110-846: The Osceola Magic are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Kissimmee, Florida , and are affiliated with the Orlando Magic . The Magic began play in the 2017–18 season as the Lakeland Magic, and now play their home games at the Silver Spurs Arena . The franchise was previously based in Erie, Pennsylvania , and known as the Erie BayHawks until their move to Lakeland in 2018. The franchise
220-595: A triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists in the BayHawks' 122–113 victory over the Maine Red Claws . Lin was recalled by the Knicks three days later. In December 2012, the Knicks assigned NBA veteran Amar'e Stoudemire to the BayHawks because of an injury. In 2012, the Knicks offered the BayHawks head coach position to Patrick Ewing , one of their most prominent alumni. However, he turned down
330-646: A D-League team in Florida; the eight initial candidate venues were: Bay Lake ( ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ), Daytona Beach ( Ocean Center ), Estero ( Germain Arena ), Fort Myers ( Lee Civic Center ), Jacksonville ( Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena ), Kissimmee ( Silver Spurs Arena ), Lakeland ( Lakeland Center ), and Orlando ( CFE Arena ). On February 17, the Magic narrowed their choices down to Bay Lake, Jacksonville, Lakeland, and Kissimmee. On June 30,
440-679: A developmental league for over two decades. The NBA had attempted to buy the CBA in March 2000, but they were rejected. The league began its play as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) in the 2001–02 season ; the eight franchises were all located in the southeastern United States (in Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina , Alabama , and Georgia ). Each team logo was given NBDL branding that
550-507: A female householder with no husband present, and 39% were individuals and nontraditional families. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82. In 2000, the city the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
660-464: A large digital collection with over 7,000 images of the city of Lakeland, its landmarks, significant historical moments, cultural institutions, and prominent citizens. The LHR provides one-on-one assistance with historic research, a history lecture series with prominent local historians, a DIY Digitizing Lab for personal material preservation, and genealogical programs and resources. In 2019, an initiative led by Lakeland City Commissioner Phillip Walker,
770-452: A number of other bodies of water unnamed, mostly phosphate mine pits that eventually filled with water. The largest of these is Lake Parker , which is 2,550 acres (10.3 km ) in size. Much of the culture of Lakeland revolves around its many lakes, and many people use the lakes as reference points in much the same way people in other towns use streets as reference points, such as "I live near Lake Beulah." In addition to Lake Parker, some of
880-548: A pro-rated portion of the NBA minimum rookie salary (which was $ 815,615 in the 2017–18 season). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way players in 2020–21 were initially allowed to play up to 50 games in the NBA. Late in the season, restrictions were further lifted, allowing them to play more than 50 games as well as being eligible for the NBA playoffs. Many former NBA draftees, waived players, and undrafted players have played in
990-600: A product of the 1920s boom), Park Trammell Building (formerly the Lakeland Public Library and today the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce), and others. The city also has several historic districts that have many large buildings built during the 1920s and 1940s. The Cleveland Indians held spring training there from 1923 to 1927 at Henley Field Ball Park . Parks were developed surrounding Lake Mirror, including Barnett Children's Park, Hollis Gardens, and
1100-517: A routine traffic stop in the Wabash area of Lakeland. More than 500 police officers from a variety of law enforcement agencies joined in a search for Angilo Freeland, suspected of murdering Williams and stealing his gun. Freeland was found hiding in a rural area the next morning. Nine officers from five different law enforcement agencies surrounded Freeland and shot him when he raised Williams' stolen gun at them. A total of 110 shots were fired, and Freeland
1210-657: A scouting event for NBA general managers and scouts, but evolved into a four-day event with each team playing two games apiece. From 2005 to 2017, 15 players were called-up or recalled during or immediately following the Showcase. As of 2019, the event's location was the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip . Because of limited space at the conference center site, all games are played without spectators , although TV and Internet coverage
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#17327869795991320-790: A single-affiliation partnership. In June 2013, the Miami Heat announced that they had entered into a single-affiliated partnership with the Sioux Falls Skyforce . In July 2013, the Sacramento Kings and Reno Bighorns (now the Stockton Kings ) entered into a single-affiliation. The Stampede ended their affiliation with the Trail Blazers after the 2013–14 season and in June 2014 announced their affiliation with
1430-742: A sponsorship with Gatorade . The Magic won the league championship in the COVID-19 pandemic -shortened season in 2021 . Head coach Heath won coach of the year and then took the head coaching position with the Eastern Michigan Eagles . Associate coach Joe Barrer was then named his replacement. Anthony Parker was promoted to assistant general manager in Orlando and Adetunji Adedipe was promoted to general manager in October 2021 after serving as an assistant manager since 2017 and working for
1540-437: A standard NBA contract to its affiliated G League team. If more than two NBA players are assigned to a team, the team must reduce the number of G League players to keep the total roster size to 12. An NBA player will continue to be paid his NBA salary and will continue to be included on his NBA team's roster on the inactive list while playing in the G League. NBA teams can call up players as many times as they choose, and there
