Interview with D-League Digest's Steve Weinman

- The Season's Over -

The State of the NBADL, with D-League Digest’s Steve Weinman – Part II

February 3, 2010

By Brian Spencer

Last week we hit you with Part I of our two-part interview with D-League Digest brainchild Steve Weinman, who had just returned from this year’s D-League Showcase in Boise, Idaho, with a fresh perspective on the state of the NBA’s “minor-league system.” This time around, Weinman talks attendance, potential for growth, and the possibility of the NBADL one day attracting premier overseas talent.

Empty the Bench: You spoke with a number of NBA team presidents during the Showcase. Who stood out as the most enthused about the D-League’s potential and what did you talk about?

Steve Weinman: While all the people I spoke to were (predictably) quite positive about the D-League, Daryl Morey likely set the record for most uses of “great” and “fantastic” in a 3-minute span to describe the Rockets’ relationship with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, with whom the team shares a hybrid affiliation (the Rockets don’t own the team, but do oversee the basketball operations).

The most intriguing point that came out of my discussion with Morey was his confirmation of something I discussed with Vipers Head of Basketball Operations Alex Del Barrio: the idea that Joey Dorsey wasn’t in the D-League to expand his game so much as he was to focus on becoming more consistent at what he already does.

I think a lot of time there’s a tendency to think of the D-League as a place for players to expand their skillsets, and certainly that’s a big part of it for a lot of players. (I know I’m guilty of thinking of it this way.) But some guys simply need to be more focused on doing what they do best. Dorsey is who he is: a banger who hammers the glass, plays defense, and will be capable of getting his share of points off second chances. As Morey said, “We’re never looking for him to shoot a mid-range shot or have any post moves. That’s not something we see in his role at the NBA level.”

ETB: Is the NBA not overly concerned with attendance? And if they are, shouldn’t there be more teams in bigger markets, as well as more marketing dollars behind the league? If you asked 50 NBA fans off the street to name three D-League teams, I’m guessing most of them couldn’t even name one.

Weinman: I’m sure the NBA would love to see D-League attendance increase, and I wouldn’t doubt that eventually, putting more money toward marketing the league will be a part of that. But while I’m sure I sound like a broken record on this, I think part of it is time. Remember, 9 years isn’t a long time for a sports league to exist.

The league totally overhauled itself after spending its first years based largely on the Southeastern seaboard, and several of the league’s teams have only been in their current location for a very short time. As the number of call-ups increases and the number of productive former D-Leaguers at the NBA level increase—dand likely as single-team affiliations increase—the D-League will gain prominence, and I think that will be big in helping attendance grow.

As for the issue of big markets, I would be cautious of getting too wrapped up in that. This country has supported minor league baseball in a lot of areas that didn’t exactly come next on the list after New York City, LA, Boston and Chicago. For a pertinent D-League example, the folks up in Portland, Maine, are selling out every night and absolutely killing it in merchandise sales.

More than just finding big markets, I think it’s important to find locations close enough to a parent team to have a strong connection to a NBA fan base, but far enough away to make going to D-League games not only more affordable but a significantly more convenient alternative to having to travel all the way to NBA team’s city.

More from D-League Digest’s Steve Weinman after the break…

ETB: What about the players? Do you get the sense that the lack of fans at the games is something they think and worry about?

Weinman: Disclaimer: I haven’t spoken to anyone about this too extensively, so most of my commentary here is purely personal conjecture. That said, I think it was evident at the Boise Showcase that there was a different feel to the games with the stands littered mostly with team and league personnel who weren’t going to be clapping and cheering during the games, and it wouldn’t shock me if that took some getting used to for the players out there. But one has to imagine players feel enough added pressure at Showcase that worrying about attendance can’t be too high on their lists.

As far as standard regular-season games are concerned, I’m sure these guys would love to play in front of packed houses every night because, really, who wouldn’t? But I don’t think it’s a distraction. To a man, every one I’ve talked to will tell you they are here for one main reason: to fulfill their dream of getting (or getting back) to the NBA. That’s a tall enough order to keep folks focused on the task at hand. I think they understand the situation in the D-League and understand the fact that one of the many perks of playing at the NBA level is playing on a bigger stage in front of more people.

Joey Dorsey Photo Credit: Icon SMI

ETB: You briefly touched on the D-League’s ambitions to offer the world’s best basketball outside the NBA. I know you’re not that familiar with the overseas game, but do you feel the D-League will one day be able to lure top-tier talent from abroad?

Weinman: I don’t see a reason why it can’t happen in the long term. It seems clear that, while some may dispute the rate of acceleration, the D-League is growing as a factor in the basketball landscape. I have heard President Dan Reed refer to the league as the most heavily scouted in the world on several occasions, and the league sits at the top of the leaderboard of professional organizations in terms of volume of players sent to the NBA.

As the number of single-affiliation set-ups increases and NBA teams continue to take more stock in maintaining a close relationship with their D-League affiliates, the D will gain an even greater reputation as the premier feeder to the Association. Whether it will rightfully own that title of best basketball in the world outside the NBA, I can’t judge at this point, especially without watching more of the games abroad. But I do expect an increase in the number of top overseas players coming over to give it a shot and see the role the D-League plays in preparing players for the NBA game.

Perhaps I’m drinking the Kool-Aid, and perhaps it will take quite some time for us to get to the point I’m describing, but I’m not sure why it can’t happen.

ETB: What’s the one lasting impression you’ve taken away from the D-League Showcase?

Weinman: I was aware of it before, but the dearth of big-time bigs really jumped out at me. It seemed like whenever I asked coaches and GMs who had impressed them across the D-League this year, the first few names off their tongues were always guards (Anthony Tolliver excepted).

Frankly, it makes sense because, as the adage goes, you can’t teach size and NBA teams snatch up guys with the bodies to be NBA fives and keep them on contracts in case of emergency. Part of the reason Joey Dorsey dominated the interior in the D-League this season was that there simply weren’t many guys in the league who could do anything about a guy with his frame.

On the other hand, the guard and wing depth in the D-League is excellent. There are a ton of prolific scorers and several dynamic passers, and I’m looking forward to seeing some of those guys find the right niche for themselves and a fit with the right team to stick in the NBA.

Big thanks to D-League Digest’s Steve Weinman for his time and thoughts; Steve, we owe you one. Be sure to check out Part I of our interview if you haven’t already, and to get the full NBA D-League picture, head over to D-League Digest for daily updates and expert analysis.