Article 41 NBA G LEAGUE
41.1 NBAGL Work Assignments.
- An NBA Team may at any time assign a player (other than a Two-Way Player) on its Active List or Inactive List to an NBAGL team, provided that the player (i) has either zero (0), one (1), or two (2) Years of Service at the time of the assignment, or (ii) has more than two (2) Years of Service at the time of the assignment and the player and the Players Association consent to such assignment in writing. Upon such assignment (“NBAGL Work Assignment”), the player will be placed on the NBA Team’s Inactive List, and shall (A) report to the NBAGL team (and render for the NBAGL team such services as the player is required to render for the NBA Team under his Uniform Player Contract and this Agreement), and (B) at the direction of the NBA Team, subsequently return and report to, and resume the performance of services for, the NBA Team. An NBAGL Work Assignment commences when the player reports in-person to the NBAGL team, and ends either when the player, upon being recalled, reports back to his NBA Team or when the NBAGL Season concludes.
- There shall be no limit on the number of NBAGL Work Assignments given to a player. No NBA Team shall issue an NBAGL Work Assignment for the purpose of disciplining a player for misconduct or retaliating against a player for exercising any right that he has under this Agreement or the Uniform Player Contract.
- The NBA may establish reasonable rules regarding the assignment and recall of players to the NBAGL provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of this Article XLI.
41.2 Reporting Requirements for NBAGL Work Assignments.
- In order to initiate an NBAGL Work Assignment or terminate such assignment and recall the player, the NBA Team shall provide the player, the NBA, and the Players Association with written notice. The player shall report to the NBAGL team or NBA Team, whichever is applicable, within forty-eight (48) hours after such notice is received by the player.
- If the player, without a reasonable excuse, does not report to the NBAGL team or NBA Team, whichever is applicable, within the time provided in Section 2(a) above, the player may be fined and/or suspended without pay by the NBA Team until such time as he reports. In addition, such failure to report, without a reasonable excuse, shall constitute conduct prejudicial to the NBA under Article 35(d) of the NBA Constitution, subject however to the One Penalty rule set forth in Article VI, Section 10.
41.3 Travel and Relocation Expenses.
A player’s NBA Team shall be obligated to reimburse the player for his ordinary and reasonable expenses incurred in (a) traveling to and, when recalled, from the NBAGL team to begin and/or end any NBAGL Work Assignment or period of service on the Two-Way List (“NBAGL Two-Way Service”), and (b) relocating to and, if recalled, from the NBAGL team’s home location to begin and/or end any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service that extends beyond a period of thirty (30) days. During any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, the player will be provided with housing or a housing subsidy in accordance with the NBAGL housing policy.
41.4 Terms of NBAGL Work Assignment and NBAGL Two-Way Service.
- General Terms. During or in connection with any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, and except as expressly set forth in, or limited or modified by, this Article XLI, a player shall (i) accept and be subject to the work requirements and conditions applicable to NBAGL players (as such requirements and conditions may change from time to time), and (ii) continue to be subject to the terms and obligations and entitled to the benefits and rights (including, without limitation, Years of Service and free agency rights) of his Uniform Player Contract and this Agreement.
- Compensation and Benefits.
- During or in connection with any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, a player (A) shall continue to receive the Compensation called for by his Uniform Player Contract, and (B) shall not receive (or accept) any compensation of any kind from the NBAGL or any NBAGL team other than as expressly set forth in this Article XLI. The player’s performance in the NBAGL shall not be considered for purposes of any Incentive Compensation contained in his Uniform Player Contract.
- Any Compensation protection provided to a player in his Uniform Player Contract shall remain in effect during an NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service. For purposes of Article II, Section 4, an injury sustained while participating in a basketball practice or game for an NBAGL team shall be deemed an injury sustained while participating in a basketball practice or game for the NBA Team.
- During or in connection with any NBAGL Work Assignment, a player (A) shall continue to be eligible to receive the benefits set forth in Article IV of this Agreement to the extent that such player would have been eligible to receive such benefits under this Agreement absent the NBAGL Work Assignment, and (B) shall not be eligible to receive (and shall not accept) any benefits from the NBAGL or any NBAGL team, unless expressly set forth in this Article XLI.
- To the extent necessary, any plans and/or policies described in Article IV of this Agreement shall be amended to implement the provisions of Section 4(b)(iii) of this Article.
- Meal Expense. While on the road with his NBAGL team:
- A player on an NBAGL Work Assignment, (i) shall receive the meal expense allowance applicable to NBA players, in accordance with the terms of Article III, Section 2 of this Agreement, and (ii) shall not receive (or accept) any meal expense or per diem from the NBAGL or any NBAGL team.
- A Two-Way Player shall receive the meal expense allowance applicable to NBAGL players.
