D-League tips off 12th season Friday

Mad Antics

The D-League will hold its annual national tryouts June 15 in New York. The one-day event will see 200 hopefuls in full-court games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts.May 16, 2013

Howard, Smith work at Development League camp

Mad Ants guard Ron Howard and center Tommy Smith accepted invitations to the NBA Development League Elite Mini Camp, which started Monday and runs through Tuesday in Chicago.May 13, 2013

Record year for D-League

It wasn't only the Mad Ants that made 2012-13 their best season; the rest of the NBA Development League had a record-setting year, as well.May 1, 2013

NEW YORK– The NBA Development League opens its 12th season Friday, coming off a record-breaking season in which 43 players were called up to the NBA.

The Mad Ants open at home against Eire at 7:30 p.m.

The NBA’s minor league begins its 50-game schedule with a notable change. Players can now be assigned from an NBA team an unlimited amount of times for the first three years of their careers. They could previously only be sent down in their first two years, with three assignments total.

The 16-team league has 11 directly affiliated with an NBA club, the most ever, and 20 percent of the players on NBA rosters to open the season had D-League experience.

The D-League reached a deal to have games shown on YouTube, and CBS Sports Network will air 12 regular-season games plus postseason action.