Los Angeles D-Fenders, Lakers' minor league affiliate, to take hiatus

by Scott Schroeder on May 22, 2025 9:00 AM EDT in Ridiculous-osity Comment 4 comments

Don't get too excited - He's not in action tonight. Unfortunately, it sounds like his former team won't be, either, for the upcoming season.

View full size photo »

The Lakers' minor league affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, will take a one-year hiatus and will no longer use Staples Center as its home base, The Times has learned.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss will retain ownership of the D-Fenders, who are expected to reemerge at a different Southern California venue for the 2011-12 season.

--From the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan.

Though the Lakers never really took full advantage of their Development League team like fellow NBA teams have - the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston), Austin Toros (San Antonio) and Tulsa 66ers (Oklahoma City) have been implemented quite well - this is still pretty surprising news.

I'm going to look further into this and see if I can find anything interesting out.

0 recs | Comment 4 comments | Add comment | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

“the D-Fenders generated no revenue from ticket sales because the only people allowed to attend their home games were those who bought tickets to Lakers home games.”

That’s really dumb.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on May 22, 2025 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

Also

I wonder if Long Beach could work as a new location.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on May 22, 2025 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

"allowed to attend"

Is this like jury duty??

by knickknack7450 on May 22, 2025 2:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Go to San Diego!

I would love a D-League team here. I hate the Lakers but would put aside some of that hate for the D-League to go down the 5 south and play in the Sports Arena.

Win Game 3. Go Magic.

by L Magico on May 24, 2025 2:01 PM EDT reply actions