Utah Jazz Secure D-League Affiliate

National Basketball Association franchise Utah Jazz will be full-fledged partners with an NBA Development League team this season.

The formal announcement came Tuesday when the Jazz issued a press release stating that they have entered into a single-affiliation partnership with the Idaho Stampede beginning with the 2014-15 NBA D-League season.

Utah, which has had five different D-League shared affiliates since 2005, thus becomes the record 17th NBA team to have a one-to-one affiliation with a D-League team.

The partnership, which is also referred to as a “hybrid affiliation,” is the ninth of its kind in the NBA D-League, according to the press release, and will enable the Jazz to manage all aspects of the Stampede’s basketball operations. Meanwhile, the Stampede’s existing local ownership group, headed up by Bill Ilett, will maintain primary responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.

“Partnering with the Idaho Stampede is another step forward in the growth and expansion of our basketball operations and will provide us with an opportunity to further enhance the development of our young players,” Jazz team president Randy Rigby said. “Like the Jazz, the Stampede are a well-established franchise with a strong track record of success, and Boise’s proximity to Salt Lake and large contingent of Jazz fans make this the perfect fit. We look forward to working closely with Bill Ilett, Steve Brandes and the Stampede in our new single-affiliation partnership.”

Boise, located less than 350 miles from Salt Lake City, has had a strong Jazz fan base and several ties to the Utah organization for many years. The Jazz previously shared affiliation with the Stampede during the 2006-07 and 2011-12 seasons. The Stampede won the D-League championship in 2008.

“The Idaho Stampede are thrilled to partner with the Utah Jazz, as their new single-affiliate team in the NBA D-League,” said Ilett, who is the managing investor of the Boise team. “Randy Rigby, Dennis Lindsey and their entire organization exemplify what is great about the NBA.

“We are excited to be a part of the development of their new young squad of players over the next several years. Basketball fans in Southern Idaho have always loved the Jazz and we are all now part of the Jazz family.”