Coachella Valley Lakers Join NBA G League as Gatorade‑Branded Development Team

The NBA G League is the NBA’s official minor league, serving as a development hub for players, coaches and officials. Before the 2017‑18 season, Gatorade purchased the naming rights, so the “G” now stands for Gatorade. The league comprises 30 NBA‑affiliated teams plus one independent franchise from Mexico City, making 31 teams total. Each team plays a 36‑game regular season followed by a 14‑game in‑season tournament, for a total of 50 games between early November and April. The G League also tests rule changes that may later appear in the NBA, such as the coach’s challenge and expanded video review.

John Page, senior VP of Oak View Group and Acrisure Arena, said that talks about placing a Lakers affiliate in the desert became serious three or four weeks ago, building on informal discussions that started over a year earlier. He explained that the group is still determining the practice facility, player support model and other operational details, but both parties see strong potential in the Coachella Valley. The G League season structure consists of a 36‑game regular season and a 14‑game in‑season tournament, totaling 50 games annually. The top eight teams in each conference advance to a single‑elimination playoff, with the championship decided in a best‑of‑three series. The Lakers’ G League team will be the first full‑time professional basketball franchise based in the desert, supplementing the NBA’s occasional Summer League games held there.

Adding a G League team gives Acrisure Arena a new regular‑season tenant, likely increasing arena usage and local economic activity. Ticket prices have not been set; the organization will first measure season‑ticket deposit interest before announcing pricing, though G League games typically range from $12 to $30 elsewhere. The franchise will use the Coachella Valley Lakers name, aligning with the minority of G League teams that share their NBA parent’s branding—only 11 of the 30 affiliates do so. This move follows the Lakers’ previous preseason appearances in the valley, which helped spark the renewed discussions. The team will share the arena with the AHL’s Firebirds, creating a multi‑tenant schedule that maximizes facility use.

Similar G League franchises have reported modest boosts to local hotel and restaurant revenue on game nights, often adding a few thousand dollars per event. While the desert market is smaller than traditional basketball cities, organizers expect the team to draw both residents and visitors attending other Coachella Valley events. The presence of a development team may also attract scouts and basketball‑focused tourism, further extending the arena’s calendar beyond hockey and concerts.