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Team and League History

October 23, 2018
Multiple media outlets are reporting that a National Basketball Association team, the New Orleans Pelicans, will soon announce they will be placing an NBA G League team in Birmingham.

Currently, all but three NBA teams have affiliate teams in the G League; New Orleans, the Denver Nuggets, and the Portland Trail Blazers.

The NBA G League, typically called the G League, is the official minor league of the NBA. The league was created to allow players, coaches, officials, and front office staff to work their way up to the NBA.

The league began play in the 2001-02 season as the National Basketball Development League, with the original eight franchises located in the southeast (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia).

Beginning with the 2005-06 season, the NBDL was renamed the NBA Development League, or the NBA D League, as part of a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA and a bid to appeal to more fans by showing their connection to the major league. By 2015, the last multiple-affiliate team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, was purchased by the Indiana Pacers leading to the first season where all D League teams were affiliated with only one NBA team. As there were no longer any unaffiliated D League teams left, the remaining NBA teams began purchasing expansion franchises or hybrid partnership teams and placing them near the parent team.

Before the 2017-18 season, the D League entered into a multi-year partnership with Gatorade to became the title sponsor of the D League, and the league was renamed the NBA Gatorade League, or NBA G League for short.

Starting with the 2019–20 season, the G League will begin to offer Select Contracts to players that are not yet eligible to enter the NBA draft. Since 2006, players that aren't at least 19 years old by the end of the calendar year have been ineligible, creating what became known as the "one-and-done" rule where players joined a college basketball team for one season and then left for the NBA. The new Select Contract is to be an alternative for players who do not want, or cannot, attend a college and is worth up to $125,000 for a season.

	National Basketball Development League logo		NBA Development League logo

Along with Birmingham, the Pelicans have been in discussions with Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Jackson, Mobile, and Pensacola. The other cities have been dropped over time for varying reasons.

It is anticipated the team will eventually play in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex's Legacy Arena. However, the city already had plans in place for a $125 million renovation of the arena. Outside, the plans include aesthetic enhancements such as a new facade, new entrances, and a new design of the piazza for a more open plan that provides better pedestrian flow between the arena, concert hall, and theater. Inside, the renovation will add a suite level, premium club space, and enhancements to improve crowd flow.

With the construction going on, the new team could not play in Legacy Arena until the 2020-21 season. The Pelicans are expected to announce that the team will play one year in Erie, Pennsylvania before moving to Birmingham.

The Erie BayHawks have been in the league since the 2008-09 season. In 2016, the Orlando Magic purchased the BayHawks with the intention of moving the team to Lakeland (FL) for the 2017-18 season. The Atlanta Hawks had planned to start a new G League team in College Park (GA) for the 2019-20 season but the BayHawks original owners petitioned the Hawks to activate their franchise a year early and play in Erie for a year. After this season, the Hawks will move their team, leaving Erie without a G League franchise. With the Pelicans needing an arena for one season, Erie would seem to be an excellent choice as a temporary home for the Birmingham team.

As part of the $300 million plan, a new open-air stadium will be built near the BJCC, with UAB football as a main tenant. Once built, other teams could possibly play in the stadium, such as the Alliance of American Football's Birmingham Iron and the United Soccer League's Birmingham Legion. Both of those teams are set to begin play in 2019.

The G League schedule runs from November to March and teams typically play around 25 home games.

October 24, 2018
At a press conference in Birmingham, the New Orleans Pelicans formally announce they will place an NBA G League team in the city.

While renovations take place at the Legacy Arena, the team will begin play as the Erie BayHawks and could move to Birmingham as early as the 2020-21 season. If the upgrades take longer than expected, the team will remain in Erie for another year before moving here.

No team name was announced, but the Birmingham community will be involved in the process of selecting the nickname. “We’ll start having some fun in naming the team, (by) engaging the fans. And do some other fun marketing things in Birmingham, over the next two years,” New Orleans Pelicans president Dennis Lauscha said.

Lauscha said Birmingham was chosen for a number of reasons. “We started studying the demographics and looking at the Legacy Arena, and discussed the various improvements that are going to be made in the arena. At the end of the day, we were very impressed with their vision and are very bullish on the market.”

