73 CBA alums to appear on NBA opening night rosters
October 31, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
ALBANY, NY (October 31, 2006) - The 2006-07 NBA season tips off tonight with two games and 32 former Continental Basketball Association players on the rosters of the 30 NBA teams. Five players appeared in the CBA last season: Matt Freije (Atlanta Hawks), Ronny Turiaf (L.A. Lakers), Stephen Graham (Portland Trail Blazers), Brian Chase (Utah Jazz), and Roger Powell, Jr. (Utah Jazz).
When the NBA training camps began several weeks ago, 47 CBA alums were competing for a spot in the league.
Players are not the only CBA alumni in the NBA. The CBA has a long history of coaches and former players who have worked their way to the NBA. This season 41 former CBA alums are now on the bench as head and assistant coaches. There are currently 11 NBA head coaches who have either played or coached in the CBA patrolling the sidelines. Included in that list are Eric Musselman (Sacramento), Rick Carlisle (Indiana), Maurice Cheeks (Philadelphia), Bob Hill (Seattle), Phil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers), Eddie Jordan (Washington), George Karl (Denver), Sam Mitchell (Toronto), Flip Saunders (Detroit), Jerry Sloan (Utah), and Terry Stotts (Milwaukee).
Three players whose father participated in the CBA/EBA are also on NBA rosters. Ronnie Brewer (Son of Ron Brewer, Lacrosse Catbirds 1988-89), Wally Szczerbiak (Son of Walter Szczerbiak, Wilkes-Barre Barons 1972-73), and John Lucas III (Son of John Lucas, Lancaster Lightning 83-84, Wichita Falls Texans 91-92).
The CBA's eight teams kick-off training camp November 14 with the 61st season of CBA action set to start December 1.
The following is a complete list of former CBA players and coaches that are on NBA Opening Night rosters for 2006-07.
The CBA recently completed its 60th anniversary season on March 27 with the Yakama Sun Kings defeating the Gary Steelheads in a best-of-three-game series. That series featured the CBA's 2006 Player of the Year, Anthony Goldwire (Sun Kings), and the CBA's 2006 Coach of the Year, Jaren Jackson (Steelheads).
Atlanta (3): Matt Freije (Greg Ballard, Herb Brown)
Boston (2): (Tony Brown, Clifford Ray)
Charlotte (1): (Gary Kloppenburg)
Chicago (3): Adrian Griffin (Pete Myers, Jim Boylan)
Cleveland (4): Damon Jones, Ira Newble, David Wesley (Kenny Natt)
Dallas (1): Greg Buckner
Denver (2): Earl Boykins (George Karl)
Detroit (3): (Flip Saunders, Don Zierdon, Dave Cowens)
Golden State (2): Keith McLeod (Keith Smart)
Houston (1): Rafer Alston
Indiana (4): Darrell Armstrong, Maceo Baston, Stephen Jackson (Rick Carlisle)
Los Angeles Clippers (2): Aaron Williams (Rory White)
Los Angeles Lakers (4): Smush Parker, Ronny Turiaf (Phil Jackson, Craig Hodges)
Memphis (2): Chucky Atkins (Scott Adubado)
Milwaukee (4): (Terry Stotts, Lester Conner, Mike Sanders, Larry Krystkowiak)
Minnesota (5): Mark Blount, Troy Hudson, Mike James (Vince Taylor, Bob Thornton)
New Jersey (2): Mikki Moore, Jeff McInnis
New York (1): (Brendan Suhr)
New Orleans/OK City (3): Linton Johnson (Kenny Gattison, Darrell Walker)
Orlando (1): Bo Outlaw
Philadelphia (3): Kevin Ollie (Maurice Cheeks, Henry Bibby)
Phoenix (2): Raja Bell (Marc Iavaroni)
Portland (1): Stephen Graham
Sacramento (5): (Eric Musselman, Scott Brooks, Mark Hughes, Jason Hamm, Brendan O'Conner)
San Antonio (4): Bruce Bowen, Jackie Butler (Don Newman, Chip Engelland)
Seattle (1): (Ralph Lewis)
Toronto (3): Anthony Parker, Darrick Martin (Sam Mitchell)
Utah (3): Brian Chase, Roger Powell, Jr. (Jerry Sloan)
Washington (1): (Eddie Jordan)
( ) indicates Head and Assistant Coaches
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