NBA D-League Update
Published on November 29, 2011 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
NURSE GETS QUALITY TREATMENT IN THE VALLEY
In his fourth season at the helm of the Iowa Energy, Nick Nurse led his team to the 2011 NBA D-League Championship. Instead of going to Disney Land, Nurse accepted the head coaching position with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the team Iowa defeated in the NBA D-League Finals.
While on the surface a somewhat curious move for the Iowa native coming off a championship, Nurse simply couldn't pass up the chance to align himself with the Houston Rockets franchise, which runs the basketball operations of the Vipers, as part of a single affiliate hybrid model.
"The Rockets have had a really good track record of hiring good coaches and developing those coaches. You get more involved with training camps, summer leagues, playoff runs, all those things that a hybrid model can provide for a D-League coach," said Nurse, whose Vipers host Iowa tomorrow (11:30 p.m. ET). "I think they have a unique way of looking at the way basketball is played and can be played. They use their D-League team as a training ground for not only coaching and playing, but ideas in general, and I like that. I like the creative nature of the thought process behind the scenes."
Look no further than former Rio Grande Valley head coach Chris Finch, who after last season was hired by the Rockets to join Kevin McHale's staff, as justification for Nurse's decision to join the team he defeated in last year's Finals. Ironically, Nurse was an assistant to Finch with the British National Team, and considers him a friend and mentor.
"He had nothing but great things to say about the Vipers, the Rockets, living in the Valley and all the things I?d really enjoy," said Nurse, the 2011 Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year. "I took a lot of counsel with him on the decision, and I should get to see a lot of him in Houston."
The Vipers are off to a 2-0 start, having swept Erie over the weekend. Eight players are averaging at least 10 points, led by Sam Coleman (16.5 ppg). Iowa won its opener against Canton Friday, but lost to Sioux Falls the following night. Jarrid Famous is averaging 20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds over his first two games for the Energy.
PROSPECT REPORT
Brian Butch, Bakersfield Jam -- Time was, a player of Butch's ilk and pedigree could expect a long career in the NBA. A former McDonald's All-America and standout at Wisconsin, Butch is tall (6-11), can shoot (went 4-for-10 from three-point range in the Jam's season opener) and is mobile. These days, the NBA likes its big guys to more physical, defensive-minded and athletic. Butch, the MVP of the 2010 NBA D-League All-Star game, has improved as a rebounder (13.5 rpg through two games) and defender, and continues to be a major offensive threat in the frontcourt. Signed by the Denver Nuggets in April 2010, Butch injured his knee and never saw time in an NBA game. He's out to change that this season.
Justin Dentmon, Austin Toros -- Not heavily thought of coming out Washington in 2009, Dentmon, after a stint in Israel, joined the NBA D-League last season and averaged 19.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 50 games for the Texas Legends. Acquired by Austin in a draft-day trade with Texas, Dentmon continues to show improvement as a distributor (seven assists in Austin's season opener), while filling it up offensively (29 points). At 6-0, Dentmon will need to convince scouts he can run an NBA offense, and also defend his position.
Charles Garcia, Sioux Falls Skyforce -- Considered a NBA draft-day sleeper out of Seattle University in 2010, Garcia never heard his name called, signed a contract to play in Turkey, was released from that contract and wound up appearing in 11 games for Iowa and Utah last season. Acquired by Sioux Falls in a trade with Iowa prior to this season, Garcia is averaging 28.0 points over his first two games this season. While his size (6-10), scoring ability and athleticism put him squarely on the NBA radar, Garcia is, according to Sioux Falls head coach Mo McHone, "a work in progress."
NEWS & NOTES
NBA D-league Roster Expansion/Timeline Effective Monday, Nov. 28, NBA D-League teams may increase roster size from 10 NBA D-League players to 12. In addition, beginning Nov. 28 and continuing until 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 29, each team will gain temporary rights to any players who were cut in its training camp. Teams can claim players from this group or from the general available player pool in order to fill their 11th and 12th roster spots. At 5 PM ET on Tuesday, Nov. 29, all aforementioned temporary rights of first refusal will be voided, and all unclaimed players will be placed on waivers and made available to all teams. Subsequent roster additions will come from the available player pool on a first-come, first-served basis. NBA D-League teams will be permitted to carry and dress for games a maximum of 12 players until one week after the commencement of NBA training camps, at which point they will be required to return to no more than 10 NBA D-League players.
