Want to see some professional basketball, but don’t want to travel to Detroit or Chicago? Don’t fret – Grand Rapids is home to an NBA Development League team, the Grand Rapids Drive. So lace up your sneakers, air up the basketball, grab a sweatband and follow us as we take you inside Grand Rapids’ newest minor league sports team.
After staring off in Anaheim, California and moving to Springfield, Massachusetts, the Grand Rapids Drive were purchased and moved to Grand Rapids in 2014. This brought minor league basketball back to Grand Rapids ever since the Grand Rapids Hoops and Grand Rapids Mackers left town several years ago. They settled on calling themselves the Drive after holding a team naming contest. The Drive became the third Grand Rapids minor league team to be affiliated with a major league Detroit team, further solidifying the bond between the two cities and their fanbases. The Grand Rapids Drive currently compete against other NBA D-League teams such as the Canton Charge, the Windy City Bulls, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and the Raptors 905 at the Delta Plex Arena in Walker.
Under head coach Rex Walters, who played professional basketball for the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat, the Grand Rapids Drive completed the 2016-2017 season with a 26-24 record. This bests the 2015-2016 record of 21-29, and the 2014-2015 record of 23-27. The Drive currently play around 25 games at home each year. Tickets can usually be obtained for less than $10.00 per game, making this an affordable and viable option for a fun family night out.
Do you have any favorite memories from a Grand Rapids Drive game? What do you enjoy most about attending the games? Let us know what you like about the Grand Rapids Drive!
