The 2011–12 NBA Development League season was the 11th season of the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). The NBA D-League is the official minor league basketball organization owned and run by the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league was formed in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL). The league adopted its current name in 2005 to reflect its close affiliation with the NBA. The 2011–12 season will be competed by 16 teams. The Los Angeles D-Fenders, after spending one season inactive, joined the 15 returning teams from the previous season. The Utah Flash ceased operation at the end of the previous season and would not be playing in the 2011–12 season. The New Mexico Thunderbirds relocated to Canton, Ohio and were renamed as the Canton Charge.
This season, an all-time high nine teams will have single-affiliation partnerships with NBA teams, up from four in the previous season. Five of them, the Austin Toros, the Canton Charge, the Dakota Wizards, the Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Tulsa 66ers, are owned by their NBA affiliates. Four teams, the Erie BayHawks, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Springfield Armor and the Texas Legends, have a hybrid single-affiliation partnership with NBA teams, where their basketball operations are controlled by their NBA affiliates. The other seven teams are affiliated with three NBA teams each.
Teams and coaches Team City Arena Head coach NBA affiliate(s) Eastern Conference Canton Charge Canton, Ohio Canton Memorial Civic Center Alex Jensen Cleveland Cavaliers Dakota Wizards Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck Civic Center Nate Bjorkgren Golden State Warriors Erie BayHawks Erie, Pennsylvania Tullio Arena Jay Larranaga New York Knicks Fort Wayne Mad Ants Fort Wayne, Indiana Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Joey Meyer (until January 6)Steve Gansey (from January 6) Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks Iowa Energy Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena Kevin Young Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards Maine Red Claws Portland, Maine Portland Expo Building Dave Leitao Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Philadelphia 76ers Sioux Falls Skyforce Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls Arena Morris McHone Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic Springfield Armor Springfield, Massachusetts MassMutual Center Bob MacKinnon, Jr. New Jersey Nets Western Conference Austin Toros Cedar Park, Texas Cedar Park Center Brad Jones San Antonio Spurs Bakersfield Jam Bakersfield, California Jam Events Center Will Voigt Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors Idaho Stampede Boise, Idaho CenturyLink Arena Boise Randy Livingston Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz Los Angeles D-Fenders El Segundo, California Toyota Sports Center Eric Musselman Los Angeles Lakers Reno Bighorns Reno, Nevada Reno Events Center Paul Mokeski Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings Rio Grande Valley Vipers Hidalgo, Texas State Farm Arena Nick Nurse Houston Rockets Texas Legends Frisco, Texas Dr Pepper Arena Del Harris Dallas Mavericks Tulsa 66ers Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa Convention Center Nate Tibbetts (until December 5)Dale Osbourne (from December 5) Oklahoma City Thunder
Team changes On May 1, 2011, the Springfield Armor began a single-affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets. The Armor's basketball operation will be controlled by the Nets, who also became their sole NBA affiliate. On June 8, 2011, the Erie BayHawks began a single-affiliation partnership with the New York Knicks. The BayHawks' basketball operation will be controlled by the Knicks, who also became their sole NBA affiliate. On June 9, 2011, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, who suspended operation during the 2010–11 season, announced that they will return to play in the 2011–12 season. The franchise, which is owned and operated by the Los Angeles Lakers, relocated to El Segundo, California and resumed their single-affiliation partnership with the Lakers. On June 18, 2011, the Utah Flash announced that they would not play in the 2011–12 season as the team is up for sale. On June 28, 2011, the Dakota Wizards was purchased by the Golden State Warriors. The Wizards also began a single-affiliation partnership with the Warriors. On July 7, 2011, the New Mexico Thunderbirds was purchased by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The franchise relocated to Canton, Ohio and were later renamed as the Canton Charge. The Charge also began a single-affiliation partnership with the Cavaliers.
Affiliation changes On July 7, 2011, the league announced the affiliation system for the season. Five teams, the Austin Toros, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Texas Legends and the Tulsa 66ers, continued their single-affiliation partnerships with their parent teams. The Los Angeles D-Fenders, who returned after one-year hiatus, resumed their single-affiliation partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers. Four teams, the Canton Charge, the Dakota Wizards and the Erie BayHawks, each began a single-affiliation partnership with an NBA team. The Springfield Armor also began a single-affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets, their NBA affiliate for last two seasons. The other seven teams are affiliated with three NBA teams each. Only one team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, retained the same affiliates from the previous season. Due to several team changes above and other circumstances, some affiliation changes occurred.
