NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



NBA G League

NBA D-League Update

January 20, 2012 - NBA G League (G League) News Release


WHO'S GOT NEXT CALL-UP

You won't find Marqus Blakely's name on any of the All-NBA D-League Showcase teams. You won't see it in lights on the NBA D-League stat leaders page. It doesn't sit very high on NBA D-League.com's Prospect Watch.

Blakely, who plays for the Iowa Energy, is a player you don't measure by superlatives and stats. You measure the affect he has on a game, how hard he competes, how other players bounce off his chiseled frame, how he explodes off the floor, how he changes the flow of a game with his defense, how his positive on-court demeanor uplifts teammates.

There are many talented players in the NBA D-League putting up numbers. Yet, when the NBA comes calling, it's not always the numbers guys teams are looking for. They're looking to fill roles, whether it's a medium-sized, defensive-minded athlete (Blakely), who can push their own talented wings in practice, or get spot minutes in a pinch.

It might be a point guard who can run the pick-and-roll and will make an open 20-footer with regularity; a live frontcourt body willing to mix it up; a sniper to spot up and make three-pointers.

Though his turnover numbers have been high in recent weeks, Maine's Jerome Randle is an intriguing call-up possibility based on his ability to run an offense and make open shots. A late cut of the Dallas Mavericks in training camp, Randle's size (5-9) no doubt scares teams off, but there are plenty of players south of six feet that have survived in the NBA over the years.

The L.A. D-Fenders' Zach Andrews, on any given night, might be his team's fifth-leading scorer. Chances, however, are he'll lead the team in offensive rebounds and hustle plays. A training camp invite of the L.A. Lakers in December, Andrews has bounced around since graduating from Bradley, but at 26, is hoping to get his chance at some point. An extremely live body (6-9, 230) with good hop, he's starting to turn heads.

Quality bigs and shooters are not as easy to come by in the NBA D-League. Reno's Blake Ahearn continues to put up huge scoring numbers (25.2 ppg), never misses a free throw (96 percent), has solid point guard instincts and a winning attitude. A two-time NBA call-up, he hasn't found another team willing to give him a shot over the last few years.

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

Greg Smith, Rio Grande Valley Vipers -- Smith has many of the physical traits you look for in an NBA big man. He's huge (6-10, 250), fairly mobile and coordinated, has huge hands, and can play with his back to the basket. For these reasons, many felt he'd be drafted in 2011, after two seasons at Fresno State. When you take a closer look at Smith, you notice he's not a great rebounder given his size. He lacks focus defensively. He doesn't always play with great energy and intensity. He's very much a work in progress, but given his age (he turned 21 on Jan.8), there's time and room for improvement. The Houston Rockets liked Smith enough to bring him to training camp and sign him to their NBA D-League affiliate. While Smith has said if he had to do it all over again he'd have stayed another year at Fresno State, he's having a solid go in the NBA D-League, averaging 15.9 points and 9.6 rebounds.

NEWS & NOTES

Milwaukee Bucks Re-assign Darington Hobson to NBA D-League

Fort Wayne The Milwaukee Bucks have re-assigned guard Darington Hobson to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Bucks' NBA D-League affiliate. The assignment marks the 25th time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season and is the second assignment for Hobson this season. Originally assigned on Dec. 29, Hobson (6-7, 210) averaged 11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games for Fort Wayne before being recalled to Milwaukee on Jan. 4. He has appeared in five games for the Bucks this season, averaging 1.2 assists and 0.8 points in 7.8 minutes.

New Jersey Nets Assign Jordan Williams to NBA D-League Affiliate Springfield Armor

The New Jersey Nets have assigned forward Jordan Williams to the Springfield Armor, the Nets' NBA D-League affiliate. The assignment marks the 25th time an NBA player has been assigned to their NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season. It is the first assignment for Williams. Williams (6-10, 260, Maryland) was selected in the second round (36th overall) by the Nets in the 2011 NBA Draft and has appeared in six games for New Jersey this season, averaging 1.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.2 minutes.

Tulsa 66ers' Larry Owens Signs with New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets have signed forward Larry Owens of the Tulsa 66ers for the 16th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA Development League season. Owens (6-7, 210, Oral Roberts) has appeared in 10 games for the 66ers this season, averaging 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 34.2 minutes. In his third year with the 66ers, Owens owns NBA D-League career averages of 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Twice called-up during the 2010-11 NBA season, Owens has appeared in seven NBA games with the San Antonio Spurs and five with the Washing Wizards, averaging a combined 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12 minutes per game.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants announced today that they have hired former college and NBA standout Christian Laettner as an assistant coach. He will be working full time with Mad Ants head coach, Steve Gansey, who was recently promoted to the position after Joey Meyer was let go ... Greg Ostertag, who played 11 seasons in the NBA and retired five years ago, has abandoned his comeback attempt with the Texas Legends. He averaged 4.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in 13.3 minutes over a 10-game stint ... The Austin Toros have won 11 of 12, outscoring opponents by 11.3 points during this stretch ... Fort Wayne's Jarrid Famous ranks third in the NBA D-League at 10.1 rebounds per game and posted his pro career high with 20 rebounds in the Mad Ants' 108-100 loss to the Dakota Wizards on Tuesday ... Jerome Jordan and Jeremy Lin are the first two players ever assigned to the NBA D-League by the New York Knicks.

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.-->

LOOKING AHEAD

As the NBA D-League converges on Reno for the 2012 NBA D-League Showcase, look for full coverage, including game recaps, features and video on NBADLeague.com.

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

Former NBA center GREG OSTERTAG, on abandoning his comeback attempt with the Texas Legends: "I hope people understand that this was not a publicity stunt. I genuinely wanted to play basketball. The first couple weeks, I thought I was playing decent, but I just wasn't in shape. I was starting to get in shape -- as far as conditioning I felt as good as I've felt (Wednesday night against Tulsa) -- but I just can't move the way I need to. These guys are young and fast. Some of them were just getting out of diapers when I came into the league." ESPN.com, Jan. 19, 2012

Check out the NBA G League Statistics

• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...

NBA G League Stories from January 20, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central