D-Fenders Record-Breaking Season Capped by 2011-12 NBA Development Champion Award

Published on May 15, 2012 under NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles D-Fenders were named the NBA Development Champion for the 2011-12 NBA Development League season, it was announced today. The Development Champion is a new honor awarded to the team that best embodies the NBA D-League's goals of developing NBA talent via Call-Ups and player assignments.

"The NBA Development Champion award is a testament to the commitment that our franchise has to producing top-level NBA talent," said D-Fenders President/CEO Joey Buss. "We are extremely proud to have helped develop countless players and personnel for the Los Angeles Lakers as well as the NBA."

Based on a scoring system that awards points for player/staff Call-Ups along with player assignments, the D-Fenders finished with a score of 31.25, earning the highest mark in the 16-team D-League. The Austin Toros tallied 22.50 points and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers totaled 21.50 points, respectively.

In their first season back after a one-year hiatus, the D-Fenders won a league-record 38 games en route to becoming the 2011-12 NBA Development League Regular Season Champions for the first time in franchise history. Furthermore, the D-Fenders swept through the first two rounds of the 2012 NBA D-League Playoffs to reach the NBA D-League Finals for the first time in team history.

2011-12 GATORADE Call-Ups

December 24, 2011: Jamaal Tinsley signs with Utah.

January 11, 2012: Malcolm Thomas signs with San Antonio.

January 16, 2012: Courtney Fortson signs with Los Angeles Clippers.

February 2, 2012: Ishmael Smith signs with Orlando.

February 27, 2012: Gerald Green signs 10-day contract with New Jersey.

March 8, 2012: Green signs second 10-day contract with New Jersey.

March 18, 2012: Green signs with New Jersey for the rest of the season.

March 17, 2012: Fortson signs 10-day contract with Houston.

March 27, 2012: Fortson signs with Houston for the rest of the season.

March 27, 2012: Thomas signs 10-day contract with Houston.

April 15, 2012: Jamario Moon signs with Charlotte.

2011-12 Staff Call-Ups

December 15, 2011: Associate Head Coach Clay Moser joins the Los Angeles Lakers as an Advanced Scout.

*Prior to the 2011-12 season, the D-Fenders had recorded just three NBA call-ups in the first four seasons of play in franchise history.

2011-12 Los Angeles Lakers player assignments:

December 17-18, 2011: Andrew Goudelock

December 17-18, 2011: Malcolm Thomas

January 25 through February 7, 2012: Derrick Caracter

February 15-28, 2012: Devin Ebanks

March 7-16, 2012: Darius Morris

March 17 through April 25, 2012; April 28-29: Christian Eyenga

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