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Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta Thabo Sefolosha. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta Thabo Sefolosha. Mostrar todas las entradas

sábado, 1 de julio de 2017

#ClutchNBA Notas recientes de la NBA


MAVERICKS’ NOWITZKI, HORNETS’ WALKERHAWKS’ SEFOLOSHA, LAKERS’ DENG NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS FOR NBA AFRICA GAME 2017

- Tickets for the NBA’s Second Game in Africa Will be Available June 22 at ticketpro.co.za -

- Game Will Air Live in Sub-Saharan Africa on Kwesé’s TV, Internet and Mobile Platforms -
NEW YORK AND JOHANNESBURG, June 19, 2017 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced today that Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks; Germany), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets; U.S.), Thabo Sefolosha (Atlanta Hawks; Switzerland; parent from South Africa) and Luol Deng (Los Angeles Lakers; South Sudan) will serve as team captains for NBA Africa Game 2017.  

Tickets for the NBA’s second game in Africa taking place Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa will be available for fans Thursday, June 22 at 10:00 am CAT by visiting ticketpro.co.za.

Nowitzki, a 13-time NBA All-Star and 2011 NBA Champion, along with Walker, a 2017 NBA All-Star, will co-captain Team World.  Deng, a two-time NBA All-Star and Team Africa captain at NBA Africa Game 2015, and Sefolosha, an 11-year NBA veteran whose father was born in South Africa, will lead Team Africa. 

NBA Africa Game 2017, which will take place following the 15th edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa, will once again feature a Team Africa vs. Team World format and will be played in support of UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages South Africa (SOSCVSA).  The game will air live in sub-Saharan Africa on Kwesé’s TV, Internet and mobile platforms, including Kwesé Free Sports, Kwesé Sports, select free-to-air channels, Kwesesports.com, and the Kwesé app.

In February, the NBA and NBPA announced that Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic; Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets; Democratic Republic of the Congo) will play for Team Africa, and that CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers; U.S.) will play for Team World.  Full rosters of players, coaches and legends will be announced at a later date. 

The sold-out NBA Africa Game 2015, the first NBA game on the continent, took place Aug. 1, 2015 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.  There have been more than 70 current or former NBA players from Africa or with ties to the continent, including NBA Africa Ambassador Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) and NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), both of whom played in NBA Africa Game 2015.

For more information, fans can visit www.NBA.com/Africa, the league’s official online destination in Africa, and follow the NBA on Facebook (NBA Africa) and Twitter (@NBA_Africa). 


Player Quotes:

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki:
“I’m really excited to represent Team World in the second NBA Africa Game this summer.  I also look forward to returning to South Africa after taking part in the Basketball without Borders Africa camp eight years ago.  It’s great to see how the game is growing across the continent, and I’m honored to be a part of this historic event.” 

Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker:
“I can’t wait to make my first trip to Africa and join Dirk in leading Team World.  Playing in an NBA game in Africa will be a special moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Thabo Sefolosha:
“Having South African roots, it’s a dream come true to return to South Africa to play in an NBA game.  There are so many talented African players in the league, and it will be an honor to lead them on August 5 in Johannesburg.” 

Los Angeles Lakers forward Luol Deng:
“I’m thrilled to be coming back to Johannesburg to lead Team Africa alongside Thabo.  The first NBA Africa Game in 2015 was a lot of fun, and it will be a privilege to play in front of our African fans once again.”
NBA SALARY CAP FOR 2017-18 SEASON SET AT $99.093 MILLION
NEW YORK, July 1, 2017 – The National Basketball Association today announced that the Salary Cap has been set at $99.093 million for the 2017-18 season. The tax level for the 2017-18 season is $119.266 million.
The Salary Cap and tax level go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday, July 1, when the league’s “moratorium period” starts and teams can begin negotiating with free agents. The moratorium period ends at 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6.
The minimum team salary, which is set at 90% of the Salary Cap, is $89.184 million for the 2017-18 season.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement provides for three different mid-level exceptions depending on a team’s salary level. The non-taxpayer mid-level for this season is $8.406 million, the taxpayer mid-level is $5.192 million and the mid-level for a team with room under the Salary Cap is $4.328 million.

