The Boston Celtics and the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League announced a single affiliation partnership on Thursday.
The partnership begins effective the start of the 2012-13 NBA D-League season and since Boston will be Maine’s sole NBA affiliate, they will have complete control of the team’s basketball operations.
“The newly-enhanced relationship between the Celtics and Red Claws is an exciting development for both franchises,” said Dan Reed, NBA D-League President.
Maine and the Celtics have been affiliated since the Red Claws joined the D-League at the start of the 2009-10 season, but the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Bobcats were affiliated with Maine as well.
“We are excited to formalize an already great relationship we have established with Maine. Not only is it a perfect fit geographically, but the people of Maine are some of our most loyal Celtic fans, and Bill Ryan Jr. and the Red Claws staff have been great to work with,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics president of basketball operations.
“The Maine Red Claws have enjoyed a strong three-year partnership with the Boston Celtics, dating back to the team’s inaugural season of 2009-10, and today we enter into a new era of that relationship,” Ryan Jr. said.
The Maine Red Claws play their home games at the Portland Expo, which is next to Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs.
