After years of waiting, the Denver Nuggets finally have their G-League affiliate team. When the Grand Rapids Drive’s partnership deal with the Pistons ends at the end of this season, Denver will become the team’s next NBA partner.
The partnership won’t be official, but the teams have an agreement in place that will essentially make the Drive Denver’s farm team. This marks the first time Denver will have the ability to develop players with their own team.
Past seasons saw Nuggets prospects heading to multiple G-League teams. The most recent player to go this route was Bol Bol, who played with the Windy City Bulls last season.
For a team that drafted and developed their star player Nikola Jokic, it’s odd that Denver never had a G-League team until now. With their newfound farm team, it won’t be a surprise to see more prospects come out of Denver.
After the Pistons purchased the Northern Arizona Suns, the Drive were without an NBA affiliate for the upcoming season. This is where the Nuggets took advantage to become the 28th franchise with their own G-League team. Now just Phoenix and Portland lack a proper developmental squad.
