13th CBA player called up to NBA this season
Published on March 3, 2004 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Boise, ID (March 3, 2004) â Gary Steelheads forward Lee Nailon signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was announced Wednesday by the Continental Basketball Association League Office and Cavaliers President and Manager of Basketball Operations Jim Paxson. The CBA-to-NBA call-up is the thirteenth overall league call-up since the 2003-04 season began on November 14.
In three games (one started) with the Steelheads, since signing with the team on Friday, February 27, Nailon averaged 22.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He also added three assists, while shooting 50 percent (29 of 58) from the floor and a perfect 100 percent (9 of 9) from the free-throw line.
The Texas Christian University alum rejoins former coach Paul Silas, whom he had his best season under in 2001-02, when he averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest in 79 games with the Charlotte Hornets. Nailon has played in 194 career NBA games, most recently playing in 35 games this season with the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.
The 6-foot-9, 238-pounder will join former CBA players Jeff McInnis, Ira Newble, and Kevin Ollie on the Cavaliers roster, which now boasts the most CBA alums of any NBA team. In 57 games this season (18 with Cleveland after being traded from Portland), McInnis is averaging 11.6 points and 5.6 assists in 33.4 minutes per game. The former CBA Most Valuable Player (2000), All-Star (1998,1999,2000), and All-League First Team member (2000) has a career NBA average of 10.1 points and 4.4 assists per game. Newble, a 2002 CBA All-Star, is averaging 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 22.8 minutes played per game, while Ollie, a 1998 CBA All-Star, has posted 4.7 points and 3.0 assists per game for the Cavaliers.
Nailon will be filling a vacant roster spot left open when Cleveland released guard J.R. Bremer.
2003-04 CBA-to-NBA Call-Ups
(Season total = 13)
Date Player CBA Team NBA Team
11/14/03 Sean Lampley Dakota Wizards Golden State Warriors
12/10/03 Zendon Hamilton Yakima Sun Kings Philadelphia 76ers
12/13/03 Oliver Miller Dakota Wizards Minnesota Timberwolves
12/19/03 Kaniel Dickens Dakota Wizards Portland Trail Blazers
1/7/04 Anthony Goldwire Yakima Sun Kings Minnesota Timberwolves
1/16/04 Torraye Braggs Yakima Sun Kings Washington Wizards
1/30/04 Darrick Martin Sioux Falls Skyforce Minnesota Timberwolves
1/30/04 Maurice Carter Dakota Wizards Los Angeles Lakers
2/5/04 Eddie Gill Dakota Wizards Portland Trail Blazers
2/22/04 Rodney Buford Dakota Wizards Sacramento Kings
2/28/04 Anthony Goldwire Yakima Sun Kings Milwaukee Bucks
2/28/04 Linton Johnson Rockford Lightning Chicago Bulls
3/3/04 Lee Nailon Gary Steelheads Cleveland Cavaliers
FORMER CBA PLAYERS ON 2003-04 NBA ROSTERS
Total roster spots held by former CBA players on 2003-04 NBA regular season rosters: 59
Total number of former CBA players on 2003-04 NBA rosters during the regular season: 49
Total roster spots held by former CBA players on 2003-04 NBA opening night rosters: 37
Total number of former CBA players on 2003-04 NBA training camp rosters: 67
Atlanta (1): Stephen Jackson
Boston (3): Mark Blount, Mike James, Chucky Atkins
Chicago (2): Rick Brunson, Linton Johnson
Cleveland (4): Jeff McInnis, Ira Newble, Kevin Ollie, Lee Nailon
Denver (3): Earl Boykins, Voshon Lenard, Mark Pope
Detroit (1): Tremaine Fowlkes, (Chucky Atkins)
Golden State (0): (Sean Lampley)
Houston (1): Adrian Griffin, (Ben Davis), (Martyn "Moochie" Norris), (Torraye Braggs)
Los Angeles Clippers (2): Olden Polynice, Doug Overton
Los Angeles Lakers (0): (Maurice Carter)
Memphis (1): Charles "Bo" Outlaw
Miami (1): Rafer Alston
Milwaukee (3): Damon Jones, Erick Strickland, Anthony Goldwire
Minnesota (2): Troy Hudson, Oliver Miller, (Anthony Goldwire), (Darrick Martin)
New Jersey (1): Aaron Williams, (Doug Overton), (Mikki Moore)
New Orleans (2): Darrell Armstrong, David Wesley
New York (1): Martyn "Moochie" Norris, (Howard Eisley)
Philadelphia (2): Greg Buckner, Amal McCaskill, (Zendon Hamilton)
Phoenix (1): Howard Eisley, (Ben Handlogten)
Portland (1): Eddie Gill, (Jeff McInnis), (Kaniel Dickens)
Sacramento (1): Rodney Buford
San Antonio (1): Bruce Bowen, (Anthony Carter)
Seattle (1): Ansu Sesay
Toronto (1): Michael Curry, (Rick Brunson)
Utah (1): Raja Bell, (Mikki Moore), (Ben Handlogten)
Washington (2): Mitchell Butler, Chris Whitney, (Torraye Braggs)
( ) Indicates player was waived or traded during the regular season
Indicates 2002-03 CBA player, or 2003-04 CBA-to-NBA call-up
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from March 3, 2004
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- 13th CBA player called up to NBA this season - CBA 1
- Steelheads Lee Nailon signs with Cleveland Cavaliers of NBA - Gary Steelheads
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