Lauscha noted that based on metrics used by the G League to determine the strength of markets, Birmingham received high marks, in areas such as the demographics of sports fans and TV market size. In addition, the city is in close proximity to New Orleans, allowing players and team personnel to easily shuttle between the two locations. “Having the players feel like they’re still connected to the team while they’re on assignment is very important,” Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said. Demps was also an assistant coach and GM in the G League.

Pelicans owner Gayle Benson is excited for the possibilities. “This is a tremendous day for the Pelicans organization. I’d like to thank the city of Birmingham, Mayor Woodfin, and Tad Snider of the BJCC for being such fantastic partners in the endeavor. These are exciting times for this region, and we feel so fortunate to be a part of it.”

The Pelicans were established in 2002 as the New Orleans Hornets when owner Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn moved his franchise. Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the franchise temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City, where they spent two seasons officially known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. The team returned to New Orleans full-time for the 2007–08 season.

In December of 2010, the NBA purchased the Hornets from Shinn for an estimated $300 million. On April 13, 2012, it was announced that Tom Benson, owner of the National Football League's New Orleans Saints, had purchased the franchise from the NBA for $338 million. Upholding Tom Benson's statement that the team would soon be renamed to better reflect the region, the franchise would become the New Orleans Pelicans after the 2012-13 season.

	New Orleans Pelicans owner Gayle Benson

On March 15, 2018, Tom Benson died from flu complications and ownership of the Pelicans and the Saints were transferred to Benson's widow, Gayle Benson.

The NBA G League is a proven developer of talent. A record 40% of NBA players to start the 2018-19 season had G League experience, while 33 players selected in the 2017 NBA Draft played in the G League last season.

December 9, 2020
The Pelicans organization announce they are holding a 'name the team' contest that will run from to day until December 23rd. Submissions will be accepted through the Pelicans website.

“This is a great way for the community to share the names that they think would represent the city of Birmingham and this exciting new team. From the beginning, we’ve said that we want the city of Birmingham to be involved in this process. This allows them the opportunity to support the team and we are eagerly waiting to see the submissions, ”said Lauscha.

The Erie BayHawks are "estimated" to relocate to Birmingham starting for the 2021-22 season.

The Pelicans expect to announce the team name in the first quarter of 2021.

April 8, 2021
Erie BayHawks management announces they will cease operations in the coming weeks due to not having an NBA team affiliation next season.

“We’ve made the determination that we will cease operations in the coming weeks due to not being unable to find another NBA partner, or other adequate opportunity, to keep G League basketball in Erie. This result is merely a reflection of the changing landscape of the NBA as many teams prefer their G League affiliate be located nearby, and Erie simply is not positioned geographically to provide that. While we’re saddened by this for our fans and the Erie community, we are deeply appreciative of the tremendous support the BayHawks received over the past 13 years," said Matt Bresee, BayHawks president.

June 1, 2021
It is reported that the local G League team will not make its home debut until January. The organization decided to start the season on the road in November and December rather than play some home games in local college arenas until the upgrades at Legacy Arena are complete.

"You only get one chance to make a first impression. We want the focus to be on Legacy Arena. That will be our home," said general manager David Lane.

July 26, 2020
The Pelicans announce that the team name will be Birmingham Squadron.

In their explanation for the name, a group of Pelicans is known as a "squadron".

For the logo, they offered the following:

Vulcan's spear is represented by the top of the star down to the two tips at the bottom. The left and right sections of the star represent wings of a pelican. The gear around the basketball are a nod to Birmingham's industrial past. The white crescent around the ball is in homage to the culture, the people, and spirit of New Orleans.

	Head coach Ryan Pannone

The colors will be the same as the Pelicans use, red, white, blue, and gold. The font for all team wordmarks will be the same font the Pelicans use.

The Squadron head coach will be Ryan Pannone, who was also the head coach of the Erie BayHawks since 2019.

