Los Angeles D-Fenders
| Los Angeles D-Fenders | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| League | NBA Development League |
| Founded | 2006 |
| History |
Los Angeles D-Fenders 2006–present South Bay Lakers In 2017–18 |
| Arena | Toyota Sports Center |
| Location | El Segundo, California |
| Team colors | Purple, Gold, White |
| Team manager | Nick Mazzella |
| Head coach | Coby Karl |
| Ownership | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Affiliation(s) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Championships | 0 |
| Conference titles | 2 (2012, 2016) |
| Division titles | 2 (2012, 2014) |
| Website | D-Fenders.com |
The Los Angeles D-Fenders are an NBA Development League (D-League) team based in Los Angeles. Founded in 2006, the team is owned by the Los Angeles Lakers, who were the first National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise to own a D-League team.
The D-Fenders play their home games at the Toyota Sports Center in nearby El Segundo, which also serves as the Lakers official practice facility. From 2006–10, the D-Fenders played most of their home games at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The D-Fenders franchise has established itself as a top producer of NBA-ready talent, totaling 23 NBA Call-Ups and developing 18 Lakers assignment players since the inaugural 2006–07 season.
All games are broadcast in streaming audio from the team's official website and on the NBA's Futurecast web channel. On December 21, 2012, the D-Fenders announced a telecast agreement with TWC SportsNet Channel (now Spectrum SportsNet).
At the conclusion of the 2016–17 D-League season, the D-Fenders will re-brand as the South Bay Lakers. They will also move into the brand-new UCLA Health Training Center, a new practice facility for the Los Angeles Lakers in El Segundo.
The team name was chosen in a "name the team" contest with a format similar to a March Madness NCAA tournament bracket, with 64 possible team names. From April 2006 to the first week of June 2006, the choices were whittled down to two: "D-Fenders" and "Breakers" remained. On June 5, 2006, balloting was closed with the "Breakers" as the winner. Three days later the team was expected to announce its name, but the Lakers organization had learned that a local coed dwarf basketball team already had the name. The Lakers then fell back to the "losing" name: the Los Angeles D-Fenders. The official announcement and logo unveiling came on July 26, 2006.
In their debut season (2006–2007) the D-Fenders competed in the Western Division and finished with a 23–27 record. Despite a sub-500 record the D-Fenders almost qualified for the playoffs. Dan Panaggio, formerly the assistant head coach of the Portland Trailblazers, served as head coach.Brian Chase received an All D-League Honorable Mention and was selected for the D-League All-Star Game. Stephane Lasme received the D-Fenders first ever "call up" to the NBA's Miami Heat.
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