- Travel Accommodations. During an NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, the player shall be provided with the same travel accommodations (including, but not limited to, transportation and hotel arrangements for “road” games) that are provided to NBAGL players pursuant to applicable NBAGL policies, except that: (i) a player on an NBAGL Work Assignment shall not be required to share a hotel room; and (ii) a player on an NBAGL Work Assignment shall be permitted to fly first class when traveling by air with his NBAGL team to road games to the extent first class seats are available on his NBAGL team’s flight.
- Conduct and Discipline.
- During any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, the player will: (A) observe and comply with all rules and policies of the NBAGL or his NBAGL team at all times, whether on or off the playing floor; (B) give his best services, as well as his loyalty, to the NBAGL team; (C) be neatly and fully attired in public; (D) conduct himself on and off the court according to the highest standards of honesty, citizenship, and sportsmanship; and (E) not do anything that, in the opinion of the Commissioner of the NBA, is materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of the NBA Team, the NBA, the NBAGL, or the NBAGL team.
- During or in connection with any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, the NBAGL, the player’s NBAGL team, the NBA, and the player’s NBA Team may impose a fine and/or suspension on the player for the violation of NBAGL or NBAGL team rules or policies or for any conduct impairing the faithful and thorough discharge of the duties incumbent upon the player. Any disciplinary action taken by the NBA or an NBA Team in response to any act or conduct of a player during an NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service will supersede disciplinary action taken by the NBAGL or any NBAGL team in response to such act or conduct. Further, with respect to discipline imposed by the NBA and/or the NBA Team, the One Penalty rule set forth in Article VI, Section 10 of this Agreement shall apply. The amount of any such fine and/or suspension that may be imposed by the NBA or an NBA Team shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement and the Uniform Player Contract and shall not be limited by any NBAGL rules, policies, practices, procedures, or fine schedules.
- All players on NBAGL Work Assignments and all Two-Way Players providing services to an NBAGL team shall be subject to the Joint NBA/NBPA Policy on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse set forth as Exhibit F to this Agreement. Any evaluation, counseling, treatment, and/or discipline of such players for engaging in acts covered by this Policy shall be governed exclusively by the terms of the Policy. In the event any such player engages in other off-court conduct that is prohibited by both NBA and NBAGL rules, NBA rules shall apply.
- When a player on an NBAGL Work Assignment is suspended by his Team, the NBAGL team to which he has been assigned, the NBA, or the NBAGL, such player’s Base Compensation for the Season of the Contract during which such suspension occurs shall be reduced in accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of this Agreement for each game missed as a result of such suspension, regardless of whether such suspension is expressed as a number of NBA games or as a number of NBAGL games. For clarity, for purposes of the foregoing sentence, during the term of any suspension, a player shall be considered to have missed either NBA games or NBAGL games, but not both. The player must remain on the NBA Inactive List during the term of the suspension but may be recalled at the option of the Team; provided, however, that the player may not play in any NBA or NBAGL games during the term of the suspension.
- When a Two-Way Player is suspended by his Team, his NBAGL team, the NBA, or the NBAGL, such player’s Base Compensation for the Season of the Contract during which such suspension occurs shall be reduced in accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of this Agreement for each game missed as a result of such suspension, regardless of whether such suspension is expressed as a number of NBA games or as a number of NBAGL games. For clarity, for purposes of the foregoing sentence, during the term of any suspension, a player shall be considered to have missed either NBA games or NBAGL games, but not both. During the term of any suspension, the player (i) may not play in any NBA or NBAGL games, and (ii) may be maintained on the Team’s Active List, Inactive List, or Two-Way List, provided that if the Two-Way Player was on the Active List when the actions that led to the suspension occurred and the player was suspended by the NBA then he must be maintained on the Team’s Active List during the full term of the suspension, except if the suspension is for more than five (5) games, in which case the player must be transferred to the Team’s Two-Way List following the fifth game of the suspension.
- A fine or suspension imposed by the NBAGL or NBAGL team in connection with a player’s NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service may be heard and resolved by the Grievance Arbitrator pursuant to Article XXXI of this Agreement only if it results in a financial impact to the player of more than $5,000. For purposes of Paragraph 16(a)(ii) of a player’s Uniform Player Contract, during or in connection with any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, (A) the terms “any official or employee of the Team or the NBA (other than another player)” will be construed to include, without limitation, any official or employee of the NBAGL or the player’s NBAGL team (other than another player), and (B) the terms “any NBA game or event” will be construed to include, without limitation, any NBAGL game or event.
- Medical Treatment and Physical Condition.
- The NBAGL and/or NBAGL team may make public medical information about a player on an NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service to the same extent as an NBA Team would be able to, pursuant to Article XXII, Section 4.
- For purposes of Paragraphs 7, 16(a)(iii), 16(b), and 16(c) of the player’s Uniform Player Contract, the terms “basketball practice or game played for the Team” or “playing for the Team” will be construed to include, without limitation, any practice or game played in the NBAGL during an NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service.
