D-League No More: Welcome to the G-League

There were rumblings but now it’s official: the NBA Development League, or D-League, will be re-branding to the NBA Gatorade League or, get ready for this, the G-League. It will be a multi-year partnership starting in the 2017-18 season.

The name change makes sense as Gatorade is already a huge part of the D-League as a big time corporate sponsor.

From the official press release:

“As one of the most iconic brands in the world and a founding partner of the NBA Development League, Gatorade is an ideal fit for this first-of-its-kind partnership,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO. “The NBA D-League has prepared hundreds of players for the NBA and Gatorade has always been focused on fueling players to perform at the highest level. We look forward to collaborating with the renowned GSSI team to enhance player development and our game.”

Hopefully this will mean an infusion of money into the league, which could (and should) mean more pay for players and coaches. If the G-League wants to remain viable as a league, particularly as it is in competition with overseas leagues nowadays, the salaries have to improve. This appears to be a step in the right direction.

Also, can we make this a thing for the Raptors 905?