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37-708: From 2009 to 2014, the L.A. Clippers had been affiliated with the former Bakersfield Jam (now the Motor City Cruise ) before the Jam switched to a single affiliation with the Phoenix Suns . In December 2015, Doc Rivers , head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers , mentioned the need for the Clippers to own an NBA Development League team. In April 2017, the Clippers were reported to be looking to add

74-556: A 7,500 capacity venue that serves as the team's new home arena. Since moving to San Diego, the Clippers joined Halo Sports & Entertainment, Steve Ballmer's umbrella brand that also encompasses the Los Angeles Clippers, Intuit Dome , and the Kia Forum . Roster Last transaction: November 25, 2024 Play-by-play broadcaster Brian S. Arrington and analyst Eddie Talbert Jr. of Fox Sports 1350 AM/Riverside comprise

111-678: A minor league affiliate in the NBA Development League either in nearby Ontario or Bakersfield for the 2017–18 season . In May 2017, the Clippers reportedly had settled on the Ontario location; possibly calling the team the Agua Caliente Clippers. On May 15, the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario were announced and the team played at Citizens Business Bank Arena . The team was named after

148-682: The Ontario Clippers . On December 22, 2022, the Clippers defeated the Windy City Bulls 99–97 to win the 2022 NBA G League Winter Showcase Cup. On March 11, 2024, it was announced the Clippers would be relocating to the San Diego County city of Oceanside , rebranding as the San Diego Clippers, using its NBA affiliate's former identity from 1978 to 1984 . The announcement was made at Frontwave Arena ,

185-826: The 2000–01 ABA season as an assistant with the Los Angeles Stars . He then served as an assistant with the Southern California Surf in the 2001–02 ABA season . Cureton started the 2003–04 ABA season as an assistant coach for the Long Beach Jam . He was elevated to head coach in November 2003 and went on to guide the Jam to the ABA championship and was named the ABA Coach of the Year. For

222-720: The 2004–05 ABA season , Cureton joined the Orange County Crush as head coach. He parted ways with the team in January 2005 and returned to the Long Beach Jam, where he served as chief of basketball operations for the rest of the season. Cureton served as an assistant coach of the Charlotte Sting in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the 2005 and 2006 WNBA seasons . He returned to

259-613: The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians , a federally recognized tribe with resorts and casinos in Palm Springs and were the presenting sponsor of the Clippers. In 2021, Paul Hewitt was named the team's head coach. In the 2021–22 season , the Clippers appeared in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. On July 5, 2022, the team officially changed their name to

296-543: The Arkansas RimRockers . After the end of that season, the Jam withdrew from the 2005–06 ABA season to move to the NBA Development League the following season afterward, with the intent to also move to Bakersfield around that same period of time. After their first season in Bakersfield ended in 2007, there was a contest where the fans could decide on a new name for the team. The choices were to rename

333-957: The LNB Pro A ( Tours B.C. ) in France, the Venezuelan SuperLiga , and the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional in Mexico. After not receiving any offers from the NBA or Europe, he joined Magic Johnson and his traveling all-star team. They stopped touring in March 1994, and Cureton joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association . Following eight games with

370-609: The Orlando Magic after their first game of the season. Nevertheless, with the presence of players like Rodman, Gaines and Tabuse under new head coach Earl Cureton , the Jam would hold a 24–7 record. It was not only considered the best record of the league that season, but also gave the Jam a bye all the way into the Finals, where they competed against the winner of the Kansas City Knights (the previous champions of

407-680: The Robert Morris Colonials and Detroit Mercy Titans . Cureton was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the third round of the 1979 NBA draft . He won an NBA championship with the 76ers and the Houston Rockets , and also played in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons , Chicago Bulls , Los Angeles Clippers , Charlotte Hornets , and Toronto Raptors . He also played in multiple countries overseas. Cureton

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444-517: The University of Detroit Mercy under coach Dick Vitale . Cureton was required by NCAA rules to sit out a year due to the transfer, when Vitale left for the Detroit Pistons and was replaced by Smokey Gaines . Cureton paired with future NBA player Terry Duerod to lead the Titans to the 1979 NCAA tournament , losing to Lamar 95–87 in the first round. Detroit finished ranked No. 20 on

481-822: The anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee and was troubled by some nerve damage. In 1996, Cureton played six months with a Buenos Aires team in Argentina's Liga Nacional de Básquet . At age 39, he finished his career with the Toronto Raptors (1996–97), retiring from playing on February 13, 1997, to become the Raptors' assistant strength and conditioning coach. Cureton played 674 NBA regular games in his career, including 137 starts , averaging 5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. He played in 54 playoff games across seven postseasons, starting in four contests. Cureton made his coaching debut in