- Prohibited Substances. During any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, the player (i) shall be subject to Article XXXIII (Anti-Drug Program) of this Agreement and Paragraph 8 of the Uniform Player Contract, and (ii) shall not be subject to any anti-drug program maintained by the NBAGL.
- Player Attributes and Performances. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Uniform Player Contract, with respect to any player who serves or has served on an NBAGL Work Assignment or provides or has provided NBAGL Two-Way Service:
- The NBA and its related entities (including, without limitation, NBA Teams), and the NBAGL and its related entities (including, without limitation, NBAGL teams), shall have the right to use, and to license others to use, such player’s Player Attributes (as defined in Paragraph 14(c) of the Uniform Player Contract) in connection with any advertising, marketing, or collateral materials or marketing programs conducted by the NBAGL or any NBAGL team that is intended to promote (1) any game in which an NBAGL team participates or any NBAGL game telecast or broadcast (including NBAGL pre-season, exhibition, regular season, or playoff games), (2) the NBAGL, its teams, or its players, or (3) the sport of basketball.
- The NBA and its related entities (including, without limitation, NBA Teams), and the NBAGL and its related entities (including, without limitation, NBAGL teams), shall have the right to use, and to license others to use, any performance of such player in connection with any form of broadcast or telecast, including over-the-air television, cable television, pay television, direct broadcast satellite television, and any form of cassette, cartridge, disk system, or other means of distribution known or unknown.
- Promotional Activities. In connection with a player’s NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service, the rights accorded to the NBA and his NBA Team under Paragraph 13(a) of the Uniform Player Contract shall extend, without limitation, to the NBAGL and his NBAGL team, and any promotional appearances such player is required to make during an NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service shall count against the appearances the player is obligated to provide to the NBA and his NBA Team under Article II, Section 8; provided, however, that such player will be required to provide two (2) additional promotional appearances while on NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service each Season to the NBAGL or his NBAGL team.
41.5 Miscellaneous.
- With respect to the duties and obligations of players under Paragraph 5 of the Uniform Player Contract (relating to Article 35 of the NBA Constitution) during or in connection with any NBAGL Work Assignment or NBAGL Two-Way Service:
- the terms “game” or “games” in Article 35(b) and (c) of the Constitution will be construed to include, without limitation, any game played by an NBAGL team;
- the term “basketball” or “game of basketball” in Article 35(c) and (d) of the Constitution will be construed to include, without limitation, the NBAGL or any of its teams;
- the prohibition concerning wagering in Article 35(f) of the Constitution will extend, without limitation, to any game played by an NBAGL team; and
- the Commissioner’s authority to act pursuant to Paragraph 5(e) of the Uniform Player Contract will extend, without limitation, to any game played by an NBAGL team.
- A player shall not directly or indirectly own or hold any interest in the NBAGL or any NBAGL team unless authorized by the NBA.
- At the conclusion of each Season covered by this Agreement, the NBA and the Players Association shall meet to discuss issues concerning the operation of this Article XLI.
41.6 Career Opportunities for Former NBA Players.
- The NBA and/or NBAGL will operate an apprenticeship program in the NBA/NBAGL League Office and/or on NBAGL team coaching staffs to provide business and/or basketball operations immersion training for former NBA players. Each session will last for approximately three (3) months and include basketball operations, community relations, sales and marketing, and/or team coaching rotations. There will be two (2) sessions (or one session lasting at least six (6) months) held annually, and each session will include up to two (2) former NBA players (based on player interest and, with respect to NBAGL team coaching apprenticeships, availability of NBAGL teams willing to participate). Participating former players in the League Office program will receive a monthly stipend to be agreed upon by the NBA and the Players Association. Participating former players in the NBAGL team coaching staff program will receive a monthly stipend to be agreed upon by the NBA and the Players Association, and housing or a housing subsidy in accordance with the NBAGL housing policy.
- The NBA and/or NBAGL will operate an NBAGL coaching program to complement the existing NBA program and provide coaching training and experience for former NBA players. Up to fourteen (14) total coaching spots will be made available each year at the NBAGL Elite Mini Camp and other key basketball operations events such as the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and the NBA Draft Combine. Participating former players will receive reimbursement for all reasonable expenses associated with participating in the coaching program.
- The following programs will be created and/or maintained (as applicable) for former NBA players to have access to information about job opportunities in the NBAGL:
- A database of NBAGL team job openings, along with a digital platform that gives NBA and NBAGL decision-makers access to information on prospective candidates, to be made available to former NBA players who have expressed interest in such positions.
- NBAGL teams will attend an annual job fair and/or career networking event held in connection with an NBA or NBAGL event (e.g., Draft Combine/NBAGL Elite Mini Camp or NBAGL Showcase) to facilitate discussions between NBAGL team executives and former NBA players. The NBA will use reasonable efforts to ensure that a representative from each NBAGL team attends each job fair.