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G League Austin Spurs

Boston Celtics Join Rockets and Spurs as newest Toros NBA Affiliate

June 8, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Austin Spurs News Release


AUSTIN, TEXAS, June 8 - The National Basketball Association announced today its affiliation and assignment system for the NBA Development League's 2006-07 season. Under this system, the Austin Toros will continue as the affiliate of both the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, while adding the Boston Celtics as their third and newest NBA affiliate.

"I am excited with our continued affiliation with the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs and especially thrilled to also be affiliated with the Boston Celtics," said Toros head coach Dennis Johnson, who competed eight seasons with the Celtics and won NBA titles in 1984 and 1986.

"I look forward to the ongoing process of building strong relationships with our affiliates as we strive to develop young talent while growing the sport of basketball," Johnson said.

In accordance with the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in June 2005, NBA teams are permitted to assign players during their first two NBA seasons to the D-League. The assignment provides younger players in the NBA an opportunity to develop their skills during actual in-game experiences while continuing to receive their NBA salaries and benefits.

Nineteen (19) NBA teams assigned 29 players to D-League affiliates last season, including three first-round and 11 second-round selections from the 2005 NBA Draft. Among those were Portland's Martell Webster, the 6th pick overall, and Gerald Green, the 18th overall selection by Boston.

Julius Hodge, the 20th overall pick in 2005 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, was assigned to the Toros last season. In six games, Hodge averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

"The ability to have young players develop through in-game experience allows NBA teams to accomplish two goals -- focus on winning NBA games/improving their teams, as well as developing younger talent for the future of the game," D-League Vice-President for Player Development Michael Curry said. "The affiliation system helps make a quality entertainment product even better."

The current system will be reviewed by the NBA after the 2006-07 season, and if additional D-League teams are added for the 2007-08 season, affiliations will be adjusted to correspond with the total number of D-league teams.

"Our new affiliation with the Celtics makes a lot of sense for the Toros as we assist with the development of their younger players and future stars," stated Mike Berry, Toros team president. "Coach Johnson has a great working relationship and friendship with Danny Ainge and we have non-stop flights between the markets, which should make for convenient travel for the players and visiting front office personnel. The Celtics affiliation will also expose our fans to some of the young, rising stars in the NBA's Eastern Conference and provide a nice balance with our strong, on-going regional partnerships with the Spurs and Rockets."

The 2006-07 D-League roster of 12 teams will be composed of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim (Calif.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Los Angeles, Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.). Two divisions of six teams will be announced prior to the release of the 2006-07 schedule.

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