Benjamin Called up to NBA
January 22, 2003 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
GREENVILLE (January 22, 2003) - Corey Benjamin has signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks, the NBA club announced today. Benjamin is the seventh National Basketball Development League player to be "called-up" this season and the second Lowgator in 10 days to earn the call.
Fifteen NBDL players have been called up to the NBA since the league began play in November 2001, including Benjamin's North Charleston teammate Damone Brown to the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 13. Rounding out callups from this season are Devin Brown from Fayetteville to San Antonio, Mike Wilks from Huntsville to Atlanta, Bobby Simmons from Mobile to Washington, Rafer Alston from Mobile to Toronto and Mikki Moore from Roanoke to Boston.
"Our seventh callup this season came two months earlier that it did a year ago," NBDL Executive Director Karl Hicks said. "That is a testament to the increased talent level in the league and the good work of Milt Newton, our director of player personnel."
Ansu Sesay was the seventh player to be called up last year when the Seattle Supersonics signed him to a 10-day contract on March 29, 2002.
Prior to his callup, Benjamin was the second-leading scorer in the NBDL at 18.0 points per game and fourth in the league in three-point field goal percentage at .435. Over 26 games (25 starts) he also averaged 30.6 minutes, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
This is Benjamin's second tour of duty in the NBA, having played three seasons with the Chicago Bulls after being the team's first-round selection (28th overall) in the 1998 NBA Draft. His career NBA statistics include 144 games, 5.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
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