When the NBA announced the 2016-17 All-NBA team there was a little D-league history that was made as well. Beyond the fanfare of NBA superstars Lebron James, James Harden, and Steph Curry stood Jazz bigman Rudy Gobert, who made his first All-NBA team when he was named on the All-NBA second team. Gobert quietly became the first player to play in the D-league and then make an All-NBA team.

Gobert's stints with the Bakersfiled Jam in 2013 and 2014 raised few eyebrows when they happened, and have pretty much been forgotten. The rookie center played just 8 games with the Jam, but did manage to average 14 points and 11 boards in 27 minutes of action, which are not too dissimilar from his season numbers which made him All-NBA second team.

The NBA has for years tried to prop up its minor league as a new Mecca for player development, but until now it has yeilded very few results. Even with Gobert's All-NBA selection the league has yet to produce an NBA All-star, though that is likely to change next year if Gobert makes the All-star team. There has been some former NBA-allstars who a the end of their careers played in the D-league.

Despite not having an All-star, the news of Gobert's ascention to the NBA's All-NBA team is a step in the right direction for the D-league and it shows that the league has potential. If I had to NBA NetBet on this, I would bet that we will see more All-NBA and All-star selections in the future coming from the D-league.