AZZI, CARLESIMO, FOYLE, HUNT, NASH, TURIAF APPOINTED TO
THE NBA ACADEMIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE


- Formation of Committee Follows Launch of NBA Academies in Africa, Australia, China and India -

- NBA Academies Include Educational Development for Top Male and Female Prospects 
from Outside the U.S. and Mark League’s Most Significant Investment in Elite Player Development - 
NEW YORK, June 30, 2017 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the formation of The NBA Academies Advisory Committee to help guide the strategy behind NBA Academies, the league’s network of elite basketball training centers around the world to develop top prospects from outside the United States.  The committee consists of 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Jennifer Azzi (U.S.), former NBA head coach and 1992 “Dream Team” assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo (U.S.), former NBA player Adonal Foyle (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches Patrick Hunt (Australia), two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash (Canada) and 2012 NBA Champion Ronny Turiaf (France). 

Each member will have a specialized role on the committee working across the NBA’s elite basketball training centers.  Azzi will serve as the global technical director for women’s programming; Carlesimo will help identify, recruit and train coaches with NBA experience; Foyle will lead the life skills and off-court curriculum development; Hunt will help identify, recruit and train international coaches; Nash will oversee all aspects of player development; and Turiaf will serve as chief recruiter and scout. 

“We’re honored to welcome Jennifer, P.J., Adonal, Patrick, Steve and Ronny to the NBA’s Elite Basketball Development team,” said NBA Vice President, International Basketball Operations & Head of Elite Basketball, Brooks Meek.  “They each have had successful careers on and off the court and will bring invaluable experience and insight to our NBA Academies program.”  

“I’m really excited to help guide the strategy behind the league’s academies around the world,” said Nash.  “The level of international talent in the NBA is at an all-time high, and these academies will be instrumental in identifying and training the next wave of great international players.”

The formation of The NBA Academies Advisory Committee follows the launch of academies in Canberra, Australia; Hangzhou, Jinan and Urumqi, China; Thies, Senegal; and Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), India.

NBA Academies include educational development for top international male and female prospects and mark the NBA’s most significant investment in elite player development.  The initiative exposes elite prospects to NBA-level coaching, facilities and competition and provides a global framework for elite prospects to maximize their success


STEPHEN CURRY AND REIGNING CHAMPION WARRIORS TOP NBA’S MOST POPULAR MERCHANDISE LISTS
NEW YORK, June 29, 2017 – Stephen Curry and the 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriorssecured the top spots on the NBA’s Most Popular Jersey and Team Merchandise lists, respectively, based on overall sales on NBAStore.com from April through June.
Rounding out the top five among most popular jerseys are the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (No. 2), the Warriors’ Kevin Durant (No. 3), the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (No. 4) and the Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (No. 5).
On the team merchandise list, the Warriors are followed by the Cavaliers at No. 2, Chicago Bulls at No. 3, Boston Celtics at No. 4 and San Antonio Spurs at No. 5.
Additional highlights:
  • The Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas climbs seven spots to No. 7 after debuting on the last list (April 2017) at No. 14.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (No. 8) of the Milwaukee Bucks earns his highest ranking ever.
  • The Washington Wizards’ John Wall (No. 12) returns to the list for the first time since the end of the 2014-15 season. 
  • The Celtics (No. 4) crack the top five in team merchandise sales, a position they last held at the start of the 2012-13 season. 
Top 15 Most Popular NBA Jerseys:                        
  1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors                
  2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers                 
  3. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors                   
  4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder       
  5. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers                      
  6. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs                   
  7. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics                            
  8. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks       
  9. James Harden, Houston Rockets                        
  10. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors               
  11. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
  12. John Wall, Washington Wizards
  13. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls*
  14. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
  15. Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls
*Denotes players who changed teams after the 2016-17 season.

Top 10 Most Popular Team Merchandise:
  1. Golden State Warriors
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers
  3. Chicago Bulls
  4. Boston Celtics
  5. San Antonio Spurs
  6. Los Angeles Lakers
  7. Oklahoma City Thunder
  8. Milwaukee Bucks
  9. Philadelphia 76ers
  10. Houston Rockets

 
NBA HACKATHON RETURNS SEPT. 23-24 IN NEW YORK CITY

– College and Graduate Students to Develop Tools and Solutions for Basketball and Business Analytics in Expanded Two-Day Format – 
 
NEW YORK, June 28, 2017 – The NBA announced today that it will host the second annual NBA Hackathon Sept. 23-24 in New York City.  Following last September’s inaugural one-day event focused on basketball analytics, this year’s NBA Hackathon will take on an expanded two-day format and add a business analytics track.

