:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/660985/nbadl_2nd-1.0.jpg)
As an abundance of players with NBA D-League experience fight for that coveted big league roster spot this week in training camp, it's easy to recognize the NBADL's ultimate goal: help prospects break into The Association.
With just about every D-League participant's sights set on moving on to bigger and better things in the NBA, it's easy to understand how quickly and how often D-League rosters change throughout the season.
This can certainly makes things quite difficult on a coaching staff. A D-League squad's best player or two can be called-up at the drop of a hat, and the team's staff is still forced to carry on business as usual.
Nate Bjorkgren, head coach of the newly relocated Santa Cruz Warriors, lamented in a recent interview that he believes the dealing with the frequent personnel changes is one of the toughest aspects of his job:
"The best league in the world to coach in is the NBA, but I think the toughest league to coach in in the world is the D-League, because guys get called up to the NBA, guys go over to Europe, and you constantly have roster changes," Bjorkgren said.
Case in point: Bjorkgren estimates more than 25 players graced the Dakota Wizards' 10-man roster last year, when the team finished second in its division and reached the first round of D-League playoffs. He and general manager Kirk Lacob, who is also an assistant general manager for the Golden State Warriors, predict about 15-20 players will pass through Santa Cruz this year.
Obviously, another important aspect of a D-League coach's job is player development. The number one priority is mentoring and molding the young talent in hopes that they blossom into someone who can make key contributions on an NBA team. But how does a coaching staff manage to balance everything else at the same time?
The majority of D-League squads are located in smaller cities that do not host NBA teams in addition. Thus, there are still fans in each respective area craving competitive basketball. They root for these teams, not only to catch a glimpse at players who could be the NBA's next biggest thing, but also to watch the hometown team win.
NBA teams prove each and every season how difficult it is to bounce back and cope with an injury to a star player or two. Losing a player of such importance (even if it is due to much better circumstances) is something D-League teams are faced with almost on a weekly basis throughout the season.
Between losing players due to call-ups, and having other young guns pulled and prodded from your team following assignments from the respective NBA affiliate(s), building team chemistry and continuity can prove to be difficult.
As NBA hopefuls use the D-League as a springboard onto basketball's biggest stage, make no mistake about the "development" of these minor league coaches as well. Facing adversity and having to learn how to adjust to such drastic roster changes on a nightly basis is a skill that will undoubtedly aid them in also getting their own respective NBA call-up at some point in the future, as a handful of D-League coaches further proved this offseason.