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NBA D-League Update

Published on March 23, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


FORD BEGINS NEW CHAPTER

T.J. Ford's stay in San Antonio was brief -- he appeared in 14 games this season before announcing his retirement earlier this month after nine injury-plagued NBA seasons.

His presence within the Spurs organization will continue to be felt, with Ford taking a volunteer coaching position with the Austin Toros, the Spurs NBA Development League affiliate.

"I'll look at it from another perspective," Ford told the American-Statesman. "I'm really starting at the bottom. I'm not sure where I'm headed. But I'm headed in the right direction."

Ford played two seasons at the University of Texas, winning National Player of the Year honors in 2003, while leading the Longhorns to the Final Four. Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the eighth overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, Ford suffered a devastating back injury at the tail end of his rookie season, then missed the entire 2004-05 campaign.

He had his best season as a pro in 2006-07 with the Toronto Raptors, appearing in 75 games and averaging 14.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Still, he never fully regained the speed and quickness that made him so successful early on, and the latter portion of his career was marked by injuries.

"I retired prematurely," Ford said. "I've been around basketball my entire life. I feel I can do something. I feel I can give back to the game."

The NBA D-League is a terrific venue for Ford to impart all the wisdom accrued during a life centered on basketball. A true point, Ford will no doubt be able to work with many of the guards in the NBA D-League who are trying to learn the nuances of playing the point. Ford is thrilled to be able to give something back to a Spurs franchise that really embraced him this season.

"The Spurs organization was great to me," Ford said. "I have a lot of knowledge that I want to share, hopefully to help someone live their dream and make it to the NBA."

PROSPECT REPORT

Will Conroy, Rio Grande Valley Vipers -- Conroy turns 30 in December, so the "upside" phase of his career has basically come to an end. That said, Conroy's strong play this season continues to place him on the short list of players who could earn a call-up this season. In 20 games, Conroy is averaging an NBA D-League-best 9.4 assists, to go with 12.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. No stranger to being on the fringes of the NBA, Conroy has appeared in 12 NBA games with the Grizzlies, Rockets and Clippers since going undrafted out of Washington in 2005. A natural leader, who takes control of a team and elevates the play of his teammates, Conroy has risen beyond his talent level, and could be a smart signing for a team looking for mature third guard who carries himself as a professional.

NEWS & NOTES

Mavericks Assign Kelenna Azubuike to NBA D-League Affiliate Texas Legends

The Dallas Mavericks today assigned newly acquired guard/forward Kelenna Azubuike to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks' NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment marks the record 56th time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season, and it is the first assignment for Azubuike since being signed by Dallas earlier today. Dallas today signed Azubuike (6-5, 215) as a free agent, having spent much of last season on the New York Knicks roster, when he was sidelined with a torn patella tendon. Prior to his tenure with the Knicks, Azubuike played 205 games with the Golden State Warriors over four seasons. He holds NBA career averages of 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 24.4 minutes, shooting 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. More

Dakota's Mickell Gladness Signs with Golden State

The Golden State Warriors have signed center Mickell Gladness for the 38th GATORADE Call-up of the 2011-12 NBA Development League season. Gladness joins more than 100 NBA players with NBA D-League experience currently on 2011-12 rosters. Gladness (6-11, 230) returns to the NBA following two previous GATORADE Call-Ups to the Miami Heat. In eight games with Miami, he scored two points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 28 minutes. Gladness has appeared in four games with the Wizards, averaging 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. More

Houston Rockets Re-assign Greg Smith to NBA D-League Affiliate Rio Grande Valley

The Houston Rockets re-assigned center Greg Smith to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets' NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment marks the 55th time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season, and it is the second assignment for Smith since earning a GATORADE Call-Up to the Rockets on Feb. 9. Smith (6-10, 250, Fresno State) has appeared in seven games with the Rockets this season, averaging 0.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. A 2012 NBA D-League All-Star, Smith has appeared in 21 games for the Vipers this season, both on assignment and prior to his Call-Up, averaging 16.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 27.8 minutes. He has recorded eight double-doubles, including a season-high 28 points to go with 13 rebounds in a 125-120 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Jan. 17. More

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Maine Red Claws have acquired Corey Stokes and Joe Trapani from the available player pool. Trapani, 23, played for Novipiu Casale Monferrato (Italy-SerieA, starting five), Scavolini Siviglia Pesaro (Italy-SerieA, starting five) and MarcoPoloShop.it Forli (Italy-Lega2) this season. In 10 games with MarcoPoloShop.it, the 6-8 forward averaged 5.1 rebounds, while adding nine blocked shots and 10 steals. Trapani spent three seasons at Boston College after transferring from the University of Vermont after an All-AEC Rookie freshman season. A two-year starter at BC, the Connecticut native averaged 14.8 rebounds and 7.0 rebounds as a senior. Stokes, 24, played for BBC Bayreuth (Germany-1.Bundesliga), appearing in 18 games and averaging 6.1 points and 1.9 rebounds before leaving due to injury in January. A New Jersey native best known for his three-point shooting ability, the 6-5 guard was a three-year starter at Villanova, averaging 14.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in his senior season ... The Dallas Mavericks waived forward Sean Williams . Williams (6-10, 235) played eight games with the Mavericks after signing as a free agent on Dec. 21. In those appearances, he averaged 3.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 8.1 minutes. Williams saw considerable time assigned to the Texas Legends, appearing in 24 games with 23 starts for Texas and averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.0 assists in 28.5 minutes per game.

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

Rio Grande Valley coach NICK NURSE, on Houston Rockets assignee Greg Smith re-joining the Vipers: "We need all the help we can get right now. Hopefully, he can get back on the floor and get some much needed minutes for himself, and provide us with a little impact on the court." The Brownsville Herald, March 22, 2012

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NBA G League Stories from March 23, 2012


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