Portland Trail Blazers Get NBA G League Team; Will Start Playing This Year

On Wednesday, the Portland Trail Blazers announced their acquisition of an NBA G League team expected to play its first game in the 2023-24 season.

The new G League team will play in the Chiles Center located on the University of Portland’s campus and becomes the NBA G League’s 31st team for the season.

At the time of the announcement, a team name and brand identity had not been disclosed.

That news, plus the front office and coaching staff, will come at a later date. 

The University of Portland has previously partnered with the Trail Blazers on hosting numerous NBA events, including a successful partnership that resulted in the 2030 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four recently being awarded to the City of Portland.

“I’m excited to welcome Jody Allen and the Trail Blazers ownership group to the NBA G League family,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “The NBA G League continues to grow to meet the developmental demands of NBA teams, and today’s announcement is further proof of the value the league provides to the NBA every day.  I can’t wait to watch the team tip off at the Chiles Center next season.”

“It was very important to our organization to enter the G League with an affiliate here in Portland and strategically strengthen our dedication to player development,” said Joe Cronin, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager. “I would especially like to thank Jody Allen, who is aligned with Dewayne Hankins and myself, to make it a priority to have this team ready for next season, as it will serve not only as a developmental tool for players but also for aspiring coaches and staff while we continue to be a mainstay in the community as a whole.”

“Entering the G League with a team of our own will increase development in numerous areas,” said Dewayne Hankins, Portland Trail Blazers President of Business Operations. “Not only will this team be an asset for developing young talent on the court, but developing talent off the court as well. We’ll be leaning into an innovative approach that will improve all aspects of our business across both teams. With the team launching at the University of Portland, we’re excited to continue engaging with the North Portland community.”

“Pilot Nation is thrilled to welcome the Trail Blazers G League franchise to their home on The Bluff,” said the University of Portland President Robert D. Kelly, Ph.D. “UP has a rich and storied athletic tradition, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue that tradition by hosting this new franchise on our beautiful campus. I am grateful to our friends from the Portland Trail Blazers and our Athletic Department staff for making this wonderful partnership happen, and I can’t wait for the inaugural season to begin!”

Fans interested in attending a game or becoming season ticket holders can visit www.ripcityleague.com to purchase tickets and get updates on the new team.

According to the NBA’s official website, nine Trail Blazers had NBA G League experience this season, including Ibou Badji, John Butler Jr., Chance Comanche, Drew Eubanks, Keon Johnson, Skylar Mays, Justin Minaya, Anfernee Simons, and Jeenathan Williams. 

Since the NBA G League was established in 2001, Portland has tapped 20 players, including 13 over the last two seasons, to play.  The Trail Blazers have assigned 27 players to the NBA G League for development or injury rehabilitation, while Portland assistant coaches Jonah Herscu, Steve Hetzel, and Roy Rogers spent time coaching in the G League.

The NBA G League has aided in the development of NBA talent while also acting as the league’s research and development laboratory, testing out innovative rules now used at the NBA level, including the Coach’s Challenge and the 14-second shot-clock reset rule. 

Currently, more than half of the players on NBA rosters have G League experience, while six NBA head coaches spent time coaching in the G League.  In addition, half of the first-round picks in the NBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm® played games in the G League this season.