Orlando, Fla. • The Jazz will have a different D-League affiliate for the third time in three years after the Reno Bighorns entered into a single-team affiliation with the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
The Tribune has learned that the Jazz will be affiliated with the Bakersfield Jam, although according to a release from the D-League, affiliates for the Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, who were also partnered with Reno last season, will not be announced until later this summer.
The Bighorns became the 14th D-League team to enter an exclusive partnership with an NBA team. Commissioner David Stern has said he would like to see 30 D-League affiliates for each NBA team. Last season, the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors were affiliated with Bakersfield.
The Idaho Stampede served as the Jazz's D-League partner before last season, when they entered a single-team affiliation with Portland.
Bill Oram