mobile revelers.JPG

Isaac Fontaine of the Mobile Revelers drives past Jamal Robinson of the Roanoke Dazzle during a National Basketball Development League game on Nov. 21, 2002, at the Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, Ala.

(AL.com file)

Mobile is one of the cities under consideration for a New Orleans Pelicans-owned team in the NBA Development League starting in the 2018-19 season, when the circuit will be called the NBA Gatorade League.

According to a press release from the NBA team, the Pelicans are sending a Request for Proposal to 11 cities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida to gauge their interest in becoming the home for the farm team.

Mobile is one of the cities targeted by the Pelicans, along with Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport and St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana, Gulfport/Biloxi and Jackson in Mississippi and Pensacola in Florida. The Pelicans said the sites were selected based on team and NBA research.

"Our goal is to establish a Development League team in nearby proximity to our home base of New Orleans," said Tom Benson, the owner of the Pelicans, who also would own the D-League team. "I have been very impressed with the growth and structure of the NBA Developmental League. It is a wise and necessary investment into the future of the Pelicans. The team will provide us with a better platform of developing our younger players and staff.

"It also will allow us the opportunity to widen the spectrum of fans that come in contact with our organization on a regional basis. In addition, it will provide us with the opportunities to further promote the game of basketball and further our community support to the region. This will be a very significant addition for a city near us as it will add global exposure and bring professional basketball to their town."

When the NBA Development League started in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League, Mobile fielded one of the original eight teams - the Revelers. The team played at the Mobile Civic Center. In the league's 2002-03 season, the Revelers won the NBDL's second championship, then folded.

In 2005, the renamed NBA Development League switched to a format like that found in minor league baseball, with the teams becoming affiliates of the major league clubs.

The league has 22 teams - all directly affiliated with NBA teams - with the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks scheduled to add teams to the NBA Gatorade League in the 2017-18 season.

The league's current lineup (with their NBA affiliates) includes the Austin Spurs (San Antonio Spurs), Canton Charge (Cleveland Cavaliers), Delaware 87ers (Philadelphia 76ers), Erie BayHawks (Orlando Magic), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana Pacers), Grand Rapids Drive (Detroit Pistons), Greensboro Swarm (Charlotte Hornets), Iowa Energy (Memphis Grizzlies), Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets), Los Angeles D-Fenders (Los Angeles Lakers), Maine Red Claws (Boston Celtics), Northern Arizona Suns (Phoenix Suns), Oklahoma City Blue (Oklahoma City Thunder), Raptors 905 (Toronto Raptors), Reno Bighorns (Sacramento Kings), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston Rockets), Salt Lake City Stars (Utah Jazz), Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State Warriors), Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami Heat), Texas Legends (Dallas Mavericks), Westchester Knicks (New York Knicks) and Windy City Bulls (Chicago Bulls).