The Denver Nuggets will add their first official NBA G League affiliate team next season, partnering with the Grand Rapids Drive in a deal that won’t become official until the end of the 2020-21 season.
Grand Rapids’ previous affiliation was to the Detroit Pistons, where co-owner Ben Wallace played for nine seasons.
However, the Pistons purchased the Northern Arizona Suns from the Phoenix Suns last July, leaving the Drive open to new partnerships — including “a new team name and a logo.”
Located in Michigan, The Drive currently have no “imminent plans” to move to Colorado, per The Denver Post’s Mike Singer (subscription required).
With the G League becoming a more popular pipeline for top high school recruit and other NBA hopefuls, Denver’s ability to find a G League team to partner with bodes well for their prospect development.
In fact, the Nuggets entered the land of legitimate championship contenders following their run to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. As a result, having a development program of sorts for their young talent could make them a franchise comparable to the San Antonio Spurs when it comes to sustained dominance.
