The Springfield Armor, the New Jersey Nets, and the NBA Development League announced today that the Nets and Armor have entered into a single affiliation partnership beginning during the 2011-12 season, giving the Nets full control over the basketball operations of and making them the sole affiliate for the Armor. The Nets are the second NBA team to enter into a single affiliation with an NBA D-League team, joining the Houston Rockets and the 2009-10 NBA D-League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
In a structure similar to other minor leagues, this partnership model, also referred to as the “hybrid affiliation,” allows for NBA teams to secure control over and cover the expenses related to the basketball operations of an NBA D-League team, while partnering with existing local ownership, which maintains responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations.
“The New Jersey Nets’ decision to enter into a single affiliation partnership with the Springfield Armor is yet another example of NBA teams understanding how integral the NBA D-League can be to their success, and an important step in our continued evolution as a true minor league for the NBA,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “With twenty percent of NBA players having used the NBA D-League as a springboard, it’s no surprise that the Nets join a growing number of NBA teams that have acquired the benefits of a one-to-one relationship with their NBA D-League affiliate.”
“The Nets organization is very pleased to enter into this agreement with the Springfield Armor,” said Nets General Manger Billy King. “We feel that the ‘hybrid’ arrangement will allow our basketball team to maximize its affiliation with the NBA D-League and allow Springfield to serve as a fertile training ground for our players, coaches and front office personnel, only strengthening our basketball product.”
“The Springfield Armor organization is thrilled to be entering into this single affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets,” said Armor Managing Partner Michael Savit. “This is the wave of the future in the NBA D-League, and we’re pleased to be getting in on the ground floor as a partner with one of the NBA’s most exciting teams. It reflects very positively on the NBA D-League, our organization and the City of Springfield.”
During the 2010-11 season, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, along with the Nets, will serve as affiliates for the Armor.
