The spelling of the acronym NBDL stands for the National Basketball Development League. The phonetic transcription of NBDL is /ɛn.bi.di.ɛl/, where the first two letters "NB" are pronounced like the word "en-bee," followed by "D" which is pronounced as "dee," and lastly "L" is pronounced as "el." Founded in 2001 as a developmental league for players, the league served as a platform for NBA teams to scout and sign potential players. In 2017, the league was rebranded as the NBA G League.
The National Basketball Development League (NBDL) is a defunct professional basketball league in the United States. Created in 2001 by the National Basketball Association (NBA), the NBDL served as a developmental league for the NBA, providing players with an opportunity to showcase their skills and potentially earn a call-up to an NBA team.
Initially consisting of eight teams, the NBDL expanded over the years to include numerous teams affiliated with NBA franchises. Its primary objective was to provide a platform for young and promising players to develop their talents. The league featured a regular season followed by playoffs, where teams competed for the championship title.
As a developmental league, the NBDL allowed players to gain experience and improve their basketball skills through regular competition. It also served as a pathway for undrafted players and NBA prospects to catch the attention of NBA scouts and coaches. Additionally, it provided a platform for NBA teams to monitor the progress of their draft picks or younger players on assignment to the NBDL.
While the NBDL ceased operations in 2005, it went through a rebranding process and was eventually relaunched as the NBA G League in 2017. The NBA G League continues to serve the same purpose as its predecessor, acting as a stepping stone for players aspiring to make it to the NBA.