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2009 D-League Showcase Tips Off Monday

January 3, 2009 - NBA G League (G League) News Release


NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2009 - The 2009 NBA Development League Showcase tips off its 16-game schedule on Monday, Jan. 5 and runs through Thursday, Jan. 8. The fifth annual event will take place at the McKay Events Center, home of the Utah Flash, in Orem, Utah and will feature all 16 NBA D-League teams playing two games apiece under one roof. Fans can stay in step with their favorite NBA D-League team by logging onto www.nba.com/futurecast to watch every Showcase game on-line for free.

The Sioux Falls Skyforce, currently 9-5 on the season and in third place in the Central Division, take on the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2-10) at 11 a.m. MT in the opening game of the Showcase. Action continues with three more contests during the afternoon and evening on Monday and the schedules for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday also includes four games each, beginning at 11 a.m. MT (see full schedule attached).

Nine members of the 2008 NBA Draft class are slated to participate in this year's NBA D-League Showcase including NBA D-League players Joe Crawford (Los Angeles D-Fenders), Patrick Ewing, Jr. (Reno Bighorns) and Richard Hendrix (Dakota Wizards) and NBA assigned players Joey Dorsey (Houston Rockets, playing with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers), J.R. Giddens (Boston Celtics, playing with the Utah Flash), Malik Hairston (San Antonio Spurs, playing with the Austin Toros), Walter Sharpe (Detroit Pistons, playing with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Bill Walker (Boston Celtics, playing with the Flash), and Sonny Weems (Denver Nuggets, playing with the Colorado 14ers).

Additionally, six members of the 2007 NBA Draft class round out the NBA D-League Showcase rosters, including Sean Williams, currently on assignment with the 14ers from the New Jersey Nets and NBA D-League players Derrick Byers (Bakersfield Jam), Jermareo Davidson (Idaho Stampede), Jared Jordan (Rio Grande Valley), Chris Richard (Tulsa 66ers), and Marcus Williams (Austin).

The premier in-season basketball scouting event, the Showcase will welcome general managers, player personnel staff and scouts from each of the 30 NBA teams who will converge in Utah for four days to evaluate the league's talent. The Showcase takes on an international flavor as numerous members of the international basketball community will also make the trip to Orem to watch the action unfold.

"With the extraordinary depth of talent in the NBA D-League this season, the NBA D-League Showcase affords NBA teams an opportunity to evaluate all of the League's players in one location. Historically, we have seen NBA teams sign players immediately following the Showcase, and in some instances during the Showcase, too," said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. "We are excited about being in Orem, Utah for this year's Showcase and look forward to an exciting four days of basketball."

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams. The league has produced 15 percent of the players on 2007-08 end-of-season NBA rosters and continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees. In fostering the league's connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote youth basketball, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout this season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

The complete 2009 NBA D-League Showcase schedule is below.

2009 NBA D-League Showcase Schedule (all times local)
Monday, January 5
Sioux Falls vs. Albuquerque 11 a.m.
Austin vs. Colorado 1:45 p.m.
Los Angeles vs. Bakersfield 4:30 p.m.
Reno vs. Rio Grande Valley 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, January 6
Idaho vs. Fort Wayne 11 a.m.
Iowa vs. Dakota 1:45 p.m.
Erie vs. Tulsa 4:30 p.m.
Anaheim vs. Utah 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, January 7
Rio Grande Valley vs. Sioux Falls 11 am
Fort Wayne vs. Iowa 1:45 p.m.
Albuquerque vs. Erie 4:30 p.m.
Dakota vs. Reno 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, January 8
Tulsa vs. Idaho 11 a.m.
Colorado vs. Anaheim 1:45 p.m.
Bakersfield vs. Austin 4:30 p.m.
Utah vs. Los Angeles 7:15 p.m.
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