Rockets Partner With D-League Vipers

Team preparing to spend portion of training camp in Rio Grande Valley

Rockets.com Staff

Houston - The Houston Rockets today became the first NBA team to enter into a single-affiliation partnership with their NBA D-League affiliate the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Under terms of the agreement, the Rockets assume responsibility of the Vipers’ basketball operations while the local ownership group in Rio Grande Valley headed up by Alonzo Cantu continues overseeing the team’s business operations.

The first-of-its-kind partnership was announced today by the NBA in conjunction with the D-League’s restructuring of NBA affiliations, which makes the Rockets the only parent club of the Vipers. Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey will oversee the Vipers’ basketball operations beginning with the 2009-10 season.

“Mr. Cantu has done a great job integrating the Vipers into the community and we look forward to working with him to build upon the success he has already achieved,” said Morey. “This unique partnership with the Vipers affords us the opportunity to take an increased role in the development of our young players while also introducing an exciting and competitive brand of NBA-style basketball to fans in the Rio Grande Valley. We look forward to the mutual benefits the partnership will provide both organizations.”

In a structure similar to other minor leagues, the single-affiliation partnership -- which is new for the 2009-10 season -- gives NBA teams the opportunity to oversee the basketball operations functions of an NBA D-League team while partnering with existing local ownership who maintain responsibility for the off-the-court business operations of the team. To date, only three NBA teams own their NBA D-League affiliate: Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

“This is a watershed moment for the Vipers and for professional sports in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Vipers President/GM Brian Michael Cooper. “The Vipers’ partnership with the Rockets further demonstrates our commitment to Vipers fans to place the highest quality product on the court, and we look forward to the Rockets’ guidance and leadership in basketball operations. Vipers fans should be very excited about the future and direction of their franchise.”

The Rockets previously announced plans to conduct a portion of their 2009-10 training camp in the Rio Grande Valley. Houston will hold two days of training camp at the McAllen Convention Center on Oct. 4 and 5 prior to hosting an exhibition game against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 7 at Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. It will mark the first time an NBA D-League team has hosted a parent club for an exhibition game or any part of training camp.

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