Los Angeles D-Fenders
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| Los Angeles D-Fenders | |
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| Founded | 2006 |
| History | Los Angeles D-Fenders NBA D-League:2006-Present |
| Arena | Staples Center |
| City | Los Angeles, California |
| Team Colors | Purple, Gold |
| Head Coach | Dan Panaggio |
| Owner | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Championships | 0 |
| Affiliations | Los Angeles Lakers |
The Los Angeles D-Fenders are a team in the NBA Development League. The team is owned by the Los Angeles Lakers, making them the first NBA team to own a D-League team. Like the parent club, they will play their home games at the Staples Center until the Citizens Business Bank Arena is completed in 2007.
The Lakers held 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 the D-Fenders and Breakers remained as finalists.
On June 5, balloting closed. Three days later, the team was supposed to announce its new name, but did not do so. The name "Breakers" had won the poll, but the Lakers learned that a local midget 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 2006-07, D-Fenders home games will typically start at 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, leading up to the 7:30 p.m. tipoff of the Lakers game. Tickets to Lakers' games include admissions to 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.
The D-Fenders will eventually move to the under-construction Citizens Business Bank Arena in nearby Ontario, which will be operated by the same company that owns the Staples Center. The arena is scheduled to open in 2008.
[edit] Current Roster
| Los Angeles D-Fenders Current Roster |
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| Head Coach: Dan Panaggio | ||||
| C | 51 | Akin Akingbala | (Clemson) | |
| F | 21 | Aloysius Anagonye | (Michigan State) | |
| F | 28 | Duane Erwin | (Memphis) | |
| G/F | 11 | Devin Green | (Hampton) | |
| F | 30 | Josh Gross | ||
| F | 20 | Butter Johnson | (Charlotte) | |
| G | 6 | Jackie Manuel | (North Carolina) | |
| G | 23 | Chet Mason | (Miami (Ohio)) | |
| F | 36 | Andre Patterson | (Tennessee) | |
| (FA) - Free Agent | Los Angeles D-Fenders | |||
[edit] External link
| NBA Development League |
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| East Division: Arkansas RimRockers | Austin Toros | Dakota Wizards | Fort Worth Flyers | Sioux Falls Skyforce | Tulsa 66ers |
| West Division: Albuquerque Thunderbirds | Anaheim Arsenal | Bakersfield Jam | Colorado 14ers | Idaho Stampede | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
| Suspended operations: Florida Flame |
| Expected to begin play in 2007-08: Iowa | Rio Grande Valley | Utah |
| Defunct/Former Teams: Asheville Altitude | Charleston Lowgators | Columbus Riverdragons | Fayetteville Patriots Greenville Groove | Huntsville Flight | Mobile Revelers | Roanoke Dazzle |
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