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NBA D-League Update

Published on March 20, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


D-FENDERS KEEP ON TICKING

Eric Musselman knows the drill.

In speaking of Gerald Green, a recent Call-Up to the New Jersey Nets from the L.A. D-Fenders, the sixth Call-Up his team has earned this season, Musselman captured the spirit of coaching in the NBA Development League, and why he's found it so rewarding.

"The greatest thing about being a D-League coach is seeing a guy come and do things the right way, and then be rewarded for it," Musselman told the New York Post. "He (Green) fell into the perfect situation, and then when he was given the opportunity, he jumped all over it."

It actually goes a little deeper for Musselman and Green, who as he was accepting his NBA D-League All-Star Game MVP trophy at All-Star Weekend in Orlando, made sure to point out the influence Musselman has had on him.

"As a coach, you can form a bond with a player, and think, I'm going to talk to this guy for the next 20 years, and this guy is in a foxhole with me ... those are the guys that you can reach," Musselman said. "To me, Gerald was in the foxhole with us. No matter if we won or lost, if I rode him, he really accepted coaching."

Green is one of five players Musselman has sent off to the NBA on six occasions this season, joining Jamaal Tinsley (Utah Jazz), Malcolm Thomas (San Antonio Spurs), Ishmael Smith (Orlando Magic) and Courtney Fortson (L.A. Clippers, Houston Rockets). Some have returned, while others have managed to hold on. All the while, the D-Fenders continue to win, becoming the first NBA D-League team to clinch a playoff spot.

Six of the team's current 10 active players boast NBA experience. Ironically, the team's best player this season arguably has been Elijah Millsap, who's still waiting for his first NBA Call-Up. Millsap, whose brother Paul Millsap plays for the Utah Jazz, is averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 33 games.

The D-Fenders (31-11) hold a five-game advantage in the West Conference over the Austin Toros (26-16). Canton (24-18) leads the East by one game over Iowa (22-18) and Dakota (23-19).

PROSPECT REPORT

Trey Johnson, Bakersfield Jam -- Johnson has made the rounds since going undrafted out of Jackson State in 2007 -- NBA stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, L.A. Lakers and New Orleans, sandwiched around four seasons with the Bakersfield Jam, with detours to France and Italy along the way. This season, Johnson appeared in 11 games with the Hornets, averaging 1.9 points, before returning to the Jam. In two games with Bakersfield this season, Johnson is averaging 16.0 points and 8.5 assists. Johnson has worked hard in recent years to show he's more than just a scorer. Very proficient as a mid-range shooter, Johnson is not an exceptional athlete or playmaker, and is a bit undersized (listed at 6-5, but probably closer to 6-3) to match up with all tremendous wing athletes the NBA features. Still, Johnson can put the ball in the basket, and he could find himself right back up in the NBA this season.

NEWS & NOTES

San Antonio Assigns Cory Joseph to NBA D-League Affiliate Austin Toros

Marqus Blakely of the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Brian Butch of the Bakersfield Jam were today named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played March 12-18. The honor is the first for both players this season. Blakely, a 6-5, 220-pound forward from Vermont, averaged 21.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 33.0 minutes in three Sioux Falls victories last week. He shot 62 percent from the field, recording back-to-back double-doubles on March 13 and 14. On the season, Blakely is averaging 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 30.4 minutes in 27 total games, 14 with the Iowa Energy and 13 with Sioux Falls. Butch, a 6-11, 240-pound center from Wisconsin, averaged 19.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 28.0 minutes in two Jam wins over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers last week, including back-to-back double-doubles. In eight games with Bakersfield this season, Butch is averaging 18.4 points, 12.0 rebounds and 27.6 minutes. More

Blakely, Butch Named NBA D-League Co-Performers of the Week

Marqus Blakely of the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Brian Butch of the Bakersfield Jam were today named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played March 12-18. The honor is the first for both players this season. Blakely, a 6-5, 220-pound forward from Vermont, averaged 21.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 33.0 minutes in three Sioux Falls victories last week. He shot 62 percent from the field, recording back-to-back double-doubles on March 13 and 14. On the season, Blakely is averaging 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 30.4 minutes in 27 total games, 14 with the Iowa Energy and 13 with Sioux Falls. Butch, a 6-11, 240-pound center from Wisconsin, averaged 19.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 28.0 minutes in two Jam wins over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers last week, including back-to-back double-doubles. In eight games with Bakersfield this season, Butch is averaging 18.4 points, 12.0 rebounds and 27.6 minutes. More

Washington Wizards Sign Dakota's Edwin Ubiles

The Washington Wizards have signed forward Edwin Ubiles for the 37th GATORADE Call-up of the 2011-12 NBA Development League season. Ubiles joins more than 100 NBA players with NBA D-League experience currently on 2011-12 rosters. A 2012 NBA D-League All-Star, Ubiles (6-6, 204, Siena) has appeared in 35 games, all starts for Dakota this season, averaging 20.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 35.3 minutes. He recorded a career-high 41 points in a 127-110 win over the Iowa Energy on Feb. 28 and has scored in double digits in 33 games. A four-year contributor and two-year starter at Siena, Ubiles was named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year in 2007 and to the All-MAAC First Team in 2008 and 2009 before playing in the Reese's College All-Star Game in 2010. More

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The New Orleans Hornets have recalled forward Xavier Henry from the Iowa Energy. Henry appeared in Sunday night's 114-101 Energy loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce. In 20 minutes of action, Henry collected 13 points and two steals. Prior to his NBA D-League assignment yesterday, Henry appeared in 25 games for New Orleans this season, averaging 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds ... Gerald Green, a recent call-up to New Jersey from the L.A. D-Fenders, has signed with the Nets for the remainder of the season ... The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Canton call-up Manny Harris for the remainder of the season. Harris is averaging 3.3 points in four games with Cleveland this season. As a rookie with the Cavaliers in 2010-11, Harris appeared in 54 games, averaging 5.9 points ... The Erie BayHawks have signed former NBA player Joey Graham for their late season playoff push. Graham (6-7, 230) was originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the first round (16th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy played four seasons in Toronto, one in Denver and spent last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. For his NBA career, he's averaged 5.9 points and 2.8 rebounds.

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

Springfield coach BOB MACKINNON, on getting Jeff Foote back from his recent call-up to the New Orleans Hornets: "I think he's going to have a 12-year NBA career. When you've got a guy who's going to be an NBA player on your roster, it's a quality player. We've been playing a couple players short for a couple of weeks now." The Republican, March 20, 2012

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