The Clearwater, Florida native's first head coaching position was at Oldsmar Christian School from 2006 to 2011. Pannone's first brush with our state was in 2011-12 when he served as an assistant coach at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. From there he moved to China as an assistant with the Foshan Long Lions. In 2013, he worked as an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He then worked for the D League's Erie BayHawks, followed by a year in Germany. Between 2015 and 2017, he worked for the LG Lakers in South Korea. 2016-17 found him working as an assistant coach in Israel. He was named head coach of BC Prievidza of the Slovak Basketball League in 2017. In 2018, he returned to Hapoel in  Jerusalem as an assistant coach. In 2019, Pannone was a member of the New Orleans Pelicans’ NBA Summer League coaching staff and was soon named head coach of the BayHawks.

September 14, 2021
The Squadron announce their inaugural game schedule.

The NBA G League is implementing a new scheduling structure this season, which will split the schedule in two parts. Each team's 50-game season will begin with a 14-game Showcase Cup that will conclude with the NBA G League Winter Showcase at a neutral site. The season will continue with a traditional 36-game regular season. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top six teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs.

The Squadron’s 50-game schedule includes 24 home games, 24 road games, and two neutral site games at the annual NBA G League Winter Showcase. The Winter Showcase is the NBA G League’s annual in-season scouting event, when all of the league’s teams converge in one city to play in front of NBA general managers and player personnel executives from all 30 NBA teams.

October 2021

			2021-22                              NBA G League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Agua Caliente Clippers		Austin Spurs		Birmingham Squadron		Capital City Go-Go		Cleveland Charge
	College Park Skyhawks		Delaware Blue Coats		Fort Wayne Mad Ants		Grand Rapids Gold		Greensboro Swarm
	Iowa Wolves		Lakeland Magic		Long Island Nets		Maine Celtics		Memphis Hustle
	Mexico City Capitanes		Motor City Cruise		NBA G League Ignite		Oklahoma City Blue		Raptors 905
	Rio Grande Valley Vipers		Salt Lake City Stars		Santa Cruz Warriors		Sioux Falls Skyforce		South Bay Lakers
	Stockton Kings		Texas Legends		Westchester Knicks		Windy City Bulls		Wisconsin Herd

2021-22 NBA G League
Western Conference	Eastern Conference
Agua Caliente Clippers	Capital City Go-Go
Austin Spurs	Cleveland Charge
Birmingham Squadron	College Park Skyhawks
Iowa Wolves	Delaware Blue Coats
Memphis Hustle	Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Oklahoma City Blue	Grand Rapids Gold
Rio Grande Valley Vipers	Greensboro Swarm
Salt Lake City Stars	Lakeland Magic
Santa Cruz Warriors	Long Island Nets
Sioux Falls Skyforce	Maine Celtics
South Bay Lakers	Motor City Cruise
Stockton Kings	Raptors 905
Texas Legends	Westchester Knicks
	Windy City Bulls
	Wisconsin Herd

Mexico City Capitanes and NBA G League Ignite are not included in conference listings.

December 24, 2021
The NBA G League announces that the season has been "paused" until January 5th. Many of the rosters in the 30-team developmental league have been depleted due to players being called up to the NBA to replace players who are in the health and safety protocols due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The league's Winter Showcase tournament has just been completed and regular season play was scheduled to begin on the 27th.

September 15, 2022

	Head coach T. J. Saint

The Squadron announce they have a new head coach.

T. J. Saint was promoted from his associate head coach position with the Squadron into the head coach role.

Saint enters his first season as a head coach after spending the previous three seasons with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate teams as associate head coach (2020-22) and as an assistant coach (2019-20).

Prior to joining the organization, Saint served as the Director of Basketball Strategy for the University of Georgia Men’s Basketball team during the 2018-19 season. Before that, Saint was the video coordinator for the Detroit Pistons from 2014-18. Saint graduated from Belmont University with a bachelor’s degree in business development, where he also served as a student assistant coach with the men’s basketball team from 2009-11. He then went to Butler University, where he worked as a graduate assistant coach while earning his master’s degree in effective teaching and leadership. Upon graduation, he was promoted to director of basketball operations with the Bulldogs for the 2013-14 season.

Earlier in the day the New Orleans Pelicans announced that the Squadron's former head coach, Ryan Pannone, had taken a full-time position with the Pelicans as an assistant coach.

