Flight Assistant is 8th NBDL Coach Callup

Published on September 24, 2004 under NBA G League (G League) News Release

GREENVILLE, S.C., September 24 – Huntsville Flight assistant coach Michael Born has been named as a domestic scout for the Portland Trail Blazers. Born is the eighth NBDL coach to earn a call-up to the NBA umbrella and the fourth this summer.

Born served two seasons as assistant coach of the Flight, helping head coach Ralph Lewis guide Huntsville to the NBDL Postseason Classic championship game last season. He joins former Columbus assistant Rob Werdann, former Greenville assistant Stephanie Ready and former Fayetteville head coach Jeff Capel as coaches who earned a call-up this summer.

He is the second former Huntsville coach to earn a promotion. The Flight's first head coach, Bob Thornton, was hired as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls following the NBDL's first season.

Following is a list of NBDL-to-NBA coaching callups since the league began play in November 2001.

Name NBDL Team NBA/WNBA Team Year
Bob Thornton Huntsville Flight Bulls assistant 2001-02
Alex English N. Charleston Lowgators Hawks assistant 2001-02
Harold Ellis Roanoke Dazzle Hawks scout 2001-02
Dell Demps Mobile Revelers Knicks scout 2002-03
Stephanie Ready Greenville Groove Mystics assistant 2003-04
Jeff Capel Fayetteville Patriots Bobcats assistant 2003-04
Rob Werdann Columbus Riverdragons Hornets scout 2003-04
Michael Born Huntsville Flight Blazers scout 2003-04

The NBDL, the NBA's minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), 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. Twenty-eight (28) players have been called up the NBA on 39 separate occasions. Five athletic trainers, six referees and 28 front office executives have also been called up 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 league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices.

NBA G League Stories from September 24, 2004

• Flight Assistant is 8th NBDL Coach Callup - G League

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