518-497: The 2004–05 season. On January 17, 2005, Archibald resigned from his position as head coach and had former player and future head coach of the Phoenix Mercury , Corey Gaines , assigned as their new head coach during the second half of their season. In that season, they managed to produce an 18–10 record in a greatly expanded ABA, with Gaines improving the team with a 10-4 second half during that season, which produced them with

555-563: The 2016–17 season and became the Northern Arizona Suns. In response, the previous owners of the Jam franchise, Stan Ellis and David Higdon, announced that they have been working with the D-League in securing a new franchise and affiliation before the 2016–17 season, although it did not come to fruition. On May 2, it was announced that former Arizona Sundogs and current Arizona Rattlers president, Chris Presson, would become

592-654: The 2017 offseason, the D-League rebranded as the NBA G League . On October 20, 2017, the Suns had assistant general manager Louis Lehman take over general manager duties for the Northern Arizona Suns, while previous general manager Bubba Barrage remained in Phoenix as director of player personnel. Three days later, head coach Tyrone Ellis became an assistant coach for Phoenix alongside Northern Arizona assistants Bret Burchard and Brandon Rosenthal, leaving assistant coach Tyler Gatlin as

629-586: The 76ers in 1980. Philadelphia reached the 1982 NBA Finals , but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers . Led by their newly acquired center Moses Malone , the 76ers won the 1983 finals in a rematch with the Lakers. In game 2 with the 76ers up 1–0 in the series, Cureton filled in for Malone, who was in foul trouble. Cureton made a hook shot over the Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , who had made the shot famous, and Philadelphia increased their lead while Cureton

666-695: The ABA) and the Juárez Gallos . In the championship round, the Jam barely escaped against the Knights to win the ABA Championship with a final score of 126–123. In their second and final season under the Long Beach name, the Jam began their season under a pedestrian 8–6 record with another NBA Hall of Famer, this time Nate "Tiny" Archibald , leading the way as head coach during the first half of

703-755: The D-League in 2006 as the Bakersfield Jam . After ten years in Bakersfield, California , the franchise was moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona , in 2016 by the Phoenix Suns and were subsequently renamed the Northern Arizona Suns . In 2021, the team relocated to Detroit after being purchased by the Pistons. During the year-long hiatus that the American Basketball Association had in the 2002–03 season, one of

740-423: The Jam announced that they had not shut down and plan to play in the 2009–10 season, with further details to come the following day. On April 30, 2014, it was reported that the Jam would enter a hybrid operation with the Phoenix Suns . Not only would that lead to the Suns having exclusive collaborations with the team, but it would also allow the Jam to operate under their own management in the process. On May 9, it

777-650: The Northern Arizona Suns from the Phoenix Suns and were relocating the franchise to Detroit for the 2021–22 season to play at Wayne State Fieldhouse . It was also announced that the team's affiliation with the Grand Rapids Drive would end upon the completion of the 2020–21 season. On October 30, the team name was announced as the Motor City Cruise. On March 17, 2021, the Cruise announced

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814-615: The Skyforce, he signed with the Houston Rockets near the end of their 1993–94 season , in time to qualify for their postseason roster. In the playoffs, he filled in for injured forward Carl Herrera , becoming a key rotational player as a backup to Hakeem Olajuwon and Otis Thorpe . The Rockets defeated the New York Knicks to win the 1994 NBA Finals , when Herrera returned and reassumed his role. Houston planned to invite Cureton to their 1994–95 training camp, but he blew out

851-623: The WNBA as an assistant with the Phoenix Mercury in 2012 and 2013 . In 2011, Cureton fulfilled a promise to his mother, returning to finish his degree at UD. He served as a color analyst for Detroit Mercy Titans ESPN+ and radio broadcasts, and was also a broadcaster for the Detroit Pistons. In 2013, Cureton began serving as a Community Ambassador for the Pistons. This role included leading Pistons organizational outreach and community partnerships. He released his autobiography, Earl

888-607: The hiring of Rob Murphy as president and general manager. Pistons' assistant coach DJ Bakker was named the first head coach for the Cruise on August 23. Roster Last transaction: November 19, 2024 Earl Cureton As coach: Earl Cureton (September 3, 1957 – February 4, 2024) was an American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Twirl", he played college basketball for

