2008-09 to 2020-21
	Fayetteville Patriots 2001-02 to 2005-06		Florida Flame 2004-05 to 2005-06		Fort Wayne Mad Ants 2007-08 to 2022-23		Fort Worth Flyers 2005-06 to 2006-07		Grand Rapids Drive 2014-15 to 2019-20
	Grand Rapids Gold 2021-22 to 2025-26		Greensboro Swarm 2016-17 to 2025-26		Greenville Groove 2001-02 to 2002-03		Huntsville Flight 2001-02 to 2004-05		Idaho Stampede 2006-07 to 2015-16
	Indiana Mad Ants 2023-24 to 2025-26		Iowa Energy 2007-08 to 2016-17		Iowa Wolves 2017-18 to 2025-26		Lakeland Magic 2017-18 to 2022-23		Long Island Nets 2016-17 to 2025-26
	Los Angeles D-Fenders 2006-07 to 2009-10; 2011-12 to 2016-17		Maine Celtics 2021-22 to 2025-26		Maine Red Claws 2009-10 to 2019-20		Memphis Hustle 2017-18 to 2025-26		Mexico City Capitanes 2021-22 to 2025-26
	Mobile Revelers 2001-02 to 2002-03		Motor City Cruise 2021-22 to 2025-26		NBA G League Ignite 2020-21 to 2023-24		New Mexico Thunderbirds 2010-11		Noblesville Boom 2025-26
	North Charleston Lowgators 2001-02 to 2002-03		Northern Arizona Suns 2016-17 to 2019-20		Oklahoma City Blue 2014-15 to 2025-26		Ontario Clippers 2022-23 to 2023-24		Osceola Magic 2023-24 to 2025-26
	Raptors 905 2015-16 to 2025-26		Reno Bighorns 2008-09 to 2017-18		Rio Grande Valley Vipers 2007-08 to 2025-26		Rip City Remix 2023-24 to 2025-26		Roanoke Dazzle 2001-02 to 2005-06
	Salt Lake City Stars 2016-17 to 2025-26		San Diego Clippers 2024-25 to 2025-26		Santa Cruz Warriors 2012-13 to 2025-26		Sioux Falls Skyforce 2006-07 to 2025-26		South Bay Lakers 2017-18 to 2025-26
	Springfield Armor 2009-10 to 2013-14		Stockton Kings 2018-19 to 2025-26		Texas Legends 2010-11 to 2025-26		Tulsa 66ers 2005-06 to 2013-14		Utah Flash 2007-08 to 2010-11
	Valley Suns 2024-25 to 2025-26		Westchester Knicks 2014-15 to 2025-26		Windy City Bulls 2016-17 to 2025-26		Wisconsin Herd 2017-18 to 2025-26

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NBA D League logo 2005-06 to 2016-17      NBA G League logo 2017-18 to present

NBA G League logo 2017-18 to present

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Last update: October 26, 2025