Planned G League team announcement by the Phoenix Suns

intentions for a new G League team to be announced by the Phoenix Suns February 14, 2024, 9:13 AM | Updated: 3:28 PM

The Phoenix Suns said on Wednesday that they had obtained the rights to manage a G League team that will make its debut the following season.

As of right now, the Suns are the only NBA team without a G League affiliate.

The team’s moniker will be chosen in a public competition, similar to how the NBA’s franchise chose its name prior to its 1968 founding. The Phoenix metro region will be home to the new G League team.

Fans can contribute their ideas for possible names by visiting Suns.com/GLeague until February 28.

Sports Arizona 98.7 FM

Phoenix Suns

intentions for a new G League team to be announced by the Phoenix Suns February 14, 2024, 9:13 AM | Updated: 3:28 PM

The Suns of Northern Arizona… (X Photo/@nazsuns)

Distributed by Arizona Sports

The Phoenix Suns said on Wednesday that they had obtained the rights to manage a G League team that will make its debut the following season.

As of right now, the Suns are the only NBA team without a G League affiliate.

The team’s moniker will be chosen in a public competition, similar to how the NBA’s franchise chose its name prior to its 1968 founding. The Phoenix metro region will be home to the new G League team.

Fans can contribute their ideas for possible names by visiting Suns.com/GLeague until February 28.

The ultimate naming

The Suns G League team would bring the total number of teams in the league to 32. This means that each of the 30 NBA teams will have a G League team in addition to the Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico, who are without an NBA affiliate, and the G League Ignite, who has a roster full of notable draft prospects.

NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a release, “We are thrilled to achieve our long-stated goal that each of the 30 NBA teams has an NBA G League affiliate. We are also honored to welcome Mat Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns to the NBA G League.”

“With the Suns’ commitment, the NBA G League has never been more valuable to NBA teams than it is right now. I am eager to experience the distinctive flavor of NBA G League basketball with supporters in the Valley come next season.

2020 saw Phoenix, then owned by Robert Sarver, sell the Northern Arizona Suns, their previous G League affiliate, to the Detroit Pistons. The Motor City Cruise is the new name for that franchise.

Before the NBA team, led by Sarver, purchased the Bakersfield Jam D-league squad two years later, the Suns first signed a hybrid contract to collaborate with the team in 2014.

In 2016, the team relocated to Prescott Valley and changed their name to the Northern Arizona Suns. Before securing more stable positions in the league, several Suns players, including Derrick Jones Jr. and De’Anthony Melton, were players with the Northern Arizona Suns.

In July, Ishbia had hinted at an announcement regarding the Suns G League on Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo.

“We think it’s important to nurture young players. Hopefully, we’ll be able to reveal a fresh approach on that very soon,” Ishbia stated.

When the 2023–24 NBA season began, eight head coaches had previously worked in the minor leagues, while over 60% of players on NBA rosters had some G League experience.

Three two-way players for the Suns—guard Saben Lee, center Udoka Azubuike, and guard Theo Maledon—may have had greater playing time with a G League club.

The Suns will be able to send its two-way players on assignment under one roof, where they can play in systems that transfer to the NBA team, thanks to the proximity of an affiliate. Additionally, the team might assess more players for NBA opportunities.

Despite Phoenix’s ability to move its two-way players to another G League club for reps, none of them have participated in G League games this season.