925-440: The interim head coach during the G League preseason. Cody Toppert was named the head coach just prior to the start of the season. The team finished the season with a 23–27 record and missed the playoffs. At the end of the season, head coach Toppert was promoted to an assistant coaching position in Phoenix. He would be replaced by former Northern Arizona Suns assistant and Phoenix Suns' assistant coach Bret Burchard . Following

962-521: The new team president for the Suns. The new team logo and jerseys for Northern Arizona was officially unveiled on May 11 and the front office personnel and coaching staff were announced on August 16. During their first season as the Northern Arizona Suns, the team started out the season strong, entering with a 10–1 record. However, the Suns would enter a major losing streak after having Tyler Ulis and Alan Williams briefly play for them via assignment, and would ultimately not recover from it afterward. In

999-530: The pandemic-shorted 2019–20 season , the Phoenix Suns originally announced that the team would relocate to the metro Phoenix area for the following season. However, the team withdrew entirely from the 2020–21 season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic when the G League held the abbreviated season in a bubble in Orlando, Florida . On July 29, 2020, the Detroit Pistons announced that the organization had purchased

1036-669: The rest of his career, traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1987, and then playing for the Los Angeles Clippers (1987–88) and Charlotte Hornets (1988–89, 1990–91), with another stint in between in Italy with Philips Milano (1989–90). He also played for the New Haven Skyhawks of the United States Basketball League in 1991, hoping to return to the NBA. From 1991 to 1993, Cureton played in

1073-504: The season . Cureton had a stellar senior season in 1979–80, averaging 19.9 points and 9.1 rebounds, and was inducted into the Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Fame in 2007. They retired his No. 24 in 2020. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Cureton in the third round of the 1979 NBA draft with the 58th overall pick, when he was still a junior in college. He stayed with Detroit another year before signing with

1110-665: The second-best record in the Red Division. The Jam competed in the playoffs and made it to the quarterfinals, where they lost 130–115 to the Utah Snowbears (who produced a 25–1 that season), who would surprisingly end up forfeiting their last match to the Bellevue Blackhawks (potentially due to sunk costs with the team) since the Snowbears folded soon afterwards, while Bellevue lost the championship match to

1147-548: The team Desperados , Roughnecks , Oilers , or keep the name Jam. On May 17, the team announced that the team will remain the Bakersfield Jam, as that name won the poll in a landslide vote. The team played at Rabobank Arena until 2009 and later at the Jam Events Center . On April 29, 2009, it was reported that the Jam had ceased operations, citing lack of sufficient fan attendance. However, on June 18,

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1184-440: The teams the league approved of would be the Long Beach Jam . In the team's inaugural season, the Jam managed to procure NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman , fellow veteran Corey Gaines , up-and-coming player Matt Barnes , and Japanese point guard Yuta Tabuse on their squad. They also got former NBA Finals winning head coach Paul Westhead during the start of the season, but he managed to procure himself an assistant coach gig with

1221-471: The television broadcast team. Motor City Cruise The Motor City Cruise are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Detroit , and are affiliated with the Detroit Pistons . The Cruise play their home games at Wayne State Fieldhouse . The franchise began play as the Long Beach Jam in 2003 under the revived American Basketball Association and moved to Bakersfield in

1258-426: Was announced that Nate Bjorkgren would leave the Jam to take part in the Suns' organization as a leading player development and assistant coach. Three months later, former NBA coach Chris Jent would be the newest head coach for the Jam. On April 12, 2016, the Phoenix Suns announced that the organization had officially purchased the Jam and were relocating the franchise to the town of Prescott Valley, Arizona , for

1295-614: Was born in Detroit on September 3, 1957, and grew up in the 1960s in the midst of the city's race riots . He played high school basketball at Finney High School . Cureton played two seasons at Robert Morris College . After his first year, they transitioned from being a junior college , and he played in the Colonials ' first season in NCAA Division I in 1976–77, averaging a double-double of 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, before electing to return home to play at

1332-553: Was confirmed that the Suns and the Jam would agree to working under a hybrid affiliation. Four days later, the Jam completed their transition by allowing Suns scout Bubba Barrage to be the team's newest general manager and letting Nate Bjorkgren coach the Jam in place of Will Voigt . Since the Dignity Health Event Center seated only 500, the team did not sell individual general admission tickets and were sold to season ticket holders only. On May 29, 2015, it

1369-403: Was in the game. He played 17 minutes in a 103–93 win, and the 76ers eventually swept the series. After three seasons with Philadelphia, Cureton failed to agree to a contract with the team. He briefly played in Italy for Scavolini Pesaro and Simac Milano before signing with the Detroit Pistons for the 1983–84 season , and spent three seasons with the Pistons. He became a journeyman for

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