The NBA Hackathon provides a platform for undergraduate, Master’s and Ph.D student statisticians, engineers and developers to build tools and develop solutions in basketball and business analytics.  Teams will work for 24 hours and present their solutions to a panel of expert judges consisting of NBA executives, professors and media members.  Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in each track, with a grand prize that includes a trip to NBA All-Star 2018 in Los Angeles and lunch with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. 


“We received an incredible response to our first Hackathon and look forward to expanding the concept in year two by adding a track for business analytics,” said Evan Wasch, NBA Senior Vice President, Basketball Strategy & Analytics.  “Analytics continue to play an increasingly important role at the NBA, and I am excited to see the innovative ideas that come from a collection of the brightest young statisticians, engineers and developers.”

Students interested in participating can apply at https://hackathon.nba.com/.  The NBA Hackathon is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying at accredited universities in the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec).  The NBA Hackathon venue will be announced at a later date. 

The winning team focused on the concept of “hero ball,” analyzing the differences in team-centric vs. individual-based playing style during the regular season and playoffs.  Finalists presented to a panel of judges, including Boston Celtics Assistant General Manager & Team Counsel Mike Zarren and ESPN reporter Zach Lowe.  The first-ever NBA Basketball Analytics Hackathon in September 2016 featured 210 students comprising 60 teams from 53 different universities across the United States and Canada. 

MAVERICKS’ BAREA AND POWELL AND KNICKS’ VUJAČIĆ HEADLINE FIRST BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS CAMP IN THE BAHAMAS

- Ninth Basketball without Borders Americas Camp Will Bring Together Top 66 High School Age Boys and Girls from 16 Countries and Territories -
NEW YORK, NASSAU, MIES, June 27, 2017 – The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) today announced the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories who will travel to the Bahamas for the ninth Basketball without Borders (BWB) Americas Camp. The camp will be held July 5-8 at The Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in the Bahamas. Nike will serve as the official partner.

NBA and FIBA players and coaches, including J.J. Barea (Dallas Mavericks; Puerto Rico), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada) and Sasha Vujačić (New York Knicks; Slovenia), will coach the high school age campers.  Barea, Powell and Vujačić, will be joined by WNBA Legend Ebony Hoffman (U.S.)

BWB, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 2,720 participants from 134 countries and territories since 2001, with 46 campers drafted into the NBA.  Twenty-three former BWB campers, including three former BWB Americas campers, were on opening-night rosters for the 2016-17 season, including Bruno Caboclo (Toronto Raptors; Brazil; BWB Americas 2013), Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks; South Sudan; BWB Americas 2015) and Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics; Canada; BWB Americas 2009).  Three former BWB campers were drafted in the 2017 NBA Draft:  Lauri Markkanen (No. 7 overall pick – Chicago Bulls; Finland; BWB Europe 2014/BWB Global 2015), Frank Ntilikina (No. 8 overall pick – New York Knicks; France; BWB Europe 2015/BWB Global 2016) and Isaiah Hartenstein (No. 43 overall pick – Houston Rockets; U.S.; BWB Europe 2015/BWB Global 2016)

Current NBA assistant coaches James Borrego (San Antonio Spurs), Jim Boylan (Cleveland Cavaliers), Darvin Ham (Atlanta Hawks) and David Vanterpool (Portland Trail Blazers) will also serve as BWB Americas coaches.  Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) and Ronald Cass (FIBA Coach) will serve as camp directors for the boys and girls, respectively.  Armando Rivas (Chicago Bulls) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer.   

Players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, positional skill development, 5-on-5 games and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication.  One boy and one girl will be named BWB Americas Camp MVPs at the conclusion of the camp.

BWB Americas will also include a Jr. NBA clinic with local youth in the Bahamas in partnership with community organizations, which will highlight the power of sport to promote cultural understanding while teaching the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle and the values of the game, including teamwork, integrity and respect.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear.  

