Tha Man*
04-26-2005, 04:15 PM
NATIONAL BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FIFTH NEW TEAM
Arkansas Businessman Larry Crain Bringing the NBA’s Development League to Little Rock, Former NBA All-Star Otis Birdsong Serves as President and General Manager
NEW YORK, April 26 – NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today that the National Basketball Development League has awarded a team to Little Rock, Ark. for the 2005-06 season. The team will be owned and operated by Arkansas RimRockers, LLC, led by Little Rock businessman Larry Crain.
“The NBDL continues to attract significant interest from successful businessmen around the country, further enhancing the league’s vitality,” said Stern. “The Arkansas ownership and management team combines an established and successful local businessman in Larry Crain with an experienced and knowledgeable basketball mind in Otis Birdsong.”
The Arkansas RimRockers join expansion teams in Albuquerque, N.M., Austin and Fort Worth, Texas, and Tulsa, Okla., as well as the Florida Flame (Ft. Myers) as teams independently owned and operated in the league. The Asheville Altitude (N.C.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.) and Roanoke Dazzle (Va.) are owned and operated by the NBA.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1966 and working in public accounting for three years, Crain and his father, Paul, began Crain Sales Company in Searcy, Ark., which served as company headquarters until 1992. The business then moved to North Little Rock and continued to expand from there. Today, Crain owns and operates eight automobile dealerships, six radio stations and a television station.
“Arkansas is known for having the most loyal and enthusiastic basketball fans in the country, and it’s that fantastic support that has been the deciding factor in our being awarded a team in the NBDL,” Crain said. “As we go into our first year in the NBA’s Development League, we are excited to bring an even more exciting level of professional sports entertainment to the people of Arkansas. Our goal is to bring a championship trophy to Little Rock next season.”
Four-time NBA All-Star Otis Birdsong will serve as president and general manager for the RimRockers. After the Kansas City Kings made Birdsong the second player selected in the 1977 Draft, he went on to average 18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists over a 12-year career with the Kings, New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics.
Ticket information for the RimRockers can be found by visiting www.nbdlarkansas.com or by calling (501) 975-4667.
"In growing the NBA's Development League, we're focused on local owners who are prominent businessmen and women in their community, and on markets where there is a strong demand for professional basketball,” NBDL President Phil Evans said. “In Larry Crain and Little Rock, we believe we've found a winning combination."
The NBDL offers players, as well as off-court personnel, the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA’s umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up the NBA on 50 separate occasions. Nine former NBDL coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up to NBA positions since the start of the league’s inaugural season in November 2001.
Arkansas Businessman Larry Crain Bringing the NBA’s Development League to Little Rock, Former NBA All-Star Otis Birdsong Serves as President and General Manager
NEW YORK, April 26 – NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today that the National Basketball Development League has awarded a team to Little Rock, Ark. for the 2005-06 season. The team will be owned and operated by Arkansas RimRockers, LLC, led by Little Rock businessman Larry Crain.
“The NBDL continues to attract significant interest from successful businessmen around the country, further enhancing the league’s vitality,” said Stern. “The Arkansas ownership and management team combines an established and successful local businessman in Larry Crain with an experienced and knowledgeable basketball mind in Otis Birdsong.”
The Arkansas RimRockers join expansion teams in Albuquerque, N.M., Austin and Fort Worth, Texas, and Tulsa, Okla., as well as the Florida Flame (Ft. Myers) as teams independently owned and operated in the league. The Asheville Altitude (N.C.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.) and Roanoke Dazzle (Va.) are owned and operated by the NBA.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1966 and working in public accounting for three years, Crain and his father, Paul, began Crain Sales Company in Searcy, Ark., which served as company headquarters until 1992. The business then moved to North Little Rock and continued to expand from there. Today, Crain owns and operates eight automobile dealerships, six radio stations and a television station.
“Arkansas is known for having the most loyal and enthusiastic basketball fans in the country, and it’s that fantastic support that has been the deciding factor in our being awarded a team in the NBDL,” Crain said. “As we go into our first year in the NBA’s Development League, we are excited to bring an even more exciting level of professional sports entertainment to the people of Arkansas. Our goal is to bring a championship trophy to Little Rock next season.”
Four-time NBA All-Star Otis Birdsong will serve as president and general manager for the RimRockers. After the Kansas City Kings made Birdsong the second player selected in the 1977 Draft, he went on to average 18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists over a 12-year career with the Kings, New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics.
Ticket information for the RimRockers can be found by visiting www.nbdlarkansas.com or by calling (501) 975-4667.
"In growing the NBA's Development League, we're focused on local owners who are prominent businessmen and women in their community, and on markets where there is a strong demand for professional basketball,” NBDL President Phil Evans said. “In Larry Crain and Little Rock, we believe we've found a winning combination."
The NBDL offers players, as well as off-court personnel, the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA’s umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up the NBA on 50 separate occasions. Nine former NBDL coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up to NBA positions since the start of the league’s inaugural season in November 2001.