1650-489: A supermarket chain. European-American settlers arrived in Lakeland from Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina in the 1870s. The city expanded in the 1880s with the arrival of rail service, with the first freedmen railway workers settling here in 1883. They and European immigrants also came because of land development opportunities with farming, citrus, cattle and phosphate industry developing. Lakeland
1760-471: A team's playoff roster or play in a playoff game). Only players with four or fewer years of NBA experience are eligible for two-way contracts. The league's newest CBA, which took effect with the 2023–24 season , increases the per-team limit on two-way contracts to three. Unlike other G League players, who can be called up by any NBA team, two-way players can only be called up by their contracted NBA team. Players under two-way contracts are not counted against
1870-769: Is a basketball team playing in the NBA G League and is an affiliate of the Orlando Magic . The Florida Tropics SC is an indoor soccer team playing in the Major Arena Soccer League . The Tropics organization also operates an outdoor team, the Lakeland Tropics, which competes in the Premier Development League . The Florida Tarpons were an indoor football team playing in the American Arena League for one season after relocating from Estero, Florida . In
1980-485: Is a special collections archive established in 1987 housed within the Lakeland Public Library 's main branch. The Lakeland History Room maintains the City's collection of historical materials as well as other locally relevant collections composed of documents, photographs, maps, building plans, audio/visual media, scrapbooks, specialty items like citrus crate labels, artwork, yearbooks, posters, and postcards. The LHR maintains
2090-494: Is available for all games. The 2019 showcase was a series of mini-tournaments in which the winning team shared a $ 100,000 grand prize. Before Las Vegas, host cities were Columbus, Georgia (2005); Fayetteville, North Carolina (2006); Sioux Falls, South Dakota (2007); Boise, Idaho (2008); Orem, Utah (2009); Boise, Idaho (2010); South Padre Island, Texas (2011); Reno, Nevada in 2012 and 2013; Santa Cruz, California in 2015; and Mississauga, Ontario in 2017 and 2018. It
2200-544: Is home to the 1,267-acre Circle B Bar Reserve (513 ha). In the 18th century Native Americans groups, collectively called " Seminoles ", moved into the areas left vacant. In 1823, the United States and the various tribes in Florida signed the Treaty of Moultrie Creek , which created a reservation in central Florida that included what is now Polk County. Starting in 1832, the United States government tried to move
2310-602: Is home to the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple , which was established in 2005. In 1994, the first and only mosque in the county was established. It was called Masjid Aisha, but is now called the Islamic Center of Lakeland. Christianity makes up the largest religious group in Lakeland. As of 2013, an estimated 300 churches existed with an address in the city. Lakeland is the largest city on Interstate 4 between Orlando and Tampa. Large industries in
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#17327869795992420-528: Is no limit to the number of times an NBA player with three years or less experience can be assigned to the G League. Starting in 2011–12, veteran NBA players could be assigned with their consent. The first example of such was with Yi Jianlian , who the Dallas Mavericks assigned to the Texas Legends for two games. The 2017 collective bargaining agreement for the NBA, which took effect with
2530-418: Is no longer the largest industry in the area, it still plays a large part in the economy of Lakeland and Polk County. Phosphate mining is still important to the economy of Lakeland, although most of the mining now takes place farther south. The Bone Valley produced 25% of the U.S. phosphate supply. Lakeland's largest employer is Publix Super Markets . Publix is one of the largest regional grocery chains in
2640-421: Is situated among several lakes including Lake Morton downtown and is sometimes locally referred to by the nickname "Swan City" due to its sizeable population of swans, all of whom are descendants of two mute swans given to Lakeland by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957. Lakeland is home to several colleges and universities. Lakeland Linder International Airport is in Lakeland as is the corporate headquarters of Publix ,
2750-462: Is the largest university in the area, with undergraduate enrollment around 6200. Southeastern is affiliated with the Assemblies of God . Florida Southern College , established in 1883 and with a current undergraduate enrollment of just over 2600, is on Lake Hollingsworth . Florida Southern is the home of the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. In July 2008,
2860-418: Is the major source from which teams build their rosters. Team rosters are made up of returning players (players who were on the team during the previous season), players waived by an NBA team who are designated as an ' affiliate player ' to their respective G League affiliate, allocated players (players who have local significance), and drafted players. The eight round draft utilizes a serpentine format , meaning
2970-482: Is used extensively on the campus. The concrete blocks he used are in need of restoration. Wright titled the project Child of the Sun , describing his Florida Southern buildings as being "out of the ground, into the light, a child of the sun." It is the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the world, and attracts 30,000 visitors each year. In 1975, the "Florida Southern Architectural District"
3080-631: The 2014 draft , two D-League players were selected for the first time: P. J. Hairston was drafted 26th (which was also the first time a D-League player was drafted in the first round in the NBA), and Thanasis Antetokounmpo was the 51st pick. Other noteworthy D-League call-ups include 2019 NBA Champion Jeremy Lin ; Hassan Whiteside ; 2011 NBA champion J. J. Barea ; 2014, 2019 and 2020 NBA champion Danny Green ; 2015, 2017, and 2018 NBA champion Shaun Livingston ; and 2017 NBA champion Matt Barnes . The league held its first All-Star game February 17, 2007, at