NBA D-League President Dan Reed Discusses Rise of Single Affiliates In an article in the Bismarck Tribune, NBA D-League President explains the growing trend of NBA teams entering into single affiliate relationships with NBA D-League teams, whether through outright ownership, or taking advantage of the hybrid model. "It's really been a terrific development for us across the league," Reed said. "In one summer we went from four one-to-one affiliations to nine. We're up from just one single affiliation from when I started in 2007. I think it's a symptom of our success for the last few years. We've grown from producing 10 percent of NBA players to 15 percent to 20 percent. Now we're almost at 25 percent."
Los Angeles D-Fenders Acquire Elijah Millsap from Tulsa 66ers The Los Angeles D-Fenders have acquired 6-6 guard Elijah Millsap from the Tulsa 66ers in exchange for a 2012 second round draft pick. Millsap, a 2010 All-Conference USA First Team selection following his junior season at Alabama-Birmingham, appeared in 50 regular season games (44 starts) for Tulsa last season, averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists. In four playoff games for the 66ers, Millsap, the brother of Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap, averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Top 10 Things You Should Know About the NBA D-League From new franchises, to old franchises returning, to games on national television, to top prospects, to the 2011 NBA D-League Showcase -- NBA.com/dleague examines the top 10 things you need to know about this upcoming NBA D-League season.
NBA D-League Center Court App NBA D-League Center Court App is the Official mobile application of the NBA D-League. It provides stats, scores and schedules for every NBA D-League game. You can also watch games on NBA D-League Futurecast.
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
After splitting their first two games of the season with Dakota by a combined three points, the L.A. D-Fenders opened their home schedule with a 135-103 victory over the Reno Bighorns in front of a sold out crowd Monday night at Toyota Sports Center. In his first game at home as D-Fenders head coach, Eric Musselman saw his club eclipse the team record for largest margin of victory (28, 1/4/08 vs. Dakota), while falling just three points shy of the team record for points scored in a single game ... Erie rookie Mychel Thompson, son of former NBA star Mychel Thompson, averaged 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over his first two games. He shot 50 percent from the field, while making 7-of-13 from three-point range ... Bakersfield rookie Mustapha Farrakhan averaged 18.0 points and 8.0 assists in his first two games, both wins for the Jam.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS
Boston's Ray Allen needs 28 threes to pass Reggie Miller (2,560) for first on the all-time list. Boston's Kevin Garnett needs 60 rebounds to pass Charles Barkley (12,546) for 16th on the all-time list. The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant needs 52 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) for eighth on the all-time list. Bryant needs seven steals to pass Rod Strickland (1,616) for 22nd on the all-time list.
-->LOOKING AHEAD
The L.A. Defenders travel to Sioux Falls Friday night (8 p.m. ET) to take on the Skyforce. The game will be shown on NBA TV. Sioux Falls split its first two games of the season. The D-Fenders won last night to improve to 2-1.
GATORADE CALL-UP BOARD
Boston's Ray Allen needs 28 threes to pass Reggie Miller (2,560) for first on the all-time list ... Boston's Kevin Garnett needs 60 rebounds to pass Charles Barkley (12,546) for 16th on the all-time list ... The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant needs 52 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) for eighth on the all-time list. Bryant needs seven steals to pass Rod Strickland (1,616) for 22nd on the all-time list.
ASSIGNMENT BOARD
NBA Players Currently on Assignment in the NBA D-League:
Player NBA Team NBA D-League Team Assignment Date G PPG RPG APG
Hassan Whiteside Sacramento Reno 11/29/10 7 5.1 3.2 0.1
DeMarre Carroll Memphis Dakota 12/14/10 6 35.7 18.3 6.8
Pape Sy Atlanta Utah 12/27/10 6 24.0 5.5 5.0
Devin Ebanks L.A. Lakers Bakersfield 12/27/10 6 26.5 12.0 8.0
Garret Siler Phoenix Iowa 1/4/10 16.0 4.0 7.0
Cole Aldrich Oklahoma City Tulsa 12/30/10 28.8 7.3 8.1
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Today's Quote
Bakersfield guard Osiris Eldridge, on chasing his NBA dream: "All I gotta say to that is, I'm 23, in the prime of my career and there's no way I'm not going to chase this dream. I know Chauncey Billups real well and he has a cool story because he had a lot of doors close but then played a lot of years in the league. He told me, you don't always get that helicopter flying you in or the elevator ride to the top. You gotta work for it every day. That's what I'm doing." SLAM ONLINE, Nov. 28, 2011
NBA G League Stories from November 29, 2011
- Antonio Anderson Returns to Red Claws - Maine Celtics
- Energy Head South for Two Games Against Vipers, Nurse - Iowa Wolves
- Donors Needed for BayHawks Blood Drive with the Community Blood Bank - Erie BayHawks
- Armor Acquire Jeff Foote - Springfield Armor
- NBA D-League Update - G League
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