Austin's NBA Development League Franchise Unveils Team Name and Logo
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AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 10 - The NBA Development League team in Austin announced today that its nickname will be the "Toros." The Austin Toros name recognizes the diverse makeup of Austin and its surrounding communities, along with the expanding international reach of the sport of basketball.
The Toros name is currently the only NBA-associated team and first D-League team to possess a nickname of Spanish origin. The team's unique logo, which features a powerful Toro aligned with a basketball including a backdrop of the great state of Texas, was designed by the NBA's creative marketing team.
"We are very excited and proud to unveil the Toros' identity to the Austin market," said Team President Mike Berry. "The Toro is a powerful icon synonymous with Central Texas and it is only fitting to pair it with the state outline as we make our home downtown, in the capital city of Austin."
In addition to being located in the heart of the Lone Star state, Austin has always been a center for Texas life and culture. The city's diversity is another example of its cultural reach. For the second year in a row Austin was recognized by Hispanic Magazine for its friendliness toward Latinos politically, educationally and culturally, making it one of the top 10 "most livable cities" in America for Hispanic residents.
The Toros tip off their home opener Friday, Nov. 26 against the Fayetteville Patriots beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center. The Toros' regular season tips off on Friday, Nov. 25, against the Arkansas RimRockers in Little Rock.
Game uniforms featuring the team nickname (Toros) on home jerseys and the city name (Austin) on road uniforms will be unveiled at a later date. In addition to the distinctive D-League and individual team logos embroidered on the uniform, an NBA team logo will be affixed to the jersey of a player who is assigned to the Toros to help identify his NBA affiliation.
The NBA Development League also includes the Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Tulsa 66ers (Okla.), as well as a team in Albuquerque (N.M.) which will unveil its nickname and logo Thursday.
The D-League offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up to the NBA on 50 separate occasions. Ten (10) former D-League coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The D-League is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.
For Toros season ticket information, call 512-236-8333 or log on to www.austintoros.com.