3190-465: The 2017–18 season , included changes allowing each NBA team to sign two players on two-way contracts . Those players spend most of their time on the team's G League roster, but can freely move to their respective NBA team for up to 45 days in the regular season, as well as be a part of the team's roster before the start of the season (including NBA training camps) and after the conclusion of the G League's regular season (though they are not allowed to be on
3300-559: The 2021–22 season . On April 16, 2020, the NBA launched a new development program for potential NBA prospects and a new unaffiliated team called the NBA G League Ignite , which began play in the 2020–21 season. The Ignite team, however, folded after the 2023–24 season. Parent club ownership: Single affiliation/hybrid model: G League teams without an exclusive affiliate: Current member Former member or former names Future member Opted out of season Other league NBA G League players generally do not sign contracts with
3410-585: The Atlanta Hawks would temporarily place their D-League affiliate in Erie for the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons under the operations of the former BayHawks management as a new BayHawks team . The Atlanta Hawks had already announced their intentions of placing their D-League franchise in College Park, Georgia , for the 2019–20 season. Before the 2017–18 season, the league rebranded to the NBA G League via
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3520-595: The Austin Spurs ) and NBA team assignments . Each team also has local tryouts, and one player from the tryouts is assigned to the team. The minimum age to play in the G League is 18, unlike the NBA which requires players to be 19 years old and one year out of high school in order to sign an NBA contract or be eligible for the draft. The base annual salary is US$ 35,000 plus housing and insurance benefits. Players who are called up for NBA get bonuses totalling up to US$ 50,000. The NBA G League draft occurs each season and
3630-483: The COVID-19 pandemic -curtailed 2019–20 season , the G League postponed the start of the following season . In January 2021, the league announced it would play all games at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida , using the same isolation bubble as the 2020 NBA Bubble . Many teams opted out of participation, with only 17 of the 28 teams from the 2019–20 season plus the new Ignite prospects team choosing to take part in
3740-978: The Dakota Wizards , and the Slam Dunk Contest was won by James White of the Bakersfield Jam . The 2010 D-League All-Star game was held on February 13, 2010, at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas . The Western Conference team defeated the Eastern Conference Team, 98–81. Bakersfield Jam center Brian Butch , who scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, was named as the MVP of the game. The NBA D-League also ran their third annual Dream Factory Friday Night events. The inaugural Shooting Stars Competition
3850-855: The Greensboro Swarm , the Brooklyn Nets created the Long Island Nets , and the Chicago Bulls created the Windy City Bulls . In the 2017–18 season , the D-League entered into a multi-year partnership with Gatorade and rebranded as the NBA Gatorade League, which was officially shortened to "NBA G League" prior to the season. It also continued its membership changes with the relocation of
3960-651: The Lakeland Derby Dames ; however, the team was dissolved in November 2015. The Lakeland Center also hosts the Florida High School Athletic Association 's state basketball finals. Lakeland is governed by a six-member city council. Four members are elected from single-member districts ; the other two are elected at-large , requiring them to gain a majority of the votes. The mayor is elected. The City of Lakeland
4070-531: The Lakeland Municipal Airport . In 1938, Florida Southern College President Ludd Spivey invited architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design a "great education temple in Florida." Wright worked on the project for over 20 years as Spivey found ways to fund it and find construction workers during World War II . Wright's original plan called for 18 structures; in total he designed 30, but only 12 were completed. Wright's textile block motif
4180-1028: The Los Angeles Lakers bought their own NBA D-League franchise, originally known as the Los Angeles D-Fenders and since 2017–18 as the South Bay Lakers . This was followed by the San Antonio Spurs purchasing the Austin Toros (now the Austin Spurs ) in 2007, and the Oklahoma City Thunder purchasing the Tulsa 66ers (now the Oklahoma City Blue ) in 2008. More NBA teams began to either purchase existing franchises or create expansion teams to have their own single-affiliation teams. In 2011,
4290-725: The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas , Nevada . It was part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. As with the NBA's showcase game, a fan vote determined the starting lineup for each team. The East won, 114 to 100, with Pops Mensah-Bonsu named the game's MVP. The second annual All-Star game was held on February 16, 2008, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans . The Blue team beat
4400-616: The Mexico national team held in Los Angeles . After that event, this contest did not return in any form. Since 2022, select G League players participate in the Rising Stars Challenge alongside NBA rookie and sophomore players. The league stages an annual NBA G League Showcase in which all of the league's teams play each other in a "carnival" format. The showcase was first played in 2005 was originally intended solely as
4510-741: The New Jersey Nets and Springfield Armor announced they would enter into a single-affiliate partnership that began in 2011–12. In June 2011, the New York Knicks and Erie BayHawks announced they would be singly affiliated. In May 2012, the Portland Trail Blazers entered into a single-affiliation partnership with the Idaho Stampede . The following month, the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws announced
