Why the D-League

The NBA D-League offers partners association with the future stars of the
NBA, a passionate and brand-loyal audience and access to community
influencers. Below you will find supporting research that can serve as
talking points for the key strengths of the NBA D-League. To personalize
your story, research from your local market should be integrated to show
partners how they can align with the NBA D-League.

Associate with the Future of the NBA

30 percent of all players on a 2015-16 NBA opening night roster had spent
time in the NBA D-League, with each NBA team having at least one former NBA
D-League player 1
84 players with NBA D-League experience were featured in the 2015 NBA
Playoffs 1
As of Jan. 8, 2016, a total of 281 players have earned 418 GATORADE Call-Ups
to the NBA 1
Almost half of the players (48%) selected in the 2014 NBA Draft spent time in
the NBA D-League during the 2014-15 season and half of the top 20 rookie
scoring leaders had NBA D-League experience 1
In the events 12-year history, the NBA D-League Showcase has led to over 35
players getting GATORADE Call-Ups either during or immediately after the
event 1
Almost 50 NBA coaches, including 2 current NBA Head Coaches (Dave
Joerger, Grizzlies and Quin Snyder, Jazz) and 2 current NBA General Managers
(Dell Demps, Pelicans and Wes Wilcox, Hawks), have been called up to the NBA
since the NBA D-Leagues inception in 2001. Also, every referee hired by the
NBA since 2002 has come through the NBA D-League 1
1:

NBA League Office

Attracts the Coveted, Young and Tech-Savvy Demographics

The concentration of 12-17 year old NBA D-League fans is 5 times the size of
the general population 2
68% of NBA D-League fans are multicultural 2
NBA D-League fans are 275% more likely to be African-American than the
general population 2
NBA D-League fans are 29% more likely to have served in the armed forces 2
NBA D-League fans are 42% more likely to purchase products seen advertised
on a social sharing/networking website 2

NBA D-League fans are 79% more likely to purchase products seen advertised
on their cell phone 2
NBA D-League fans are 79% more likely and willing to accept advertisements on
their cell phone if they were to receive something of value in exchange 2
* All research is indexed vs. the general U.S. population
2:

Experian Simmons

Transfer Our Fans Loyalty to Your Brand

NBA D-League fans are 162% more likely to purchase products from companies
that sponsor sports teams and sports events 3
NBA D-League fans are 31% more likely to notice video ads each month in
sports stadiums/arenas 3
NBA D-League fans are 89% more likely to notice non-video ads each month in
sports stadiums/arenas 3
NBA D-League fans are 35% more likely to remember advertised products when
they are shopping 3
NBA D-League fans are 17% more likely to say advertising helps me learn about
the products companies have to offer 3
* All research is indexed vs. the general U.S. population
3:

Experian Simmons

Gain Access to a Growing Fan Base

There are 6.8 million NBA D-League fans 12+ in the U.S. The millions of
fans are spread across all key demographics, including 3.8 million male and 3.0
million female fans 4
One-third (33%) of NBA D-League fans are African American, which is
significantly stronger than the U.S. population (12%) and fans 12+ of the NFL
(13%), MLB (11%), NHL (11%) and NASCAR (11%) 4
27% of NBA D-League fans are Hispanic, which is significantly stronger than
the U.S. population (16%) and fans 12+ of the NFL (13%), MLB (13%), NHL
(13%) and NASCAR (10%) 4
51% of NBA D-League fans are 12-17 years old, which is significantly stronger
than the U.S. population (10%) and fans 12+ of the NFL (10%), MLB (10%), NHL
(13%) and NASCAR (10%) 4
Average overall viewership of D-League games on NBATV increased 11% for
2014-15 season 5
More than 2.8 million unique viewers watched NBA D-League games on NBA
TV, ESPNU, and ESPNews during the 2014-15 season 5
More than 14 million NBA D-League page views during the 2015-16 season 5
Over 1,300,000 social media followers on the D-League Twitter/Facebook pages
6

Experian Simmons
League Office
6:
Twitter / Facebook
4:
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For further research demographics specific to your market or a certain category, please contact
LaShawn Freeman at lfreeman@nba.com.