November 2022

			2022-23                              NBA G League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Austin Spurs		Birmingham Squadron		Capital City Go-Go		Cleveland Charge		College Park Skyhawks
	Delaware Blue Coats		Fort Wayne Mad Ants		Grand Rapids Gold		Greensboro Swarm		Iowa Wolves
	Lakeland Magic		Long Island Nets		Maine Celtics		Memphis Hustle		Mexico City Capitanes
	Motor City Cruise		NBA G League Ignite		Oklahoma City Blue		Ontario Clippers		Raptors 905
	Rio Grande Valley Vipers		Salt Lake City Stars		Santa Cruz Warriors		Sioux Falls Skyforce		South Bay Lakers
	Stockton Kings		Texas Legends		Westchester Knicks		Windy City Bulls		Wisconsin Herd

2022-23 NBA G League
Western Conference	Eastern Conference
Austin Spurs	Capital City Go-Go
Birmingham Squadron	Cleveland Charge
Iowa Wolves	College Park Skyhawks
Memphis Hustle	Delaware Blue Coats
Mexico City Capitanes	Fort Wayne Mad Ants
NBA G League Ignite	Grand Rapids Gold
Oklahoma City Blue	Greensboro Swarm
Ontario Clippers	Lakeland Magic
Rio Grande Valley Vipers	Long Island Nets
Salt Lake City Stars	Maine Celtics
Santa Cruz Warriors	Motor City Cruise
Sioux Falls Skyforce	Raptors 905
South Bay Lakers	Westchester Knicks
Stockton Kings	Windy City Bulls
Texas Legends	Wisconsin Herd

November 2023

			2023-24                              NBA G League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Austin Spurs		Birmingham Squadron		Capital City Go-Go		Cleveland Charge		College Park Skyhawks
	Delaware Blue Coats		Grand Rapids Gold		Greensboro Swarm		Indiana Mad Ants		Iowa Wolves
	Long Island Nets		Maine Celtics		Memphis Hustle		Mexico City Capitanes		Motor City Cruise
	NBA G League Ignite		Oklahoma City Blue		Ontario Clippers		Osceola Magic		Raptors 905
	Rio Grande Valley Vipers		Rip City Remix		Salt Lake City Stars		Santa Cruz Warriors		Sioux Falls Skyforce
	South Bay Lakers		Stockton Kings		Texas Legends		Westchester Knicks		Windy City Bulls
	Wisconsin Herd

2023-24 NBA G League
Western Conference	Eastern Conference
Austin Spurs	Birmingham Squadron
Iowa Wolves	Capital City Go-Go
Memphis Hustle	Cleveland Charge
Mexico City Capitanes	College Park Skyhawks
NBA G League Ignite	Delaware Blue Coats
Oklahoma City Blue	Indiana Mad Ants
Ontario Clippers	Grand Rapids Gold
Rio Grande Valley Vipers	Greensboro Swarm
Rip City Remix	Long Island Nets
Salt Lake City Stars	Maine Celtics
Santa Cruz Warriors	Motor City Cruise
Sioux Falls Skyforce	Osceola Magic
South Bay Lakers	Raptors 905
Stockton Kings	Westchester Knicks
Texas Legends	Windy City Bulls
	Wisconsin Herd

November 2024

			2024-25                              NBA G League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Austin Spurs		Birmingham Squadron		Capital City Go-Go		Cleveland Charge		College Park Skyhawks
	Delaware Blue Coats		Grand Rapids Gold		Greensboro Swarm		Indiana Mad Ants		Iowa Wolves
	Long Island Nets		Maine Celtics		Memphis Hustle		Mexico City Capitanes		Motor City Cruise
	Oklahoma City Blue		Osceola Magic		Raptors 905		Rio Grande Valley Vipers		Rip City Remix
	Salt Lake City Stars		San Diego Clippers		Santa Cruz Warriors		Sioux Falls Skyforce		South Bay Lakers
	Stockton Kings		Texas Legends		Westchester Knicks		Windy City Bulls		Wisconsin Herd

