By Daniele Amandolini

Here’s a reminder that if you want a taste of NBA basketball, you don’t have to travel far. On the eve of their ninth season in Portland, the Red Claws will return to the court after their exciting playoff campaign last spring.

Don’t expect to see many familiar faces, though. The team is drastically different from the one that fell to the eventual champion last year. This is the nature of the beast: The NBA G-League, with its shiny new name thanks to a huge Gatorade endorsement, is an open lab for the National Basketball Association. And the product is growing rapidly, as more NBA teams are buying into this league to test their talent, both on the floor and on the sidelines.

The Maine Red Claws are the Boston Celtics’ exclusive affiliate team, after a brief stint of shared parenting duties with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Charlotte Hornets (the Bobcats at the time). Since then, Portland has hosted young players looking to develop their NBA skills (like eventual NBA first team all-defense Avery Bradley), proven stars on the mend (former all-star Rajon Rondo), and many undrafted rookies trying to showcase their potential.

The NBA G-League is an increasingly rewarding step in a young player’s career. Six key Red Claws players from last year are now on a guaranteed NBA contract, including Guerschon Yabusele and 2016-2017 D-League Rookie of the Year Abdel Nader, both wearing Celtics green this season. Looking to go the same route, Celtics second-round picks Kadeem Allen and Jabari Bird highlight the Red Claws’ current roster.

Watching the Red Claws has never been easier: The Portland Exposition Building offers about 3,000 seats, with affordable prices starting at less than $10. Furthermore, the relatively small arena grants amazing views from virtually every seat in the house.

If you are stuck in your dorm room with nothing but a laptop, you can still follow the team. Every G-League game streams live on Facebook on the team’s official page.

The Maine Red Claws play their next home game on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. against the Canton Chargers.