Basketball never stops (except when a rift between the NBA players and owners has all but put a stop to professional basketball here in the States). NBA TV is doing its part to keep the slogan true, however, as they have decided to televise quite a few NBA Development League games this season.
The D-League has been on TV in the past -- most recently on Versus in a tape-delayed format over the weekends -- but the NBA's television team has decided to up its airing of the games featuring players in the NBA's official minor league.
"NBA TV has been presenting NBA Development League games since the league was founded," NBA TV spokesman Michael Wade told Ridiculous Upside over the weekend. "This year, the network is slated to air at least 34 regular season games -- starting this Friday with a live presentation of Canton vs. Iowa to tip off the season.
"In addition, our signature studio GameTime will be covering the league throughout the season presenting previews, game recaps, features and the last NBA D-League news throughout the season."
This Friday's game, featuring the Canton Charge and Iowa Energy, will be the first time the Charge take the court since the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired the team this summer. The most recognizable names on the rosters will be former NBA player Keith McLeod and Stanley Robinson, a draft pick of the Orlando Magic in the 2010 NBA Draft.
The next weekend will feature Eric Musselman's Los Angeles D-Fenders playing the Sioux Falls Skyforce in a match-up of former NBA point guards. The D-Fenders boast longtime NBAer Jamaal Tinsley as he works his way back toward the Association while Sioux Falls will trot out Gabe Pruitt, a former draft pick of the Boston Celtics.
On Friday, Dec. 9, the Skyforce will be on national television once again as they travel to Des Moines to take on the Energy. Neither team boasts an overly exciting roster at this point of the preseason, but teams are rather fluid in the early-goings of the D-League season.
NBA TV will also show a majority of the D-League Showcase games from Reno, either live or in person, when the annual affair tips off in January.
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