Magic relocating G League affiliate from Lakeland to Kissimmee
The Orlando Magic on Monday called for a Tuesday afternoon press conference, when they’re expected to announce the relocation of their NBA G League affiliate from Lakeland to Kissimmee, league sources told the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic’s G League team will be rebranded as the Osceola Magic and will start playing at Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Heritage Park in November.
Kissimmee’s Silver Spurs Arena was one of two finalists, along with Lakeland, for where the Magic were looking to base their G League affiliate ahead of the 2017-18 season.
The G League — which features 30 teams, including 28 with one-to-one affiliations with NBA franchises — is the NBA’s official developmental league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff members for careers at the next level.
This past season, 49 G League players earned call-ups to the NBA.
Seven Orlando Magic players spent time in the G League this past season: R.J. Hampton, Kevon Harris, Caleb Houstan, Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke, Admiral Schofield and Jay Scrubb.
The Magic’s G League affiliate was previously based out of Erie, Pa., and known as the Erie BayHawks. The Magic established a three-year partnership with Erie starting with the 2014-15 season before purchasing the franchise in December 2016 and relocating it to Lakeland in 2017.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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