^Denotes a single-affiliation partnership Team NBA team Previous affiliate Note(s) Bakersfield Jam Phoenix Suns Iowa Energy (2008–2011)— Bakersfield Jam Toronto Raptors Erie BayHawks (2009–2011) The BayHawks began a single-affiliation partnership with the New York Knicks. Canton Charge^ Cleveland Cavaliers^ Erie BayHawks (2008–2011) The Cavaliers purchased the New Mexico Thunderbirds and relocated them to Canton, Ohio as the Canton Charge.The BayHawks began a single-affiliation partnership with the New York Knicks. Dakota Wizards^ Golden State Warriors^ Reno Bighorns (2010–2011) The Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards. Erie BayHawks^ New York Knicks^ Springfield Armor (2009–2011) The BayHawks began a single-affiliation partnership with the Knicks.The Armor began a single-affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets. Idaho Stampede Utah Jazz Utah Flash (2007–2011) The Flash ceased operations. Iowa Energy New Orleans Hornets New Mexico / Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2009–2011) The Cleveland Cavaliers purchased the Thunderbirds and relocated them to Canton, Ohio as the Canton Charge. Iowa Energy Washington Wizards Dakota Wizards (2006–2011) The Golden State Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards. Los Angeles D-Fenders^ Los Angeles Lakers^ Bakersfield Jam (2010–2011) The D-Fenders, who are owned and controlled by the Lakers, returned after a one-year hiatus. Maine Red Claws Philadelphia 76ers Springfield Armor (2009–2011) The Armor began a single-affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets. Reno Bighorns Atlanta Hawks Utah Flash (2009–2011) The Flash ceased operations. Reno Bighorns Memphis Grizzlies Dakota Wizards (2007–2011) The Golden State Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards. Sioux Falls Skyforce Orlando Magic New Mexico Thunderbirds (2010–2011) The Cleveland Cavaliers purchased the Thunderbirds and relocated them to Canton, Ohio as the Canton Charge.
Coaching changes +Coaching changes Offseason Team 2010–11 coach 2011–12 coach Canton Charge Darvin Ham(with New Mexico Thunderbirds) Alex Jensen Dakota Wizards Rory White Nate Bjorkgren Iowa Energy Nick Nurse Kevin Young Los Angeles D-Fenders Franchise inactive Eric Musselman Maine Red Claws Austin Ainge Dave Leitao Reno Bighorns Eric Musselman Paul Mokeski Rio Grande Valley Vipers Chris Finch Nick Nurse Springfield Armor Dee Brown Bob MacKinnon, Jr. Texas Legends Nancy Lieberman Del Harris Utah Flash Kevin Young Franchise inactive In-season Team Outgoing coach New coach Tulsa 66ers Nate Tibbets Dale Osbourne Fort Wayne Mad Ants Joey Meyer Steve Gansey
Offseason On July 21, 2011, the Maine Red Claws hired former college coach Dave Leitao as the team's head coach, replacing Austin Ainge who was hired as the director of player personnel for the Boston Celtics on May 13, 2011. On August 3, 2011, the Dakota Wizards hired Iowa Energy assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren as the team's head coach, replacing Rory White who left the team after the 2010–11 season. On August 18, 2011, the Los Angeles D-Fenders hired Reno Bighorns head coach Eric Musselman as the team's head coach. On September 14, 2011, the Springfield Armor hired former Colorado 14ers and Idaho Stampede head coach Bob MacKinnon, Jr. as the team's head coach, replacing Dee Brown who was hired as the assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons. On September 19, 2011, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers hired Iowa Energy head coach Nick Nurse as the team's head coach, replacing Chris Finch who was hired as the assistant coach for the Houston Rockets on July 15, 2011. On September 29, 2011, the Reno Bighorns hired Rio Grande Valley Vipers assistant coach Paul Mokeski as the team's head coach, replacing Eric Musselman who was hired as the head coach for the Los Angeles D-Fenders on August 18, 2011. On October 4, 2011, the Texas Legends hired former NBA head coach Del Harris as the team's head coach, replacing Nancy Lieberman who was promoted to the front office as the assistant general manager for the Legends on July 18, 2011. On October 5, 2011, the Iowa Energy hired former Utah Flash head coach Kevin Young as the team's head coach, replacing Nick Nurse who was hired as the head coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on September 19. On October 11, 2011, the Canton Charge hired former college assistant coach Alex Jensen as the team's head coach.
In-season On December 5, 2011, the Tulsa 66ers promoted assistant coach Dale Osbourne, replacing Nate Tibbets who was hired as the assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. On January 6, 2012, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants fired Joey Meyer and promoted assistant coach Steve Gansey to interim head coach.
Players An NBA D-League team roster consists of draftees, returning, allocation and tryout players. In addition, NBA teams can assign players who are on their first or second NBA season to their D-League affiliates. The roster must consist of 10 D-League players, but the maximum roster size is 12 players, including NBA assignees. If a team had more than two NBA assignees, the team must reduce its roster to avoid having more than 12 players. In the D-League, all players sign a one-year NBA D-League Standard Player Contract with the league, not with the specific D-League teams.
Returning players are players who played in the league during the previous season and are retained by their respective teams. The D-League teams are allowed to invite a limited number of returning players. Players who signed a D-League contract but are not retained by their previous teams are placed on the draft pool, along with new players who also sign with the league. Tryout players are the players who are invited to join the D-League team from the open tryouts which are held by each teams in October, before the season began.
Draft