The NBA and FIBA have staged 49 BWB camps in 30 cities across 25 countries on six continents.  More than 230 current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players have joined more than 185 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world. 

The following is a complete list of players participating in the ninth BWB Americas Camp:
GIRLS ROSTER:
First Name
Last Name
Country
Florencia 
Chagas 
Argentina
Victoria 
Gauna
Argentina
Briontae
Riley 
Bahamas
Diondrea
Nixon
Bahamas
Catarina Helena 
Ferreira de Oliveira 
Brazil
Lorena Vitoria 
Barbosa Anunciacao 
Brazil
Emily
Martindale
Canada
Patricia
Boers 
Canada
Piper
Doo
Canada
Naomi
Ganpo
Canada
Thiare Antonella 
Garcia Gutierrez 
Chile
Hamileth Lorena 
Ulloa Chacon 
Colombia
Elianis Armenteros 
Gelabert 
Cuba
Esmery Dahiana 
Martinez
Dominican Republic
Solmilena
Arias 
Dominican Republic
Karla Alejandra 
Martínez Hidalgo 
Mexico
Rebeca
Morones
Mexico
Sofia Alejandra 
Payan 
Mexico
Lesiriam
Pagan
Puerto Rico
Marcela
Gutierrez 
Uruguay
Shaymany
Suárez 
Uruguay
Odeth 
Betancourt
Venezuela
BOYS ROSTER:
First Name
Last Name
Country
Leandro
Bolmaro
Argentina
Tomás
Chapero
Argentina
Juan 
Hierrezuelo
Argentina
Francisco
Farabello
Argentina
Bautista
Lugarini
Argentina
Juan Ignacio
Marcos
Argentina
Dominic
Bridgewater
Bahamas
Samuel
Hunter
Bahamas
Derryn
Johnson
Bahamas
Leonardo
Colimério
Brazil
Bernardo
Da Silva
Brazil
Lucas
Fioravanti Zibecchi
Brazil
Matheus
Maciel Marques De Souza
Brazil
João Marcello
Pereira
Brazil
Joao Vitor
Camaro
Brazil
Matheus
Silveira
Brazil
Jaden
Bediako
Canada
Joel
Brown
Canada
Benjamin
Hendriks
Canada
Anthony
Lawson
Canada
Thomas
Kennedy
Canada
Wheza
Panzo
Canada
Addison
Patterson
Canada
Tyrese
Samuels
Canada
Ignacio
Arroyo
Chile
Maxwell
Lorca-Lloyd
Chile
Michael
Moreno
Colombia
Alanzo
Frink
Dominican Republic
Francisco
Paulino
Dominican Republic
Kofi
Cockburn
Jamaica
Tyrece
Thompson
Jamaica
Moises Emilio
Andriassi
Mexico
Sebastian
Reynoso
Mexico
Roberto Abraham
Mercado Fernández
Paraguay
Andre
Curbelo Rodriguez
Puerto Rico
Jermaine
Miranda Perez
Puerto Rico
Jose Carlos
Placer Diaz
Puerto Rico
Jeriel
Zayas
Puerto Rico
Jordan
Persad
Trinidad
Nicolás
Andreoli
Uruguay
Santiago
Vescovi
Uruguay
Zion
Jones
USVI
Dwayne
Lynch
USVI
Carlos
Paez
Venezuela


WELCOME TO THE NBA G LEAGUE
-- NBA Development League Officially Becomes the NBA G League --
NEW YORK, June 20, 2017 – The NBA and Gatorade announced that beginning today the NBA Development League (NBA D-League), the NBA’s minor league, will officially become the NBA G League.

