USA TODAY reader Stephen Gilmore writes in his letter that the National Basketball Association and National Football League should create minor leagues for athletes who leave college before graduating ("Start more minor leagues," Monday).
(Photo — Leaping up to slam it down: Kelenna Azubuike of England, who joined the Golden State Warriors last year, is an alumnus of the NBA Development League. / By Nick Wass, AP)
In fact, the NBA has such a league for exactly this reason. The NBA Development League — or "D-League" — was established in 2001 as the place for young players to acquire skills and experience and refine their game.
The D-League uses an affiliate system in which each of its 14 teams has from one to three NBA teams that can assign players to gain additional coaching and playing experience at an NBA-caliber level. This season alone, there have been 22 players from NBA rosters assigned to the D-League and 10 D-League players called up to the NBA, including the 100th call-up in league history. And it's not basketball alone that young athletes learn. The league has programs that expose these young athletes to the skills they'll need to succeed in life:
* The Player Development Orientation assists players during their transition into the D-League.
* Team Awareness Meetings promote the development of personal and professional skills necessary for basketball and life success.
* There are continuing education programs, educational scholarships and summer apprenticeships, which allow players to prepare for life after basketball.
* There is a mentoring program that matches a player with a retired NBA player, such as former Los Angeles Lakers forward A.C. Green.
The league is working. Currently, the NBA features 52 D-League alumni on NBA rosters. That's more than 10% of NBA players, including Kelenna Azubuike of the Golden State Warriors, Martell Webster of the red-hot Portland Trail Blazers and Matt Carroll of the Charlotte Bobcats. They are enjoying active NBA careers after productive experiences in the D-League.
At a time when more players are eager to begin their professional careers earlier, the D-League has been — and will continue to be — a great addition to the game of basketball.
