The Portland Trail Blazers and the NBA G League have announced the right to own and operate a team that will debut in the Chiles Center on the University of Portland’s campus. The team is expected to debut in the 2023-24 season and will play games in Chiles while practicing at the Blazers’ practice facility.
"We are excited to continue to grow our partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers and welcome the NBA G League to campus," Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said in a press release. "With the excitement around UP men's and women's basketball, annually hosting the OSAA State Championships and now the addition of a G League team, the Chiles Center and UP Athletics will now host over 200 events annually."
With this expansion the G league will now play host to 31 teams, the only NBA city to not also host a NBA G League team is Phoenix, AZ.
With the expansion of the NBA minor league the opportunity for player development goes up. Currently, the Trail Blazers draw from minor league teams in California, including the Sacramento Kings' affiliate in Stockton and the Clippers' affiliate in Ontario.
UP has previously partnered with the Trail Blazers on hosting a variety of NBA events, including the Phil Knight Invitational and the upcoming 2030 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four.
Wilder Isom is the sports editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at isomw24@up.edu.