Beginning with the 2017-18 season, the NBA G League will feature 26 teams, an expansion of four teams since last season, 22 of which are owned and operated by NBA franchises. 
For the first time this coming fall, NBA teams can sign up to two “two-way” players to NBA contracts. These contracts allow “two-way” players to be with their NBA parent team for up to 45 days, spending most of the season in the NBA G League.
The NBA G League has more than tripled in size since it debuted with eight teams during the 2001-02 season. Last season, nearly 1.5 million fans attended games, marking the eighth straight year the league has surpassed 1 million fans.
For the 2017-18 season, the NBA G League will unveil new on-court uniforms and collaborate with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) on programs to enhance player sports performance and recovery. Gatorade will begin to incubate its latest product and equipment innovations into NBA G League locker rooms, and teams will have the opportunity to collaborate with Gatorade to help players maximize their athletic potential and on-court performance.
“This is a pivotal moment for the NBA G League,” said NBA G League President Malcolm Turner. “The league is experiencing unprecedented success both on and off the court, and our partnership with Gatorade is helping to drive momentum and create exciting opportunities for innovation, sports performance and player development.”
Forty-four percent of players on 2016-17 end-of-season NBA rosters had NBA G League experience, while 65 percent of players selected in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm® spent time in the NBA G League last season, including more than half of the first-round picks.
To support today’s launch, the NBA G League debuted its new website, NBAGLeague.com, an updated NBA G League app, a slate of updated social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, and a new official handle (@nbagleague) and hashtag (#NBAGLeague). Additionally, NBA G League merchandise is now available at GLeagueStore.NBA.com

Gatorade was a founding partner of the league, dating to the inaugural 2001-02 season. 


Photo 1: NBA Vice President, International Basketball Operations & Head of Elite Basketball, Brooks MeekBasketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore; and Australian Institute of Sport Director Matt Favier are joined by NBA Academies prospects at the official opening of The NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images)
NBA AND BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA OFFICIALLY OPEN THE NBA GLOBAL ACADEMY FOR TOP PROSPECTS FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.

- The NBA Global Academy to Host First-Ever NBA Academy Games for Prospects from Academies in Africa, Australia, China and India - 
MELBOURNE AND NEW YORK, June 23, 2017 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Basketball Australia (BA) today announced the official opening of The NBA Global Academy, an elite basketball training center at BA’s Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.  The NBA Global Academy will serve as the NBA’s hub for top male and female prospects from outside the United States. 

As part of today’s announcement, the NBA and BA also announced that the first-ever NBA Academy Games will begin tomorrow and run through June 30 at The NBA Global Academy.  The series of exhibition games will include prospects from The NBA Global Academy, NBA Academies in Africa, China and India, along with a team from BA’s Centre of Excellence and local Australian youth teams.  

“Basketball Australia is delighted to partner in this venture, which will enable our world-class coaches and athletes to share their knowledge with the NBA,” said Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Moore.  “Our Centre of Excellence has an incredible track record of producing athletes who can compete on the international stage.  We are honoured to be hosting The NBA Global Academy and helping to develop promising young talent from around the world.”

“The NBA Global Academy, the league’s sixth international elite training center, will provide scholarships and training for top international prospects,” said NBA Vice President, International Basketball Operations & Head of Elite Basketball, Brooks Meek.  “Basketball Australia’s internationally recognized coaches have successfully developed top prospects for many decades.  We’re looking forward to working with BA on this initiative and conducting the first NBA Academy Games.”

In addition to exhibition games between the academies and local Australian teams, The NBA Academy Games will feature academy coaches leading the prospects through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, positional skill development, and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication. 

The NBA Global Academy will employ a holistic, 360-degree approach to player development with focuses on education, leadership, character development and life skills.  As part of the program, the students will compete against top competition throughout the year and will have an opportunity to be selected for travel teams that play in international tournaments and exhibition games.

The official opening of The NBA Global Academy follows the launch of academies in Hangzhou, Jinan and Urumqi, China; Thies, Senegal; and Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), India.  NBA Academies include educational development for top international male and female prospects and mark the NBA’s most significant investment in elite player development.  The initiative exposes elite prospects to NBA-level coaching, facilities and competition and provides a global framework for elite prospects to maximize their success.

The NBA Global Academy will take advantage of BA’s Centre of Excellence location at the world-renowned Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).  The AIS campus in Canberra is home to world-class, elite high-performance facilities and leading sports practitioners in the fields of sports science, sports medicine and coaching.  AIS is a world leader in high performance and is the flagship of the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Government’s sports agency.

