- Los Angeles D-Fenders
-
Los Angeles D-Fenders 
Founded 2006 History Los Angeles D-Fenders (2006–2010)
(2011-Present)Arena Staples Center (2006-10)
Toyota Sports Center (2011-Present)City El Segundo, California Team colors Purple, Gold Head coach Eric Musselman Owner Los Angeles Lakers Championships 0 Division titles None Affiliations Los Angeles Lakers (2006-2010)
(2011-Present)Website www.nba.com/dleague/losangeles/ The Los Angeles D-Fenders are a NBA Development League (D-League) team based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2006, the team is owned by the Los Angeles Lakers, which became the first National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise to own a D-League team. Like the parent club, they played most of their home games at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles from 2006-2010,[1] but they also played select games at the Toyota Sports Center in nearby El Segundo, which is their full-time home starting in 2011-12. The team announced it will be inactive starting in the 2010–11 season, but has returned for the 2011-12 campaign. [2]
In 2008, the team was scheduled to move to the Citizens Business Bank Arena in nearby Ontario, California which was completed that year and is also operated by AEG Worldwide. The D-Fenders eventually signed with Staples Center for a third season.[3]
The team's home games are played in doubleheaders with the Lakers. Normal game times are 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2:30 p.m. on weekends. Admission tickets to Lakers game also are good for D-Fenders games. Lakers management has admitted that the D-Fenders will likely lose several million dollars per year, but claims the potential to develop future NBA talent is worth the investment.
All games are broadcast in streaming audio from the team's official website.
Contents
History
The name was chosen in a "name the team" contest with an unusual format. As with the NCAA tournament bracket, the site featured 64 possible team names. By the first week of June 2006, only D-Fenders and Breakers remained as finalists. On June 5, 2006, balloting was closed. Three days later, the team was supposed to announce its new name, but did not. The name "Breakers" had won the poll, but the Lakers learned that a local dwarf basketball team has the same name and therefore they fell back on the "losing" nickname in the contest. The official announcement, and logo unveiling, came on July 26, 2006.
In their debut in the 2006–07 season, they finished with a 23-27 record, almost qualifying for the playoffs. In the 2008 season, they posted a 32-18 record, good enough to head for the playoffs. In the first round, Los Angeles earned their first playoff victory after defeating the Western Conference's champion Colorado 14ers. Later, they lost to the Idaho Stampede, who went on to win their first championship in the D-League.
On May 2010, the D-Fenders announced that they would not field a team for the 2010–11 season. The Lakers owner, Jerry Buss will retain the team's ownership while the team trying to relocate and return for the 2011–12 season.[4] In the absence of the D-Fenders, the Lakers will be affiliated with the Bakersfield Jam, which will also be the Los Angeles Clippers affiliate.[5]
On June 9, 2011, it was announced that the D-Fenders would return for 2011-12, playing at the Toyota Sports Center in nearby El Segundo. [6] On August 18, they announced Eric Musselman was hired as their new head coach. [7]
Personalities
- Both Jordan Farmar and Coby Karl have played on two different occasions for both the D-Fenders and the Lakers on the same day.[8][9]
- Actress, model, and former cheerleader Bonnie-Jill Laflin was the D-Fenders' assistant general manager and a scout for the Lakers.
Year-by-year record
Season Division Finish Wins Losses Pct. Postseason Results Los Angeles D-Fenders 2006–07 Western 5th 23 27 .460 2007–08 Western 2nd 32 18 .640 Won First Round (Colorado) 102-95
Lost Semifinals (Idaho) 97-902008–09 Western 5th 19 31 .380 2009–10 Western 9th 16 34 .320 2010–11 Suspended operations 2011–12 Western T-1st 0 0 N/A Regular season 90 110 .450 Playoffs 1 1 .500 References
- ^ Los Angeles D-Fenders
- ^ http://www.nba.com/dleague/dfenders_110609.html
- ^ unknown (unknown). "D-Fenders Tipoff D-League Season on Friday, November 28th". NBA.com. http://www.nba.com/dleague/losangeles/DFenders_Tipoff_NBA_DLEague_-280128-1466.html. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
- ^ Bresnahan, Mike (May 21, 2010). "D-Fenders, Lakers' minor league affiliate, will take one-year hiatus". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/21/sports/la-sp-defenders-20100522. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "NBA D-League Announces NBA Affiliates For 2010-11 Season". NBA.com/DLeague. July 6, 2010. http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/affiliates_2010.html. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ http://www.nba.com/dleague/dfenders_110609.html
- ^ http://www.nba.com/lakers/newsnba/dfenders_info.html
- ^ NBA Development League: Lakers Reassign Jordan Farmar To D-Fenders
- ^ Lakers assign Coby Karl to D-Fenders for final time this season
External links
NBA Development League Western Conference Eastern Conference Los Angeles D-FendersTexas LegendsCanton ChargeSpringfield ArmorLos Angeles Lakers Formerly the Detroit Gems and the Minneapolis Lakers • Founded in 1946 • Based in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Franchise Franchise • Team History • All-Time roster • Draft history • Seasons • Records • Head coaches • Current seasonArenas D-League Affiliate Los Angeles D-FendersAdministration Dr. Jerry Buss (Majority Owner) • Anschutz Entertainment Group (Minority Owner) • Patrick Soon-Shiong (Minority Owner) • Mitch Kupchak (Vice President & GM of Basketball Ops.) • Mike Brown (Head Coach)Retired Numbers 13 • 22 • 25 • 32 • 33 • 42 • 44 • Chick Hearn (Microphone)
Minneapolis Lakers Hall of Famers (Mikan, Mikkelsen, Martin, Lovellette, Pollard, Coach Kundla)NBA Championships (16) Rivals Boston Celtics • Philadelphia 76ers • San Antonio Spurs • Houston Rockets • Detroit Pistons • Los Angeles ClippersCulture and Lore "Showtime" • Wilt the Stilt • Mr. Clutch • Elgin Baylor • The Captain • Magic • Lakers vs. Celtics • Chick Hearn • Riles • Jack Kent Cooke • The Fabulous Forum • Staples Center • The Punch • Big Game James • Shaq–Kobe feud • 81 • Black Mamba • The Diesel • Lawrence Tanter • Jack Nicholson • I Love L.A. • 0.4 • The Zen Master • 33-game win streakMedia TVKCAL • Fox Sports West • New Lakers Networks (coming fall 2012)RadioCategories:- Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Sports clubs established in 2006
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
