Four Armor Players Earn Season-Ending Honors
May 3, 2012 - NBA G League (G League)
Springfield Armor News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA- The Springfield Armor had four players earn season-ending honors from the NBA Development League it was announced today. Jeff Foote earned All-NBA D-League Second Team honors, Jerry Smith captured All-NBA D-League Third Team and All-Defensive First Team honors, Dennis Horner earned All-NBA D-League Third Team honors and JamesOn Curry was an All-NBA D-League Honorable Mention, as voted on by the league's 16 coaches.
"The Brooklyn Nets are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our NBA D-League affiliate this past season," said Brooklyn Nets general manager of minor league operations Milton Lee. "I couldn't be happier for Jeff, Jerry, Dennis and JamesOn. The latest accolades are a testament to the hard work, coachability and professionalism of all our players, coaches and staff in Springfield."
Foote (7-0, 265, Cornell) was acquired by the Armor on November 29 from the league's available player pool. In 39 games, 38 starts, Foote averaged 15.1 points on .551 shooting and a team-high 8.9 rebounds in 32.6 minutes per game. He registered a team-high 15 double-doubles and earned his first-career GATORADE Call-Up on March 8 when he signed with the New Orleans Hornets, appearing in four games off the Hornets' bench.
Smith (6-2, 190, Louisville) returned to the Armor this season after being drafted in the fifth round, 69th overall, in the 2010 NBA Development League Draft. In 39 games, 36 starts, Smith averaged a team-high 19.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals in 35.0 minutes per game. Smith was the first-ever Armor player to earn the league's Player of the Month honor in February and was the league's Performer of the Week for games played between January 30-February 6. He earned his first-career GATORADE Call-Up on March 16 when he signed with the then-New Jersey Nets, appearing in five games off the Nets' bench.
Horner (6-9, 230, North Carolina State) was acquired by the Armor in the third round, 47th overall, in the 2011 NBA Development League Draft. In 25 games, 20 starts, Horner averaged 17.0 points on .471 shooting and 8.5 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game. He posted ten double-doubles, including a season-best 29-point, 15-rebound performance in a victory over the Maine Red Claws on March 27. Horner earned two GATORADE Call-Ups to the then-New Jersey Nets, appearing in eight games off the Nets' bench.
Curry (6-4, 200, Oklahoma State) returned to the Armor for his third season after being acquired in the first round, 14th overall, in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft. In 40 games, all starts, Curry averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.9 steals in 37.7 minutes per game. He finished tied for the league lead in assists, second in the league in minutes played and tied for fifth in steals. Curry is the franchise's all-time leader in virtually every major statistical category.
"It is a great testament to the hard work of our players and to the hybrid affiliation between the Brooklyn Nets and the Armor that we had four players selected to the All-NBA D-League teams," said Armor head coach Bob MacKinnon. "Our players were certainly deserving of this honor and our great fans can be excited about what the future holds. It is another great day to be associated with the Springfield Armor."
All four players were key contributors on an Armor team that completed the greatest single-season turnaround in league history, finishing the regular season as Eastern Conference champions with a record of 29-21, one year removed from a 13-win season.
2012-13 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW: Coming off the most successful season, on and off the court, in franchise history, the 2012 Eastern Conference champion Armor have started offering season tickets for the 2012-13 season. To learn more about the benefits of being an Armor season ticket holder, including invitations to exclusive team events, discounts and much more, contact an Armor representative at (413) 746-3263 or stop by the Armor offices, located at One Monarch Place, Suite 220, in downtown Springfield.
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