Basketball Australia previously supported the NBA and FIBA’s Basketball without Borders (BWB) Asia camp, which was held in Australia for the first time at Dandenong Basketball Stadium in Melbourne in June 2016.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS PURCHASE NBA G LEAGUE TEAM 
 NBA G League’s Record 27th Team to Debut in 2018-19 Season 
NEW YORK, June 21, 2017 – The Washington Wizards and the NBA G League announced today that the Wizards have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA G League team. The team, which will debut in the 2018-19 season, is scheduled to play at the Wizards’ new facility in Ward 8 in Washington, D.C.
Today’s announcement means that the NBA G League is set to grow to a record 27 teams for the 2018-19 season. The newly renamed league will feature 26 teams next season. 
“I’m thrilled to welcome the Washington Wizards to the NBA G League family,” said NBA G League President Malcolm Turner. “We’re looking forward to working closely with the Monumental Sports & Entertainment team to introduce the exciting brand of NBA G League basketball to the D.C. market as our record 27th team prepares to play in the 2018-19 season.” 
“The NBA G League has been a great resource for us over the years, both for calling up talent and for allowing young players on our roster to gain more on-court experience,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “Having our own team, selecting the front office and coaching staff and being able to implement our system will allow us to further enhance our player and staff development program moving forward.” 
Washington’s new NBA G League affiliate, like the Wizards, will be owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment. The NBA G League team will play its 24 home games at a new, state-of-the-art venue on the campus of the former St. Elizabeths Hospital in southeast Washington. The St. Elizabeths facility, set to open in 2018, will also serve as the practice facility for the Washington Wizards and the home of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
Season-ticket memberships for the inaugural season are on sale now. Fans can secure their seats to become a founding fan with just an initial deposit of $25 per seat. Visit www.wizardsgleague.com or call 202-864-4350to speak with an NBA G League representative to reserve seats today.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment will stream all 50 of the team’s NBA G League games on Monumental Sports Network. Fans can download the Monumental Sports Network app in the app store or visit getmonumental.com to access a free, three-month trial.
Since the NBA G League began in 2001, the Wizards have called-up a total of 17 players (10 since the start of the 2010-11 season). Notable call-ups include: Bobby Simmons (Mobile Revelers, 2002-03), Alonzo Gee (Austin Toros, 2009-10) and Garrett Temple (Reno Bighorns, 2012-13).
In April, the NBA G League finished a record-breaking season that included new marks for unique NBA players assigned (92) and players on end-of-regular-season NBA rosters with NBA G League experience (199 - 44% of NBA players). Five current Wizards have NBA G League experience, including starting center Marcin Gortat, who appeared in 2007. Guard/forward Sheldon McClellan and forward Chris McCullough both spent time on assignment last season. 
About the NBA G League
The NBA’s official minor league, the NBA G League prepares players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 26 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2017-18 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 44 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2016-17 season boasted NBA G League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Cares programs. NBA G League games are available on ESPN’s family of networks and NBA TV.

AMERICAN EXPRESS AND NBA EXPAND MARKETING PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW MULTIYEAR AGREEMENT
-- American Express will Host a Draft-Themed “Teamed Up” Event Tonight Featuring Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning --
NEW YORK, June 20, 2017 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Express today announced a comprehensive, multiyear extension of their marketing partnership, continuing the company’s position as the Official Card of the NBA, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA G League. 
As the Official Card of the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League, American Express will provide Card Members with exclusive experiences and access at events such as NBA All-Star and the NBA Draft presented by State Farm®. 
To tip off the renewed partnership, American Express and the NBA will host a special Draft-themed American Express “Teamed Up” event tonight at the PlayStation Theater in New York City, featuring NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning. The exclusive experience for American Express Card Members will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 1992 NBA Draft, when O’Neal and Mourning were drafted No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. 
Through its league partnership, American Express will continue to deepen Card Member loyalty through unique and rewarding NBA benefits, including customized hospitality programs and ticket offers around All-Star and Draft. Card Members will also participate in more NBA-themed hospitality events and behind-the-scenes access through team partnerships, as well as have multiple opportunities to meet NBA players and legends.
For more information about events for American Express Card Members, please visit American Express’ Entertainment Access site.
About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA G League. The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2016-17 season featured a record 113 international players from 41 countries and territories. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App, which achieved record viewership and traffic during the 2015-16 season. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 1.3 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.