G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Four Vipers Alumni on NBA Playoffs Rosters

Published on April 16, 2011 under NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


MCALLEN, TEXAS - The defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Saturday that Vipers alumni Shannon Brown (Los Angeles Lakers), C.J. Watson (Chicago Bulls), Steve Novak (San Antonio Spurs) and Ish Smith (Memphis Grizzlies) are taking part in the 2011 NBA playoffs.

Brown is the only Vipers alum to earn an NBA Championship, winning with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

An NBA-assignee from the Cavaliers during the 2007-08 season, Brown (6-4, 210, Michigan State) averaged 20.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Vipers in five games. Brown was the first Vipers alum to ever win the NBA Championship, doing so with the Lakers in 2009 while averaging 4.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game during the playoffs. He repeated in 2010 after averaging 5.1 points per game during the playoffs and connected on an alley-oop that was ranked #1 on Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays after Game 6 of the NBA Finals. He was also the first Vipers alum to take part in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Brown averaged 8.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 19.1 minutes in 82 games off the bench for the Lakers this season. In five NBA seasons, Brown is averaging 6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 16.4 minutes in 256 games (16 starts).

The Vipers' first-ever draft pick in 2007, Watson (6-2, 175-, Tennessee) was the Vipers' first-ever GATORADE Call-Up, joining the Golden State Warriors on January 8, 2008. In 16 games, Watson averaged 26.4 points (third in the NBA Development League), 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists (fifth in the league) and 1.4 steals while shooting 50.6% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. Watson signed a three-year contract with the Bulls during the off-season, averaging 4.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 13.3 minutes in 82 games (one start). In four NBA seasons, Watson is averaging 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 20.0 minutes in 256 games (34 starts).

Novak (6-10, 240, Marquette) was assigned to the Vipers by the Houston Rockets at the start of the Vipers' first training camp on November 11, 2007. In nine games with the Vipers, Novak averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 46.1% from the field. Novak opened this season with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 1.6 points and 2.6 minutes in seven games off the bench. After getting waived on January 5, Novak joined the NBA Development League Reno Bighorns for two games before earning a GATORADE Call-Up to the Spurs, for whom he averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 8.6 minutes in 23 games off the bench. Overall this season, Novak averaged 3.5 points and 7.2 minutes in 30 games off the bench. In five NBA seasons, Novak is averaging 4.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 9.7 minutes in 225 games (four starts).

Smith (6-0, 175, Wake Forest) was assigned to the Vipers by the Rockets twice this season, from January 17-through-24 and February 1-through-7. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks in eight games (five starts) with the Vipers. After averaging 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 11.8 minutes in 28 games (three starts) for the Rockets, Smith was traded to the Grizzlies on February 24. He averaged 1.8 points, 1.0 assists and 7.5 minutes in 15 games off the bench. Overall, Smith averaged 2.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 10.3 minutes in 43 games (three starts).

Fans can follow the progress of Brown, Watson, Novak and Smith during the playoffs at rgvipers.com.

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