Lakers' Farm Team, Los Angeles D-Fenders, Rebrands as South Bay Lakers

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- The El Segundo-based Los Angeles D-Fenders announced Sunday they will be rebranded as the South Bay Lakers following the conclusion of the NBA Development League season.

The rebranding of the Los Angeles Lakers affiliate coincides with its move from the Toyota Sports Center to the UCLA Health Training Center, which is set to open this summer in El Segundo.

The team will keep its purple and gold colors and add what has been dubbed "South Bay Blue," a light shade of blue that "will act as a differentiator from the Lakers identity, honoring the ocean views that are so prominent in the South Bay region," a team official said.

The logos for the South Bay Lakers will be unveiled following the conclusion of the NBA Development League regular season in April. Jerseys for the rebranded team will be introduced this summer in connection with the opening of the UCLA Health Training Center, the official said.

The South Bay Lakers will be the seventh NBA Development League team with the same nickname as its NBA parent team, following the Austin Spurs, Long Island Nets, Northern Arizona Suns, Santa Cruz Warriors, Westchester Knicks and Windy City Bulls.

"This is an opportunity to leverage the iconic Lakers brand, celebrate our amazing community and emphasize our franchise's accomplishments over the last 10 years while we continue to compete for an NBA D-League championship," said team President/CEO Joey Buss.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the D-Fenders