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4620-905: The New York Knicks became the seventh team to fully own and operate their own NBA D-League affiliate in the Westchester Knicks . In 2015, the Toronto Raptors created their own expansion franchise, the Raptors 905 . In 2017, the Timberwolves purchased the Iowa Energy and renamed the team the Iowa Wolves . In 2017, the Atlanta Hawks launched their team in under the Erie BayHawks name and then relocated
4730-409: The Portland Trail Blazers announced they would be launching their affiliate, the Rip City Remix , beginning with the 2023–24 season . The Phoenix Suns then launched the Valley Suns as its affiliate team beginning with the 2024–25 season . In 2009, the Houston Rockets and Rio Grande Valley Vipers pioneered the single-affiliate partnership, also known as the hybrid model. In November 2010,
4840-405: The Presque Isle Bay , on which the city of Erie lies. The hawk represents the city's wildlife and naval history, especially because hawks were used by naval expeditions to send important messages. The team's colors of black, red, and gold paid homage to the Erie-based Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and to the United States Navy uniforms worn during the War of 1812 . The team was affiliated with
4950-414: The Toronto Raptors from 2009 to 2011. The team home court was Erie Insurance Arena . The affiliation with the Cavaliers lasted until 2011 when Cleveland obtained their own affiliate in the Canton Charge . The BayHawks then affiliated with the New York Knicks . Under the Knicks' affiliation, the BayHawks made headlines on January 17, 2012, when Jeremy Lin was assigned to the team. On January 20, he had
5060-458: The Utah Jazz . The Armor moved to Grand Rapids , Michigan , after the 2013–14 season and affiliated with the Detroit Pistons . From 2014 to 2017, the Memphis Grizzlies had a single-affiliation with the Iowa Energy. In 2015, the last multiple affiliate team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (now the Indiana Mad Ants ), were purchased by the Indiana Pacers , making the 2015–16 season the first with all teams having single-affiliations. In some cases,
5170-414: The one-and-done rule where players would play one season of college basketball and then leave for the NBA. The new select contract was an alternative for players who do not want to or cannot attend a college, with players earning up to $ 125,000 per season. The league launched its prospects team, the NBA G League Ignite , in 2020. The G-League Ignite team folded after the 2023–2024 season . Following
5280-415: The 1980s, the Lakeland Center briefly played host to the indoor version of the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. The Lakeland Center has also hosted a few hockey teams, the Lakeland Ice Warriors, the Lakeland Prowlers, and the Lakeland Loggerheads. The United States Basketball League once had a team here as well called the Lakeland Blue Ducks . Sun 'n Fun was home to Lakeland's only roller derby league,
5390-412: The 2016 expansion team, the Greensboro Swarm . After the 2006 to 2009 expansions, the league membership was fairly consistent with few relocations and suspensions. In 2009, the Houston Rockets entered into the first single-affiliation partnership, called the hybrid model, with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers . This began a trend of NBA and D-League teams entering into single-affiliation agreements of both
5500-405: The 2017–18 season, G League players who are not on two-way contracts earn either $ 19,500 or $ 26,000 during the league's season. By contrast, two-way players' salaries while in the G League, which are pro-rated according to the number of days the player is with his G League team, are based on an annual salary between $ 50,000 and $ 75,000, and while these players are with their NBA team, they will earn
5610-413: The BayHawks entered talks for a hybrid relationship with the Orlando Magic and a deal was announced May 19, 2014. In January 2016, the Magic announced their intentions to have their own D-League team in Florida, but stated that it would be an expansion team and not a relocation of the Erie BayHawks. In the original January 6, 2016, announcement, it was announced that the Orlando Magic was seeking to place
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#17327869795995720-489: The BayHawks. NBA G League The NBA G League , or simply the G League , is the minor league organization of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league was founded in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League ( NBDL ), renamed the NBA Development League ( NBA D-League ) in 2005. It received its present name in 2017 under a deal with Gatorade , becoming the first U.S. professional sports league named for an advertiser. Initially eight teams,
5830-448: The Cleveland Cavaliers purchased the New Mexico Thunderbirds to become the Canton Charge, and the Golden State Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards , with the Warriors moving the Wizards a year later to become the Santa Cruz Warriors . In 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers purchased the inactive Utah Flash and moved them to Newark, Delaware as the Delaware 87ers ; the team is now the Delaware Blue Coats, and plays in Wilmington . In 2014,
5940-441: The D-League expanded to California with the addition of the Bakersfield Jam . Two months later, the league announced that four teams from the CBA were joining the league: the Dakota Wizards , Sioux Falls Skyforce , Idaho Stampede , and a team originally slated for CBA expansion , the Colorado 14ers . Shortly after, the league announced expansion teams in the Anaheim Arsenal and the Los Angeles D-Fenders . The D-Fenders were
6050-402: The Erie BayHawks to Lakeland, Florida , as the Lakeland Magic , a new Erie BayHawks franchise, and expansions in the Agua Caliente Clippers in Ontario, California (now known as the San Diego Clippers ), the Memphis Hustle in Southaven, Mississippi , and the Wisconsin Herd in Oshkosh, Wisconsin . The Los Angeles D-Fenders would also re-brand to the South Bay Lakers . In December 2017,
