Colorado 14ers Weekly Update
December 26, 2007 - NBA G League (G League)
Colorado 14ers News Release
NEWS THIS WEEK
The New Jersey Nets have signed the 14ers Billy Thomas, making him the fifth GATORADE Call-Up of the 2007-08 season, and the 95th overall since the league began play in November, 2001.
Thomas returns to New Jersey having played 25 games with the Nets during the 2004-05 season when he averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. During the 2005-06 season, Thomas appeared in 17 games with the Washington Wizards. In total, Thomas recorded NBA career averages of 3.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in 42 games.
In 12 games this season for the 14ers, Thomas, a 6-5, 220-pound guard, averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds. In two previous stints in the D-League, during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, Thomas appeared in 94 games and averaged 15.0 points and 3.0 rebounds with the Greenville Groove.
Thomas will be available on Wednesday, Dec. 26, when the Nets host the Detroit Pistons.
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
Dec. 18 vs. Austin - The 14ers snapped Austin's seven game win streak with a 117-101 win on Tuesday night. Eddie Gill posted a triple-double in his 14ers debut, finishing with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists to lead the way for Colorado. Kaniel Dickens added a game-high 35 points, and Elton Brown finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds in the victory.
Dec. 19 vs; Austin - Colorado knocked off Austin for the second straight night with a 113-97 victory on Wednesday. The 14ers took over first place in the NBA Development League Southwest Division with the win, improving to 8-3 on the season. Elton Brown led the way with a season high 33 points and 17 rebounds. It was Brown's eighth double-double performance in 11 games this season. Kaniel Dickens added 17 points, and Justin Cage poured in 16 to go along with 10 rebounds for the 14ers.
Dec. 21 at Anaheim - Colorado lost a 14 point fourth quarter lead in falling to the Arsenal 133-130 in overtime. Elton Brown poured in 28 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the 14ers first loss in four games.
Dec. 23 vs. Albuquerque - The 14ers completed a 40 point turnaround going from down 20 points in the second quarter to a 20 point fourth quarter lead before beating the Thunderbirds 109-94. Seven Colorado players scored in double figures led by Brian Greene's 18 points in the win.
THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, Dec. 28 at Sioux Falls SkyForce, Sioux Falls Arena at 6:00 p.m. MST
KRKS 990 AM and KSXT 1570 AM; www.nba.com/dleague
Saturday, Dec. 29 at Dakota Wizards, Bismarck Civic Center at 6:00 p.m. MST
Radio: KRKS 990 AM and KSXT 1570 AM; www.nba.com/dleague
NOTES
Colorado activated guard Brian Greene on Sunday after he missed seven games due to injury. For the second straight season the 14ers are the highest scoring team in pro basketball, now averaging 111.3 points per game. Mo Charlo scored a season-high 22 points at Anaheim last Friday night. Elton Brown is tied for second in the D-League in rebounding at 11.0 per game. Justin Cage is sixth in the D-League in field goal percentage at .611.
About the 14ers: The 14ers are in their second season after winning the D-League Western Division Post-Season Championship in 2007. Colorado set very high standards in its first season in the NBA Development League with a long list of honors. In 2006-2007 the 14ers became only the second team in D-League history to have three players named as All D-League First Team Performers when Louis Amundson, Elton Brown, and Von Wafer were recognized by the league's coaches. Amundson also took home Rookie of the Year Honors, while Brown led the D-League in rebounding and double-double performances on the season. Colorado also placed a league high five players in the first ever NBA Development League All-Star Game in 2007, with Amundson, Brown, and Wafer all being selected along with Pooh Jeter and Rick Rickert. Head Coach Joe Wolf was also chosen as the first ever Western Division All-Star Coach for the game in Las Vegas. Jeter also went on to be named as an Honorable Mention All D-League Performer in 2007. To date the 14ers have had six GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA in team history, with Louis Amundson now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Von Wafer for the Denver Nuggets. Eddie Gill and Billy Thomas have both received a call-up with the New Jersey Nets so far this season.
For more information on the 2007-2008 14ers schedule and team, log on to www.14ershoops.com. Tickets for all 14ers home games at the Broomfield Event Center are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, 303-830-TIXS, and at www.ticketmaster.com.
About the NBA Development League: The NBA Development League is the NBA's official minor league, and the first-ever basketball league with direct affiliations to NBA teams. Now in its seventh season the D-League's goals are to provide affordable, NBA-caliber entertainment to fans of its 14 teams, as well as continue to develop players, coaches, referees and front-office personnel for the NBA. As the single source for in-season player "call-ups" to the NBA, fans of the D-League enjoy the highest caliber of basketball played outside the NBA. In fact, former D-League players represented 10 percent of NBA players on 2007-08 opening day rosters, numbering 44 in total. In addition, the D-League has produced 25 percent of current NBA referees and 16 current NBA coaches, including head coach Sam Vincent with the Charlotte Bobcats. The D-League is an innovative and rapidly growing sports property that also serves as an experimental testing ground for new initiatives of the NBA and its teams, provides continuing education and professional development resources for its players, and is committed to serving its local communities through D-LEAGUE CARES and grassroots efforts.
About the Broomfield Event Center: Located on the south side of U.S. Highway 36, between 112th and 120th Streets, the Broomfield Event Center is a state of the art 180,000 square foot multi-purpose event center with 6,000 seats, including 25 suites, 900 club seats, a sit-down restaurant, two themed bars and a separate basketball practice facility. The Broomfield Event Center is set to host concerts, trade shows, rodeos and sporting events. It is the home of the Rocky Mountain Rage Professional Hockey Club (Central Hockey League) and the Colorado 14ers Professional Basketball Club (NBA Development League, Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors affiliate team).
About Arista: Arista is a thoughtful blend of urban living destined to be the energy epicenter of Denver's northwest corridor. Dining, shopping, parks, entertainment, professional sports teams and even a dog park are all within walking distance. The development offers incredible views of the front ranges pristine mountain peaks.
The cornerstone of Arista is the Broomfield Event Center, one of the only town center developments in the nation anchored by a major entertainment venue. The BEC is host to concerts and sporting events and is home to the Central Hockey League's Rocky Mountain Rage and the NBA Development League's Colorado 14ers basketball team.
Arista Place is the town center of Arista featuring a fun, eclectic, retail pedestrian mall with a boutique hotel, office space and residential units. All of the buildings are 3-6 stories and feature a unique, contemporary urban design.
The options for living at Arista include live/work lofts, condominiums for purchase as well as apartment homes for lease. Commuting is easy at Arista with the RTD park-n-ride located on-site, with Boulder or Denver just minutes away.
NBA G League Stories from December 26, 2007
- Marcus Williams Signs With San Antonio Spurs - Austin Spurs
- Colorado 14ers Weekly Update - Colorado 14ers
- D-League Daily Developments - G League
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
