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Former Celtics player KC Jones speaks during a news conference Tuesday at the Portland High School announcing that pro basketball will return to Portland with a D-league team that presumably will be affiliated with the Boston Celtics.

Portland was officially awarded an NBA Development League expansion team today during a press conference in a packed Portland High gymnasium.

The announcement was made by D-League President Dan Reed and the team's ownership group, General Manager Jon Jennings, Chariman Bill Ryan Jr., owner of Oxford Plains Speedway, and Bill Ryan Sr., Chairman of TD Banknorth.

"We're thrilled to be here," said Reed. "We're very optimistic this team will be very successful and be here for a very long time."

Celtics President Rich Gotham, former Celtics player and coach K.C. Jones, and Gov. John Baldacci were all on hand to ring in the news.

The D-League will announce Portland's NBA affiliate later this spring, but it appears all but official that the team will be the next pipeline to the Celtics.

"The Celtics are big believers in the D-League," Gotham told the crowd. "Hopefully in the not-too-distant future, hopefully we'll be affiliated with the Portland team."

The team will begin play next November at the Portland Expo, which will be refurbished with a new parquet floor, hoops, expanded seating, and digital sign on Park Avenue.