NEW YORK – The Santa Cruz Warriors, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors, will host the 11^th annual NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung at the Kaiser Permanente Arena, it was announced today. The 2015 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung will run over five days, from Jan 15-19, and will feature all 18 NBA D-League teams playing two regular season games apiece in a new in-season tournament format, the Showcase Cup.

“The Showcase is a proving ground for players and coaches to demonstrate their impressive skills, and we’re excited to bring that passion for basketball to Santa Cruz, a city with energetic and devoted fans,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.  “We’re looking forward to working with Jim Weyermann and the rest of the Santa Cruz Warriors family to put on a top-notch event in January.”

The Showcase Cup is a single elimination tournament featuring the eight NBA D-League teams with the best records through and including Jan. 1, 2015 being seeded in a bracket and competing in two games each.  The Cup will culminate in a championship game where an inaugural Cup winner will be crowned.  The 10 NBA D-League teams not in contention for the Cup will play two non-tournament games apiece during the Showcase.  All games in Santa Cruz, with the exception of the Showcase Cup championship game, will count towards team regular season records.

Attended by general managers and player personnel executives from all 30 NBA teams, the NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung provides the league’s players and coaches an opportunity to display their talents for five consecutive days in one location as the world’s basketball focus shifts to Northern California.  More than 40 NBA D-League players have earned GATORADE Call-Ups during or in the days immediately following the last 10 NBA D-League Showcases.

The Santa Cruz Warriors enjoyed a 2013-14 campaign in which the team reached the NBA D-League Finals for the second time in as many seasons while earning the 2014 NBA D-League Development Champion Award.  Three Santa Cruz Warriors earned a total of eight GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA last season, while an additional five Golden State Warriors spent time in Santa Cruz honing their skills.  In total, one third of NBA players at the end of the 2013-14 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the 2013-14 campaign was a record breaking one for player call-ups (49) and assignments (187) during a complete NBA season.

“Together with the City of Santa Cruz, we have the opportunity to put our mark on the NBA Development League’s signature event,” said Santa Cruz Warriors president Jim Weyermann. “Hosting the NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung is the natural step forward for the city and the Warriors franchise, as we are both eager to leverage Kaiser Permanente Arena as an economic development engine during the winter months. NBA and D-League teams, in addition to league personnel and national reporters, will occupy roughly 1,700 total hotel rooms over the course of the event, benefiting local businesses and increasing their bottom line. The national spotlight will shine brightly on Santa Cruz for 18 games over five days in January, and we look forward to welcoming fans, NBA executives and media from across the country.”

“We are honored to host this prestigious event right here in Santa Cruz,” said Mayor Lynn Robinson.  “Our community is passionate about Warriors basketball and we are all thrilled to welcome so many first-time visitors to both our City and Kaiser Permanente Arena.”

A 16-game NBA D-League Showcase Tournament Pass is available by calling 831-713-4400.  Tickets for the Warriors’ two games during the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase will be ticketed separately.

A full game and broadcast schedule for the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung will be announced at a later date.