6160-402: The Lakeland area are citrus, cattle, and phosphate mining . In the past few decades, tourism, medicine, insurance, transportation, and music have grown in importance. Citrus growing dates back to the early settlers who planted trees in the area, in the 1850s. After a series of freezes in counties north of Polk County, the area became the focal point for citrus growing in Florida. Although citrus
6270-416: The Magic named Kissimmee and Lakeland as the two finalists. However, in December 2016, the Magic announced that they had purchased the BayHawks' franchise and that they would be relocating it to Lakeland, Florida , for the 2017–18 season , becoming the seventeenth NBA team to own a D-League franchise. They would also build a practice facility in nearby Winter Haven . On April 12, 2017, it was announced that
6380-407: The Magic organization since 2015. On April 11, 2023, the Orlando Magic announced they would be relocating their G League affiliate to Osceola in order to be closer to Orlando. The team will be based out of Osceola Heritage Park and play at Silver Spurs Arena . Roster Last transaction: November 26, 2024 Payton Siva Alade Aminu was traded to the Bakersfield Jam after 37 games with
6490-415: The NBA G League. Bobby Simmons , Aaron Brooks , and Pascal Siakam are the only former D-League players to win an NBA end-of-season award; all won the Most Improved Player Award , with Simmons getting it with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004–05 , Brooks earning it with the Houston Rockets in 2009–10 and Siakam receiving it with the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-19 NBA season. Khris Middleton became
6600-426: The NBA and the live-streaming website Twitch announced that they would broadcast G League games on Twitch. Games have also been aired on the ESPN+ subscription service. For the 2019–20 season , the G League began to offer select contracts to players who are not yet eligible to enter the NBA draft . Since 2006, players must be at least 19 years old by the end of the calendar year, creating what became known as
6710-557: The NBA team's regular roster limit, and can be assigned to a G League affiliate for development while also getting a larger salary whenever they are called up to the parent team. For teams that do not have a one-to-one affiliation with a G League team, a process similar to the "flexible assignment" rule is being used to determine the placement for their own two-way contracts in the G League until every team has their proper affiliation underway. In addition, salaries for two-way players are much higher than those for regular G League players. As of
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#17327869795996820-405: The NBA. In the same offseason, Southwest Basketball, LLC led by David Kahn received league permission to operate four new teams. Southwest Basketball purchased three existing franchises and one expansion team: the Albuquerque Thunderbirds , Austin Toros , Fort Worth Flyers , and Tulsa 66ers . The Arkansas RimRockers were also added from the ABA for the 2005–06 season . In February 2006,
6930-420: The NYPD, and one new hire used to work in the NYPD's notorious anti-crime units which were disbanded after high-profile scandals. The 28 elementary schools, seven middle schools, five traditional high schools, and three magnet-choice high schools in the Lakeland area are run by the Polk County School Board . A number of opportunities exist for higher education around the Lakeland area. Southeastern University
7040-403: The Northern Arizona Suns beginning with the 2016–17 season . On October 20, 2016, the Sacramento Kings bought the majority ownership of their affiliate of the previous eight seasons, the Reno Bighorns, and would eventually move the team to Stockton, California , as the Stockton Kings after the 2017–18 season. On December 14, 2016, the Magic purchased their affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, with
7150-437: The Red team, 117–99, and Jeremy Richardson was named the MVP. In addition to the NBA D-League All-Star Game, the league debuted its first Dream Factory Friday Night events, which modeled after the NBA All-Star Saturday Night events. The events consists of Three-Point Shootout (won by Adam Harrington ), Slam Dunk Contest (won by Brent Petway ), and game of H-O-R-S-E (won by Lance Allred ). The 2009 D-League All-Star game
7260-500: The Seminoles in Florida west to the Indian Territory . Most of the Seminoles resisted, resulting in the Second Seminole War , 1835–1842. By the end of that war, most of the Seminoles had been sent west, with a few remnants pushed well south of what is now Polk County. Florida became a state in 1845, and Polk County was established in 1861. After the American Civil War , the county seat was established southeast of Lakeland in Bartow . While most of Polk County's early history centered on
7370-447: The United States with over 1,200 stores across the American South . Publix employs over 6,500 people in the Lakeland area including headquarter and warehouse employees. Lakeland is a transportation hub. FedEx Freight and FedEx Services and the Saddle Creek Corporation employ over 600 people in the area. Other large employers in the area include Amazon , GEICO , Rooms To Go , and Lakeland Regional Health. The Lakeland History Room
7480-599: The University of South Florida's Lakeland campus was granted partial autonomy by Governor Charlie Crist and became Florida Polytechnic University. Florida Polytechnic (FLPoly) is just inside the Lakeland's northeast border at the intersection of I-4 and Polk Parkway. They also have some administrative offices on the campus of Polk State College on Winter Lake Road. FLPoly is focused on STEM degree programs, such as engineering and computer science. Both Everest University and Keiser University , two multisite, accredited universities, have locations in Lakeland. Traviss Career Center
7590-469: The abbreviated bubble season beginning in February 2021. Ownership models vary across the NBA G League. Growing willingness among NBA organizations to invest in the G League has led to two main models: direct ownership of G League teams by parent NBA clubs and single-affiliate partnerships in which the G League team remains independently owned while the affiliate NBA team runs and finances basketball operations. Parent club direct ownership began in 2006 when
