Eighty-Eight Former NBA D-Leaguers Highlight 2011-12 NBA Opening Day Rosters
Published on December 26, 2011 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
NEW YORK, December 26, 2011 - An all-time high, 88 players with NBA Development League experience highlight 2011-12 NBA opening day rosters. That number of former NBA D-Leaguers on NBA opening day rosters surpasses the previous highs of 63 the previous two seasons. In just five years, the number of former NBA D-League players on NBA start-of-season rosters has more than doubled, going from 35 on opening day in 2006-07 to 88 today.
Twenty-nine of 30 NBA teams feature at least one player with NBA D-League experience, while the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets each have six former NBA D-Leaguers on their respective rosters.
Dennis Horner, a 6-9 forward out of N.C. State, made the New Jersey Nets in the same year in which he signed up to participate in the 2011 NBA D-League Boost Mobile National Tryout last June in Louisville, KY. He was selected by the Springfield Armor in the third round (47th overall) in the 2011 NBA D-League Draft Presented by Cisco. Horner was selected by the Nets, the Armor's affiliate, to participate in the teams 2011 NBA training camp after averaging 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in Springfield.
Of the 88 former NBA D-League players in the NBA, eleven are earning a Gatorade Call-Up as the NBA begins the 2011-12 NBA season having played in the NBA D-League earlier this season.
Following is the list of players with NBA D-League experience on opening day rosters.
Player NBA Team Last NBA D-League Team
Jeff Adrien Houston Rio Grande Valley
Solomon Alabi Toronto Erie
Cole Aldrich Oklahoma City Tulsa
Louis Amundson Indiana Colorado
Chris Andersen Denver Fayetteville
James Anderson San Antonio Austin
Joel Anthony Miami Iowa
Luke Babbitt Portland Idaho
Jose Juan Barea Minnesota Fort Worth
Matt Barnes L.A. Lakers Fayetteville
Brandon Bass Boston Tulsa
Andray Blatche Washington Roanoke
Craig Brackins Philadelphia Springfield
Avery Bradley Boston Maine
Shannon Brown Phoenix Iowa
Will Bynum Detroit Roanoke
Derrick Caracter L.A. Lakers Bakersfield
DeMarre Carroll Denver Dakota
Matt Carroll Charlotte Roanoke
Earl Clark Orlando Iowa
Daequan Cook Oklahoma City Iowa
Ed Davis Toronto Erie
Josh Davis Memphis Colorado
Devin Ebanks L.A. Lakers Bakersfield
Jeremy Evans Utah Utah
Christian Eyenga Cleveland Erie
Jordan Farmar New Jersey Los Angeles
Jonny Flynn Houston Sioux Falls
Gary Forbes Toronto Tulsa
Sundiata Gaines New Jersey Idaho
Alonzo Gee Cleveland Austin
Mickell Gladness
* Miami Dakota
Andrew Goudelock L.A. Lakers Los Angeles
Marcin Gortat Phoenix Anaheim
Danny Green San Antonio Austin
Donte' Greene Sacramento Reno
Terrel Harris
* Miami Rio Grande
Chuck Hayes Sacramento Albuquerque
Ryan Hollins Cleveland Fort Worth
Dennis Horner
* New Jersey Springfield
Ersan Ilyasova Milwaukee Tulsa
Amir Johnson Toronto Sioux Falls
Armon Johnson Portland Idaho
Carldell Johnson
* New Orleans Austin
Chris Johnson Portland Dakota
Ivan Johnson Atlanta Erie
James Johnson Toronto Iowa
Trey Johnson New Orleans Bakersfield
Dahntay Jones Indiana Fort Wayne
Dominique Jones Dallas Texas
Kosta Koufos Dallas Utah
Jeremy Lin Houston Reno
Shaun Livingston Milwaukee Tulsa
John Lucas III Chicago Colorado
Ian Mahinmi Dallas Austin
Josh McRoberts L.A. Lakers Idaho
C.J. Miles Utah Idaho
Byron Mullens Charlotte Tulsa
Hamady N'Diaye Washington Dakota
Steve Novak New York Reno
Daniel Orton Orlando New Mexico
Patrick Patterson Houston Rio Grande Valley
Dexter Pittman Miami Sioux Falls
Ryan Reid
* Oklahoma City Tulsa
Samardo Samuels Cleveland Erie
Larry Sanders Milwaukee Fort Wayne
Ramon Sessions Cleveland Tulsa
Garret Siler Phoenix Iowa
Donald Sloan
* Atlanta Erie
Ishmael Smith Golden State Rio Grande Valley
Greg Stiemsma
* Boston Sioux Falls
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Former NBA D-Leaguers on NBA Opening Day Rosters
Player NBA Team Last NBA D-League Team
Hasheem Thabeet Houston Rio Grande Valley
Jamaal Tinsley
* Utah Los Angeles
Mychel Thompson
* Cleveland Erie
Lance Thomas
* New Orleans Austin
Anthony Tolliver Minnesota Idaho
Von Wafer Orlando Colorado
Bill Walker New York Maine
C.J. Watson Chicago Rio Grande Valley
Martell Webster Minnesota Fort Worth
D.J. White Charlotte Tulsa
Hassan Whiteside Sacramento Reno
Lou Williams Philadelphia Fort Worth
Reggie Williams Charlotte Sioux Falls
Sean Williams Dallas Texas
Terrence Williams Houston Springfield
Chris Wright
* Golden State Maine
Dorell Wright Golden State Florida
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