Really, How Good is the Level of Play in the D-League?

[SantaMenon]

The D-League is just a baby in the context of the leagues around the world. The improvements this year compared to past years are clear to see. Youtube games are helping the coverage and exposure of the D-League vastly and teams utilizing the D-League more, like Warriors, OKC, Boston, Spurs, Houston are helping this out more.

I think we will see more nba teams seek their own D League affiliate and a few expansion teams soon. The reason there is such a drop off to the D League when compared to the NBA is because the NBA weren't using it properly. Once more teams follow suit and utilise the D-League in the same way as the aforementioned teams, we will see the level of play blossom and the D-League become much more pivotal in overall NBA franchise futures.

[Devin 1L]

The D-League is just a baby in the context of the leagues around the world.

Agreed.

And one thing that I love that I keep hearing from Dan Reed over and over and over is "sustainable growth." They're doing it right. As cool as it would be to have a 1-to-1 relationship with every team this time next year, it won't like that. I hope they keep adding here and there -- doing their research on the markets, improving the D-League making it more attractive to big league clubs -- slowly and sustainably.

The improvements this year compared to past years are clear to see. Youtube games are helping the coverage and exposure of the D-League vastly and teams utilizing the D-League more, like Warriors, OKC, Boston, Spurs, Houston are helping this out more.

I think we will see more nba teams seek their own D League affiliate and a few expansion teams soon. The reason there is such a drop off to the D League when compared to the NBA is because the NBA weren't using it properly. Once more teams follow suit and utilise the D-League in the same way as the aforementioned teams, we will see the level of play blossom and the D-League become much more pivotal in overall NBA franchise futures.

Agreed again. If I'm an NBA team who is truly interested in winning (not just interested in saying that I own a team or being as cheap as I can to make money,) but truly interested in winning, then I would be ashamed if I didn't have at least a hybrid affiliation with a D-League team.

One of the most shocking to me -- the Heat. You've got a superstar core and a contender for years to come just on them alone, but all you really need to do is consistently put system/role players around those big names who fit. What better way than to either outright own a D-League team nearby or have a hybrid affiliation. Pick up players you like, and have them run exactly what you want them to run so that if/when needed, they're there and they're ready. Relative to the massive amounts you're paying out at the NBA level, the costs at the development level are miniscule, and regardless of how good you are, there are still needs (hence the Heat and recent D-Leaguer Varnado.)

[chrbal]

as more and more franchises get their own affiliate, the level of play will continue to grow. Obviously it will never be perfect.