Los Angeles D-Fenders
Encyclopedia
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, 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.
All games are broadcast in streaming audio from the team's official website
.
The team's home games were played in doubleheaders with the Lakers through the 2010 season. Normal game times were 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2:30 p.m. on weekends. Admission tickets to Lakers game also one to attend D-Fender games.
In their debut in the 2006–07 season, they finished with a 23-27 record, almost qualifying for the playoffs.
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.
The team posted a 32-18 record in the 2008 season, good enough to qualify 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. 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.
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
. On August 18, they announced Eric Musselman
was hired as their new head coach.
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
(D-League) team based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Founded in 2006, the team is owned by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, which became the first National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) franchise to own a D-League team. Like the parent club, they played most of their home games at the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
in downtown Los Angeles from 2006-2010, but they also played select games at the Toyota Sports Center
Toyota Sports Center
The Toyota Sports Center is a practice facility for the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Sparks, and the Los Angeles Lakers, located on 555 North Nash Street in El Segundo, California...
in nearby El Segundo
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
, 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.
All games are broadcast in streaming audio from the team's official website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
.
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.The team's home games were played in doubleheaders with the Lakers through the 2010 season. Normal game times were 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2:30 p.m. on weekends. Admission tickets to Lakers game also one to attend D-Fender games.
In their debut in the 2006–07 season, they finished with a 23-27 record, almost qualifying for the playoffs.
In 2008, the team was scheduled to move to the Citizens Business Bank Arena in nearby Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
which was completed that year and is also operated by AEG Worldwide
Anschutz Entertainment Group
The Anschutz Entertainment Group is a sporting and music entertainment presenter and a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation. It is the world's largest owner of sports teams and sports events, the owner of the world’s most profitable sports and entertainment venues, and under AEG Live the world's...
. The D-Fenders eventually signed with Staples Center for a third season.
The team posted a 32-18 record in the 2008 season, good enough to qualify for the playoffs. In the first round, Los Angeles earned their first playoff victory after defeating the Western Conference's champion Colorado 14ers
Colorado 14ers
The Colorado 14ers were a team in the NBA Development League which began play in 2006-07. They were affiliated with the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors of the NBA. The 14ers played their home games at the Broomfield Event Center in the Denver suburb of Broomfield, Colorado. ...
. Later, they lost to the Idaho Stampede
Idaho Stampede
The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up...
, 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
Jerry Buss
Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss Ph.D., M.S. is an American businessman, real estate investor, and a former chemist. He is the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team along with other professional sports franchises in Southern California...
will retain the team's ownership while the team trying to relocate and return for the 2011–12 season. In the absence of the D-Fenders, the Lakers will be affiliated with the Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
, which will also be the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
affiliate.
On June 9, 2011, it was announced that the D-Fenders would return for 2011-12, playing at the Toyota Sports Center
Toyota Sports Center
The Toyota Sports Center is a practice facility for the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Sparks, and the Los Angeles Lakers, located on 555 North Nash Street in El Segundo, California...
in nearby El Segundo
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
. On August 18, they announced Eric Musselman
Eric Musselman
Eric P. Musselman is an American basketball coach and the former head coach of the NBA's Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors...
was hired as their new head coach.
Personalities
- Both Jordan FarmarJordan FarmarJordan Robert Farmar is an American professional basketball point guard for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Super League and Euroleague. He is also under contract with the New Jersey Nets, and is expected to return to the team after the 2011 NBA lockout ends.In high school, he was the...
and Coby KarlCoby KarlCoby Joseph Karl is an American professional basketball player. He is the son of George Karl, head coach of the Denver Nuggets.-High school career:...
have played on two different occasions for both the D-Fenders and the Lakers on the same day.
- Actress, model, and former cheerleader Bonnie-Jill LaflinBonnie-Jill LaflinBonnie-Jill Laflin is an American model, actress, television personality, and member of the Los Angeles Lakers front office.Laflin first gained public attention as a cheerleader with the Golden State Warriors of the NBA...
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 Colorado 14ers The Colorado 14ers were a team in the NBA Development League which began play in 2006-07. They were affiliated with the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors of the NBA. The 14ers played their home games at the Broomfield Event Center in the Denver suburb of Broomfield, Colorado. ... ) 102-95 Lost Semifinals (Idaho Idaho Stampede The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up... ) 97-90 |
| 2008–09 | 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 | |||