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Columbus Riverdragons Begin 2003-04 Training Camp

November 7, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, GA-The Columbus Riverdragons will begin Training Camp for the 2003-04 NBDL season Saturday, November 8. The camp will begin at 8:00 A.M. at Northside Recreation Center, and will run for two weeks. The first week will be spent doing two-a-days at Northside until November 13. The team will then travel to Mississippi State for an exhibition game, then return to Columbus to practice at Psalmond Road Recreation Center until November 19.

"I'm excited," said Head Coach Jeff Malone. "This is [Assistant Coach Rob Werdann]'s and my time of year. We're really excited about meeting the new players and seeing what kind of shape they're in. I've been looking forward to this for months. I can't wait to get the guys on the floor and see what they can do."

During training camp, the Riverdragons will host a number of events. On November 13, the Riverdragons will invite local students for Read To Achieve Day. The students will be able to watch the Riverdragons practice and then will sit down with Riverdragons players to read their favorite books.

On November 15 the team will travel to Mississippi State University for an exhibition game. Head Coach Malone and Point Guard Derrick Zimmerman will face off against their Alma Mater for the Riverdragons' only pre-season game. "Going back to Mississippi State is going to be great," said Malone. "Derrick and I are both from there, so that's one aspect, but it will also be good to go there and see if we can get a win. If we can win there, that would be great."

Finally, the Riverdragons will open their doors to the media on November 17 at Psalmond Road Recreation Center at 10:00 A.M.

The Riverdragons roster currently has 15 players, and will undergo two rounds of cuts before the season opener. Head Coach Jeff Malone must cut three players by November 13 and another two by November 20.

The NBDL, the NBA's minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Charleston Lowgators (S.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.), and Asheville Altitude (N.C.).

The league offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Eighteen NBDL players representing 22 callups, three coaches and three game officials have been called up to the NBA since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the NBDL serves as a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and as a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.

The Riverdragons open their 2003-04 home schedule on Friday, November 28th at the Columbus Civic Center against the Asheville Altitude. For more information, log on to www.columbusriverdragons.com or call Riverdragons Media Relations Manager Tim Becwar at 706-225-1104.



NBA G League Stories from November 7, 2003


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