NATIONAL BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EXPANDS TO FOUR CITIES IN THE
SOUTHWEST U.S.
Private Ownership Group led by former Indiana Pacers GM David Kahn brings
the
NBA?s Minor League to Albuquerque, N.M., Austin and Fort Worth, Texas and
Tulsa, Okla.
NEW YORK, March 21 ? NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today that the
National Basketball Development League has awarded teams to four Southwest
U.S. cities for the 2005-06 season. The teams will be owned and operated by
Southwest Basketball, LLC, led by former Indiana Pacers general manager
David Kahn.
?The expansion of the NBDL illustrates that the NBA's minor league has not
only been successful in developing NBA talent on and off the court, but is
a business proposition whose time has come,? said Stern. ?We are indeed
fortunate to have attracted not only an investor in four new teams, but
also, in the case of David Kahn, an experienced basketball person who knows
what it takes to make these teams succeed.?
The NBDL teams in Albuquerque, N.M., Austin and Fort Worth, Texas, and
Tulsa, Okla. join the Florida Flame (Ft. Myers) as teams independently
owned and operated in the league. The Asheville Altitude (N.C.), Columbus
Riverdragons (Ga.), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.)
and Roanoke Dazzle (Va.) are owned and operated by the NBA.
Kahn worked for nearly nine years in the front office of the Indiana
Pacers. From 1998-2002 he oversaw both the business and basketball sides of
the organization; represented the Pacers on the NBA?s Competition
Committee; and managed a staff of over 120 when the team moved into Conseco
Fieldhouse in 1999.
Kahn is credited both in Indiana and in league circles for his involvement
in the successful launch of Conseco Fieldhouse, beginning in 1995 with
local lobbying efforts and culminating in the fieldhouse?s opening to
worldwide acclaim in 1999. During Kahn?s time in Indiana, the Pacers
reached the NBA Finals once and competed in the Eastern Conference Finals
on three other occasions. The organization was also awarded a WNBA team
(Indiana Fever) while Conseco Fieldhouse developed into the Midwest?s mecca
for sporting events such as the Big Ten men?s basketball tournament and
world-championship boxing.
?We are bringing in a special brand of professional basketball featuring
players on the verge of making it to the NBA and an affordable,
family-oriented atmosphere,? said Kahn. ?We look forward to becoming a
vital part of these communities and the ownership team in place for these
four cities will ensure our NBDL teams are quickly embraced in this part of
the country.?
Announcements regarding team names, arenas, tickets and staffing tip off
tomorrow, March 22 in Fort Worth followed by Austin on Wednesday, March 23.
Similar events will be held in Tulsa on Tuesday, March 29 and Albuquerque
on Wednesday, March 30. Ticket information on each of the four new teams
can also be found by visiting www.nbdlfortworth.com, www.nbdlaustin.com,
www.nbdltulsa.com and www.nbdlalbuquerque.com.
?The NBDL is the premier minor league for basketball and we are confident
these teams will become the standard bearers of the league,? said NBDL
President Phil Evans.
The NBDL offers players, as well as off-court personnel, the opportunity to
develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA?s
umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up the NBA on 48
separate occasions. Nine former NBDL coaches, five athletic trainers, 11
referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up to NBA
positions since the start of the league?s inaugural season in November
2001.
For additional information on the NBDL, visit NBDL.com.
# # #
Contact: Kent Partridge, NBDL ? (864) 248-1108 / kpartridge@nba.com
(See attached file: NBDL Expansion 3-21-05.doc)