2024-25 NBA G League
Western Conference	Eastern Conference
Austin Spurs	Birmingham Squadron
Iowa Wolves	Capital City Go-Go
Memphis Hustle	Cleveland Charge
Mexico City Capitanes	College Park Skyhawks
Oklahoma City Blue	Delaware Blue Coats
Rio Grande Valley Vipers	Indiana Mad Ants
Rip City Remix	Grand Rapids Gold
Salt Lake City Stars	Greensboro Swarm
San Diego Clippers	Long Island Nets
Santa Cruz Warriors	Maine Celtics
Sioux Falls Skyforce	Motor City Cruise
South Bay Lakers	Osceola Magic
Stockton Kings	Raptors 905
Texas Legends	Westchester Knicks
	Windy City Bulls
	Wisconsin Herd

Champions of the NBDL/D League/G League
Year	Team	Year	Team
2001-02	Greenville Groove	2013-14	Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2002-03	Mobile Revelers	2014-15	Santa Cruz Warriors
2003-04	Asheville Altitude	2015-16	Sioux Falls Skyforce
2004-05	Asheville Altitude (2nd)	2016-17	Raptors 905
2005-06	Albuquerque Thunderbirds	2017-18	Austin Spurs
2006-07	Dakota Wizards	2018-19	Rio Grande Valley Vipers (3rd)
2007-08	Idaho Stampede	2019-20	Season cancelled: COVID-19
2008-09	Colorado 14ers	2020-21	Lakeland Magic
2009-10	Rio Grande Valley Vipers	2021-22	Rio Grande Valley Vipers (4th)
2010-11	Iowa Energy	2022-23	Delaware Blue Coats
2011-12	Austin Toros	2023-24	Oklahoma City Blue
2012-13	Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2nd)	2024-25	???

	Years local team participated

			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 2024-25		Bakersfield Jam 2006-07 to 2015-16		Birmingham Squadron 2021-22 to 2024-25		Canton Charge 2011-12 to 2020-21
	Capital City Go-Go 2018-19 to 2024-25		Cleveland Charge 2021-22 to 2024-25		Charleston Lowgators 2003-04		College Park Skyhawks 2019-20 to 2024-25		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 2024-25		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 2024-25		Greensboro Swarm 2016-17 to 2024-25		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 2024-25		Iowa Energy 2007-08 to 2016-17		Iowa Wolves 2017-18 to 2024-25		Lakeland Magic 2017-18 to 2022-23		Long Island Nets 2016-17 to 2024-25
	Los Angeles D-Fenders 2006-07 to 2009-10; 2011-12 to 2016-17		Maine Celtics 2021-22 to 2024-25		Maine Red Claws 2009-10 to 2019-20		Memphis Hustle 2017-18 to 2024-25		Mexico City Capitanes 2021-22 to 2024-25
	Mobile Revelers 2001-02 to 2002-03		Motor City Cruise 2021-22 to 2024-25		NBA G League Ignite 2020-21 to 2023-24		New Mexico Thunderbirds 2010-11		North Charleston Lowgators 2001-02 to 2002-03
	Northern Arizona Suns 2016-17 to 2019-20		Oklahoma City Blue 2014-15 to 2024-25		Ontario Clippers 2022-23 to 2023-24		Osceola Magic 2023-24 to 2024-25		Raptors 905 2015-16 to 2024-25
	Reno Bighorns 2008-09 to 2017-18		Rio Grande Valley Vipers 2007-08 to 2024-25		Rip City Remix 2023-24 to 2024-25		Roanoke Dazzle 2001-02 to 2005-06		Salt Lake City Stars 2016-17 to 2024-25
	San Diego Clippers 2024-25		Santa Cruz Warriors 2012-13 to 2024-25		Sioux Falls Skyforce 2006-07 to 2024-25		South Bay Lakers 2017-18 to 2024-25		Springfield Armor 2009-10 to 2013-14
	Stockton Kings 2018-19 to 2024-25		Texas Legends 2010-11 to 2024-25		Tulsa 66ers 2005-06 to 2013-14		Utah Flash 2007-08 to 2010-11		Westchester Knicks 2014-15 to 2024-25
	Windy City Bulls 2016-17 to 2024-25		Wisconsin Herd 2017-18 to 2024-25

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Last update: September 03, 2024