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BOISE, Idaho — The Utah Jazz announced Tuesday its "hybrid" single affiliation with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League beginning the 2014-15 season.
As an affiliate with the Stampede, the Jazz will oversee the basketball operations, including hiring, player personnel and the team roster, while the current Stampede ownership will oversee team marketing and promotions as well as community initiatives.
“Partnering with the Idaho Stampede is another step forward in the growth and expansion of our basketball operations and will provide us with an opportunity to further enhance the development of our young players,” Jazz President Randy Rigby said. “Like the Jazz, the Stampede are a well-established franchise with a strong track record of success, and Boise’s proximity to Salt Lake and large contingent of Jazz fans make this the perfect fit.”
The Jazz were affiliated with the Stampede for the 2006-07 and 2011-12 seasons. The organization has been affiliated with five D-League teams since 2005. The only player to be called up by the Jazz from the Stampede was Sundiata Gaines in 2010, who is remembered for hitting a game- winning 3-pointer against the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers.
“The Idaho Stampede are thrilled to partner with the Utah Jazz, as their new single-affiliate team in the NBA D-League,” Bill Ilett, managing investor of the Stampede, said. “We are excited to be a part of the development of their new young squad of players over the next several years. Basketball fans in Southern Idaho have always loved the Jazz and we are all now part of the Jazz family.”
The Jazz join eight other NBA teams — Boston, Detroit, Houston, Memphis, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix and Sacramento — to enter into a single “hybrid” affiliation. Seven other NBA teams will operate their own NBA D-League affiliates for the 2014-15 season.
