With the L.A. D-Fenders season right around the corner, the D-Fenders will hold a special pre-season game on Nov. 17th. For the first time ever, the NBA Development League will host a game in Ontario, where the D-Fenders will take on the Bakersfield Jam.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase the D-Fenders to basketball fans in Ontario,” said Joey Buss, D-Fenders President and CEO. “Playing here is exciting for us because we have a chance to expand our fan base and bring basketball to Citizens Business Bank Arena just as the Lakers do year after year.”
The rivalry between the Jam and the D-Fenders has risen, since the two teams last met in March 2012. In their last meeting L.A. swept Bakersfield in the playoffs, knocking them out of contention. Including the playoffs the D-Fenders lead the series with an all-time record of 21-18.
Aside from high flying action and excitement, fans will also get a special performance from the 2012-2013 Laker Girls. The game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.
The D-Fenders are coming off one of their best seasons where they made history within the NBA D-League. L.A. surpassed the D-League record for most wins in a season when they posted up a 38-12 record. The D-Fenders finished the regular season as the team with the best record, reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and reached the Finals for the first time in franchise history.
With head coach Eric Musselman on the roster, the D-League awarded him the Coach of the Year award, after he had eight D-Fender players receive call-ups to the NBA, along with six Laker assignment players. These achievements landed the D-Fenders the Development Champion award.
Although the D-Fenders will be without head coach Eric Musselman this season, after he took a job as an assistant coach at Arizona State University, they hope to begin yet another successful run to the Finals, where they hope to come out as champions.