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NBA D-League Update

Published on January 17, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


FORTSON FLIES UNDER THE RADAR

Gerald Green has the NBA pedigree. Brandon Costner has the gaudy scoring average. Elijah Millsap has a brother in the NBA, and the look of an NBA player. Courtney Fortson has the call-up.

The Los Angeles Clippers, in need of point guard depth in the wake of Chris Paul's hamstring injury, signed Fortson from the nearby L.A. D-Fenders yesterday. The former Arkansas Razorback, who went undrafted in 2010, averaged 15.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 17 games with the D-Fenders this season. He was in training camp with the Clippers back in December.

The signing of Fortson, a diminutive point guard with exceptional speed and quickness, speaks to the ever-increasing value of the NBA D-League. While not the most talented player to take the floor at the NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, Nev. last week, Fortson is familiar with the Clippers' system, fills a need and can be at the Staples Center in a half hour depending upon L.A. traffic.

Fortson is the third call-up in the past week, joining D-Fenders teammate Malcolm Thomas, who signed with the San Antonio Spurs, and Erie's Mike James, who signed with the Chicago Bulls.

Thomas, who many felt would be drafted in 2011 following a brilliant senior season at San Diego State, is a jack-of-all-trades forward with NBA caliber athleticism. James, a nine-year NBA vet, doesn't appear to be in the best physical shape, but still showed a knack for scoring in his two games in Reno.

2012 NBA D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING PRESENTED BY 2K SPORTS TIPS OFF

Balloting for the 2012 NBA D-League All-Stars tipped off last week. The NBA D-League All-Star Game will take place Feb. 25 in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center.

PROSPECT REPORT

Marcus Lewis, Tulsa 66ers -- Lewis is a bit of rarity these days. While many players making the rounds in minor league basketball focus on showing new dimensions to their game, Lewis is very true to who he is -- a rebounder. Not blessed with an overly athletic body -- he could stand to lose a few pounds -- Lewis simply has a nose for the ball. He leads the NBA D-League in rebounding (13.6 rpg). The next closest competitor is Eric Dawson (10.6). After a strong showing with the NBA D-League select team at the Pan American Games in October, Lewis played his way into training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks. He posted an absolute gem in his second game at the NBA D-League Showcase last week, scoring 23 points on 11-for-12 shooting, to go with 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. With NBA teams able to sign players to 10-day contracts beginning Feb. 6, Lewis could make the leap in 2012.

NEWS & NOTES

Oklahoma City Thunder Assigns Ryan Reid to NBA D-League Affiliate Tulsa 66ers The Oklahoma City Thunder assigned forward Ryan Reid to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder's NBA D-League affiliate. The assignment marks the 22nd time an NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season. It is the first assignment for Reid this season. Reid (6-8, 235) has appeared in two games with the Thunder since earning a GATORADE Call-Up from the 66ers on Dec. 13, 2011, scoring three points in five minutes of action. In eight games, all starts, with the 66ers before joining the Thunder, Jones averaged 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in 34.3 minutes.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Maine Red Claws announced that Morris Almond has rejoined the team after spending a year and half playing overseas. The 6-6 guard/forward is expected to join the team for practice today. To make room for Almond, forward Paul Harris has been waived due to injury. Almond was the NBA D-League's leading scorer in 2009-10 (24.6 ppg) and 2007-08 (25.6 ppg) ... Reno's Blake Ahearn is shooting 96 percent from the free throw line (134-for-139) ... On Sunday, the Portland Trail Blazers recalled Armon Johnson from the Idaho Stampede. In five games with the Stampede, Johnson averaged 11.8 points, 7.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He put up a season-high 19 points to go along with two assists and five rebounds Jan. 9 against the Erie Bayhawks.

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS

Cleveland's Alonzo Gee scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting in 28 minutes in a loss to the Toronto Raptors last night. Not drafted by an NBA franchise in 2009, Gee signed with the Austin Toros, and was named the 2009-10 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 21.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 36 games with the Toros. After spending time with the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs at the end of the 2009-10 season, Gee was signed by the Cavaliers in December 2010, and went on to average 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 40 games.

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

Today's Quote

Atlanta Hawks general manager RICK SUND, on the play of Ivan Johnson: "When he was here in the minicamp he was so strong. He was the epitome of what you wanted in a power forward. We needed to add some toughness and he's a physical player. And he's got great hands and he's got a pretty good basketball IQ. We pretty much knew a few days into training camp that he was an NBA player." FoxSports.com, Jan. 17, 2011

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NBA G League Stories from January 17, 2012


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