7700-561: The capture of two of the royal swans, and the swans now on the lakes of Lakeland are the descendants of the one surviving royal swan sent by the Queen. In July 2006, Scott Lake, one of the city's lakes, was almost totally drained by a cluster of sinkholes . Later the lake partially refilled. Lakeland, like most other parts of Florida north of Lake Okeechobee , is in the humid subtropical zone ( Köppen climate classification : Cfa ). Typically, summers are hot and humid with high temperatures seldom dropping below 90 °F and 70 °F for
7810-449: The city has an area of 67 sq mi (173.5 km ), of which 45.84 sq mi (118.7 km ) is land and 5.61 sq mi (14.5 km ) (10.90%) is covered by water. Lakeland is within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain , with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills. The dominant feature in Lakeland is the city's many lakes. Thirty-eight lakes are named, with
7920-505: The city. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 97,422 people, 40,529 households, and 24,654 families residing in the city. Between 2008–2012, the per capita income was $ 23,817 and the median household income was $ 40,284. Persons below the poverty line in 2008–2012 were 17.5% according to the US Census. As of 2000, 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had
8030-494: The first D-League team to be directly owned by an NBA parent team, the Los Angeles Lakers . However, the westward expansion contributed to the contraction of the NBA-owned Roanoke Dazzle and Fayetteville Patriots for that season. The Florida Flame suspended operations due to arena scheduling difficulties. After the 2006–07 season , there would be no more teams in the southeastern United States until
8140-493: The first NBDL championship on April 8, 2002, after winning game 2 over the North Charleston Lowgators . The league saw an average attendance of 1,640 fans per game, lower than what the NBA expected. In 2005, the league's name was changed to NBA Development League (NBA D-League) as part of the new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA and a bid to appeal to more fans by showing the connection to
8250-544: The first former D-League player to be named an NBA All-Star when he was selected to participate in the 2019 All-Star Game . In the 2008 NBA draft , the Idaho Stampede 's Mike Taylor was drafted 55th by the Portland Trail Blazers . He became the first player from the NBA D-League to be drafted by an NBA team. He was subsequently traded and signed a rookie contract with the Los Angeles Clippers . In
8360-846: The franchise to College Park, Georgia , in 2019 as the College Park Skyhawks . In 2021, the Detroit Pistons relocated the Northern Arizona Suns to Detroit and renamed the team as the Motor City Cruise . In 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans launched their G League franchise as a third incarnation of the Erie BayHawks before relocating the team to Birmingham, Alabama , as the Birmingham Squadron in 2021. In April 2023,
8470-655: The hybrid affiliation led to the parent team buying their affiliate's franchise outright. On March 24, 2015, the Utah Jazz purchased their affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, and, after one more season in Boise , relocated the team to Salt Lake City . On April 11, 2016, the Phoenix Suns purchased their affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam , and announced the immediate relocation of the team to Prescott Valley, Arizona , as
8580-533: The hybrid and parent-team owned varieties. With more NBA involvement, the league once again began to expand and spread its footprint. By 2015, the last multiple-affiliate team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants , was purchased by the Indiana Pacers , leading to the first season where all D-League teams were affiliated with only one NBA team. As there were no longer any unaffiliated D-League teams left,
8690-518: The independent Mexico City Capitanes . On June 13, 2000, NBA Commissioner David Stern and deputy commissioner Russ Granik announced the formation of the National Basketball Development League, to begin play in November 2001, with players required to be at least twenty years old. This was not the first time the league had their own minor league system, as they had used the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) as
8800-445: The individual teams, but with the league itself. G League team rosters consist of a total of 12 players, 10 (or fewer) being G League players and two (or more) NBA players. The rosters are made up in a number of ways: the previous year's players, players taken in the G League draft, allocation players (meaning players who are assigned to a team with which they have a local connection, such as a University of Texas player being assigned to
8910-528: The intention to relocate the team to Lakeland, Florida , in 2017. In 2017, the Miami Heat purchased the controlling interest in the Sioux Falls Skyforce after being its primary affiliate since 2013. In July 2019, the Boston Celtics acquired its affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, then became the Maine Celtics in 2021. Since 2020, the league added two teams without affiliation, with one of
9020-413: The league expanded after 2005 under a plan by NBA commissioner David Stern to develop it into a true minor-league farm system , with each NBA D-League team affiliated with one or more NBA teams. By mid-2014, one-third of NBA players had spent time in the NBA D-League, up from 23% in 2011. As of the 2024–25 season , the league consists of 31 teams. All are single-affiliated or owned by an NBA team except
9130-449: The more prominent lakes in the Lakeland area are Lake Hollingsworth , Lake Morton , Lake Mirror, and Lake Gibson . Swans are one of the most visible features on the lakes near downtown Lakeland. They have a long history, the first swans appearing around 1923. By 1954, the swans were gone, eradicated by alligators and pets. A Lakeland resident who mourned the passing of the swans wrote to Queen Elizabeth II . The royal family allowed
