NBA G League Expansion

The NBA G League features an all-time high 31 teams, 29 single-affiliated with an NBA parent club. The league originally launched with eight teams in 2001-02.

After ending the G League Ignite program following its fourth season, the NBA G League welcomed a new 31st franchise for the 2024-25 season when the Phoenix Suns announced their official G League affiliate, the Valley Suns. The addition of the Valley Suns to the NBA G League ensured that all 30 NBA franchises will have an affiliate NBA G League team beginning in the 2024-25 season.

Valley Suns
(Phoenix Suns)

Announced: Feb. 14, 2024 | Official Release
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.
Home Arena: Mullett Arena
Inaugural Season: 2024-25

The league also saw a rebrand ahead of the 2024-25 season, as the Ontario Clipper relocated and became the San Diego Clippers.

The year prior, the NBA G League welcomed its 31st franchise for the 2023-24 season when the Portland Trail Blazers announced their official G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.

Rip City Remix
(Portland Trail Blazers)

Announced: April 26, 2023 | Official Release
Location: Portland, Ore.
Home Arena: Chiles Center
Inaugural Season: 2023-24

The league also saw two rebrands ahead of the 2023-24 season, as the Lakeland Magic relocated and became the Osceola Magic, while the Fort Wayne Mad Ants became the Indiana Mad Ants.

The NBA G League welcomed three new franchises for the 2021-22 season.

- The Detroit Pistons debuted the Motor City Cruise, who play their home games in Detroit, Mich. at Wayne State Arena.
- The New Orleans Pelicans announced the Birmingham Squadron, which played in Erie starting in 2019-20, and relocated to Birmingham in 2021, following the renovation of Legacy Arena.
- Capitanes de Ciudad de México made their NBA G League debut in 2021.

The NBA G League also welcomed the Denver Nuggets, who entered into a hybrid affiliation with the Grand Rapids Gold, who were formerly the affiliate of the Detroit Pistons.

Learn more about the changes and new teams:

Birmingham Squadron
(New Orleans Pelicans)

Announced: October 24, 2018 | Official Release
Location: Erie, Pa. (starting in 2019-20), Birmingham, Ala. (estimated 2021-22)
Home Arena: Erie Insurance Arena (beginning in 2019-20), Legacy Arena (estimated 2021-22)
Inaugural Season: 2021-22

Motor City Cruise
(Detroit Pistons)

Announced: October 30, 2020 | Official Release
Location: Detroit, Mich. (starting in 2021-22)
Home Arena: Wayne State Arena (2021-22)
Inaugural Season: 2021-2022

Capitanes de Ciudad de México

Announced: December 12, 2019 | Official Release
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Home Arena: Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera
Background: Capitanes de Ciudad de México are a professional basketball team founded in Mexico City in 2016. They competed in Mexico’s Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional through 2020 and are expected to participate in NBA G League play for the first time in 2021.
Inaugural G League Season: 2021-2022
Affiliate: None

Grand Rapids Gold
(Denver Nuggets)

Announced: April 25, 2021 | Official Release
Location: Walker, Mich.
Home Arena: DeltaPlex Arena