The NBA D-League will now be known as the NBA Gatorade League, or the G-League for short, the league announced on Tuesday.
NBA D-League rebrands as the NBA Gatorade League, or G-League
The sports drink brand will sponsor the minor league.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Terms of the sponsorship deal have not been released.
The minor league was formed in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League but shortened its name to the D-League in 2005. The G-League is comprised of 22 teams. Three additional teams will be added in the 2017-18 season, bringing the league closer to a full 30-team farm system for the NBA. Most NBA franchises currently have a one-to-one relationship with a G-League squad, allowing closer relations and strong development programs for young players on assignment.
The NBA said it aims to use Gatorade’s sports research institutes to improve player development.
The G-League player base is a mix of young prospects and veterans hoping to be called up to the NBA. The new NBA labor deal is expected to boost G-League salaries and make the transition from the minor league to the NBA smoother financially. As it stands now, a single 10-day contract in the NBA is worth more than a full season of work in the G-League.
For more on the G-League announcement, visit Ridiculous Upside.
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