9240-488: The nation, the Florida peninsula was used as a launching point for military forces in the war. The then small town of Lakeland housed over 9,000 troops. The 10th Cavalry Regiment , one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments, were housed on the banks of Lake Wire. Soon after being stationed there, the black troops faced conflict with the local white population. In one event, a local druggist refused to sell to black soldiers and an argument ensued which eventually escalated to
9350-660: The newest, Allen Kryger Park. The "boom" period went "bust" quickly, and years passed before the city recovered. Part of the reemergence was due to the arrival of the Detroit Tigers baseball team in 1934 for spring training. The Tigers still train at Lakeland's Joker Marchant Stadium and own the city's Class A Florida State League team, the Lakeland Flying Tigers . In the mid-1930s, the Works Progress Administration built
9460-564: The offer citing his desire to coach in the National Basketball Association as opposed to the D-League. Ewing has worked as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards , Houston Rockets , and Orlando Magic . In 2014, the Knicks ended their affiliation with Erie in favor of starting an expansion D-League franchise, the Westchester Knicks , forcing the BayHawks to find a new affiliate. In April 2014,
9570-561: The order alternates in each round; Team A who selected first in Round 1 will select last in Round 2, while Team B who selected last in Round 1 will get the first pick in Round 2. Round 3 was added in 2014. The league holds an annual Player Invitational, where prospects hope to earn eligibility for the upcoming draft. Since 2014–15, an NBA team that declines to sign an NBA draft pick can have them sign directly with their G League affiliate. Previously, an unsigned NBA pick could not be protected by
9680-608: The organization's G League affiliate, and the player might have ended up on the G League team of another organization. Players waived by an NBA team during training camp and up until the start of the regular season can be designated as "affiliate players" and allocated to the NBA team's G League affiliate. Each team is allowed four affiliate players. These are players that an NBA team is interested in developing in their own system. The affiliate players, however, still remain as free agents that any NBA team can sign. Each NBA team can assign two first-year or second-year players who are under
9790-440: The overnight low. Like most of Central Florida, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm throughout the summer. Winters in Lakeland are drier and warm, with frequent sunny skies. High temperatures range in the mid 70s during the day, with lows in the 50s. Cold snaps drop temperatures below freezing twice a year on average. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 112,641 people, 41,750 households, and 24,433 families residing in
9900-631: The point where the druggist brandished a pistol. The soldiers shot the druggist before he could fire, which resulted in two of the troops being arrested. The Florida boom resulted in the construction of many significant structures in Lakeland, a number of which are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places . This list includes the Terrace Hotel, New Florida Hotel (Regency Tower, currently Lake Mirror Tower), Polk Theatre , Frances Langford Promenade , Polk Museum of Art (not
10010-622: The population, while German came up as the third-most spoken language, which made up 0.8%, and French was fourth, with 0.5% of the population. In 1913, the Wolfson family arrived from Lithuania and became the first Jewish settlers to the area. After some struggles, the Jewish community in Lakeland flourished and the first synagogue, Temple Emanuel opened in 1932. The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute presents classes and seminars in Lakeland in partnership with Chabad of Lakeland. Lakeland
10120-423: The project is currently underway and it is unknown when the project will be completed. Joker Marchant Stadium , north of downtown, hosts spring training for the Detroit Tigers , as well as their Lakeland Flying Tigers class-A Florida State League and GCL Tigers rookie-league Gulf Coast League minor league baseball teams. RP Funding Center is also home to two indoor sports teams. The Lakeland Magic
10230-536: The remaining NBA teams began purchasing expansion franchises or hybrid partnership teams and placing them near the parent team. In 2015, the Toronto Raptors placed their own team, Raptors 905 , in the Greater Toronto Area in Mississauga, Ontario . In 2016, the D-League expanded by three more NBA parent club-owned teams for the largest D-League expansion since 2007. The Charlotte Hornets created
10340-574: The school (renamed the Lodwick School of Aeronautics in the midst of this period). From June 1941 until October 1942, 1,327 British Royal Air Force cadets trained at the Lakeland facility. The Lodwick School of Aeronautics closed in 1945. The airport ceased flight operations in the 1960; the site has since then housed the Detroit Tigers ' "Tiger Town" baseball complex. According to the United States Census Bureau ,
10450-403: The team would be named the Lakeland Magic. On August 8, 2017, Stan Heath was named as the head coach and Anthony Parker as the general manager. In response to the purchase, the BayHawks' local management and former owners also announced that they were attempting to secure another franchise to replace the now Magic-owned BayHawks franchise to play in Erie. In January 2017, it was announced that
10560-601: The teams closing after several years. On December 12, 2019, the Mexico City Capitanes , which had been playing in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional , was announced as joining the NBA G League as an independent team in the 2020–21 season on a five-year agreement. Due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, a normal 2020–21 season did not occur and the Capitanes' debut was then delayed to
10670-506: The two cities of Bartow and Fort Meade , eventually, people entered the areas in northern Polk County and began settling in the areas which became Lakeland. Lakeland was first settled in the 1870s, and began to develop as the rail lines reached the area in 1884. Freedmen settled here in 1883, starting development of what became the African-American neighborhood of Moorehead. Lakeland was incorporated January 1, 1885. The town
