NEW YORK – The 2016 NBA Development League Showcase presented by Samsung tips off its 19-game schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 6 with four games, beginning with a matchup between the Canton Charge and Idaho Stampede.  The first day of action at the league’s premier in-season scouting event continues with the Westchester Knicks taking on the Texas Legends, the Delaware 87ers facing the Oklahoma City Blue and the Iowa Energy squaring off against the Austin Spurs.  The five-day schedule at Santa Cruz’s Kaiser Permanente Arena features each of the league’s 19 teams playing two regular-season games apiece.

The 12^th annual event resumes with four games on Thursday, Jan. 7, including a game between the reigning Showcase Cup Champion Bakersfield Jam and the Maine Red Claws.  Later that day, Raptors 905, the NBA D-League’s newest team, will make its Showcase debut against the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The hometown Santa Cruz Warriors highlight the schedule for Friday, Jan. 8 and Saturday, Jan. 9 when the team plays the Iowa Energy and Skyforce, respectively.

Eighteen of the 19 matchups at the Showcase are between teams in opposing conferences that will play each other only at the midseason classic.

Following the conclusion of all 19 games, a 2016 NBA D-League Showcase Champion will be crowned based first on a team’s overall win-loss record at the event.  The advanced basketball statistic Net Rating (calculated by subtracting Defensive Rating from Offensive Rating) will be used to break any ties among records.  Offensive Rating is calculated by dividing a team’s total points by its total offensive possessions, while Defensive Rating is derived by dividing a team’s total points allowed by its opponent’s total offensive possessions.  Any remaining ties will then be resolved using a team’s Strength of Schedule, as determined by that team’s pre-Showcase opponents’ winning percentage.

The 2016 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung affords players and coaches the opportunity to display their skills in front of general managers and player personnel executives from all 30 NBA teams.  More than 45 NBA D-League players have earned GATORADE Call-Ups during or in the days immediately following the last 11 NBA D-League Showcases.

More information on general-admission NBA D-League Showcase Tournament Passes is available by calling 831-713-4400 or by logging onto www.santacruzbasketball.com and clicking on the “Sign up for Showcase Pass” link.

The full game schedule for the 2016 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung is below and the full broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.

About the NBA Development League
The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 19 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2015-16 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2014-15 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com.

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2016 NBA D-LEAGUE SHOWCASE SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Jan. 6

Game 1     Canton vs. Idaho

Game 2     Westchester vs. Texas

Game 3     Delaware vs. Oklahoma City

Game 4     Iowa vs. Austin

Thursday, Jan. 7

Game 1     Fort Wayne vs. Rio Grande Valley

Game 2     Bakersfield vs. Maine

Game 3     Raptors vs. Sioux Falls

Game 4     Texas vs. Delaware

Friday, Jan. 8

Game 1     Oklahoma City vs. Grand Rapids

Game 2     Reno vs. Westchester

Game 3     Austin vs. Erie

Game 4     Santa Cruz vs. Iowa

Saturday, Jan. 9

Game 1     Los Angeles vs. Canton

Game 2     Idaho vs. Fort Wayne

Game 3     Rio Grande Valley vs. Raptors

Game 4     Sioux Falls vs. Santa Cruz

Sunday, Jan. 10

Game 1     Erie vs. Bakersfield

Game 2     Grand Rapids vs. Los Angeles

Game 3     Maine vs. Reno