10780-676: Was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males. In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $ 16,119, and for a family was $ 17,468. Males had a median income of $ 14,137 versus $ 9,771 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,760. About 47% of families and 35% of the population were below the poverty line , including 97% of those under age 18 and 9% of those age 65 or over. As of 2000, those who spoke only English at home accounted for 91% of all residents, while 9% spoke other languages at home. The most significant were Spanish speakers who made up 6.4% of
10890-589: Was J.W. Trammell. The first female mayor was Lois Q. Searl, who served in 1965. The 1970 municipal election placed the first African-American on the City Commission, Dr. John S. Jackson . In 1972, he became the first black mayor for the city. In 1980, Carrie R. Oldham became Lakeland's first African-American female mayor. Since 1988, the mayor has been elected by the city's voters. On September 28, 2006, Polk County Sheriff's Deputy Vernon "Matt" Williams and his K-9 partner Diogi were shot and killed after
11000-871: Was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2012, Wright's campus was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service . At the beginning of World War II , the Lakeland School of Aeronautics —headquartered at the recently built Lakeland Municipal Airport —became part of a nationwide network of civilian flight schools enjoined for the war effort by the United States Army Air Corps . Between 1940 and 1945, more than 8,000 Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces cadets trained on two-seater Stearman PT-17 and PT-13 biplanes at
11110-542: Was differentiated by team colors. Eight players were called up to the NBA during the season, which included Chris Andersen , the first player drafted by a NBDL team. The league made sponsorship deals with Reebok and television broadcasting deals with ESPN2 and Fox Sports South to broadcast select games during the first season (such as the NBDL Finals), which made them one of few minor league operations to have nationally televised games. The Greenville Groove won
11220-595: Was established to organize and advise the City in the design, content, and construction of the exhibit. The Lakeland Public Library was eventually chosen as the location of the future exhibit space due to its central location within the city, its status as a community hub, and because it was the current home of the city's local archive, the Lakeland History Room, which would be expanded into the Lakeland History and Culture Center. Construction on
11330-512: Was first presented to the City Commission to create the City's first History and Culture Center. The project was unanimously approved by the Commission and funds were allocated for the project's construction; although, the exhibit's content design would be funded by local donations and grant funding. An advisory committee made up of educators, city officials, local business owners, and civic and community leaders, led by former Mayor Gow Fields ,
11440-491: Was founded by Abraham Munn (a resident of Louisville, Kentucky ), who purchased 80 acres (320,000 m ) of land in what is now downtown Lakeland in 1882 and platted the land for the town in 1884. Lakeland was named for the many lakes near the town site. In April 1898, the Spanish–American War began and started a crucial point in Lakeland's development. While the war ended quickly and had little effect on most of
11550-747: Was held on February 14, 2009, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona . The Red Team defeated the Blue Team, 113–103, and Blake Ahearn and Courtney Sims were named co-MVPs. Along with the All-Star game, the NBA D-League ran their second annual Dream Factory Friday Night events. H-O-R-S-E was won by Will Conroy of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds . The Three-Point Shootout was won by Blake Ahearn of
11660-500: Was hit 68 times, killing him instantly. Multiple investigations concluded the officers' use of force was justified. Deputy Williams and Diogi were laid to rest on October 3, 2006, after a funeral that included a one-hour-and-45-minute procession to Auburndale . In 2021, the Lakeland Police Department hired numerous former NYPD officers. Two of the new hires failed to disclose that they had been disciplined by
11770-451: Was incorporated on January 1, 1885. The mayor is one of seven members of the City Commission, acting as the board chair and performing mostly ceremonial and procedural duties beyond the powers of the other six. Prior to 1988, the City Commission selected Lakeland's mayor from among its members. Mayors can be on the board for up to 12 years in a lifetime, or 16 years in combination with holding a regular commission position. Lakeland's first mayor
11880-804: Was known as the Lakeland Magic until April 11, 2023, when the Orlando Magic announced that the team would move to Kissimmee beginning in November 2023 and be renamed the Osceola Magic. The Erie BayHawks were established in 2008 as an expansion team in the NBA Development League (D-League), originally affiliated with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers . The "BayHawks" name alluded to
11990-615: Was not held in 2016. Lakeland, Florida Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida , United States. Located along I-4 east of Tampa and west of Orlando , it is the most populous city in Polk County. As of the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal city of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area . Lakeland
12100-535: Was won by a team of Pat Carroll , Trey Gilder and Carlos Powell . The Three-Point Shootout was won by Andre Ingram of the Utah Flash , and the Slam Dunk Contest was won by Dar Tucker of the Los Angeles D-Fenders . The game continued until 2017, with games continuing to be held during NBA All-Star Weekend at the same site. In 2018, it was replaced by a game between G League all-stars and
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