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Florida Flame Draft Party Set For Nov. 3 at Grills of Naples Sports Bar & Restaurant

October 27, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Florida Flame News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla., October 27 -- The Florida Flame will make their selections in the 2005 NBA Development League Player Draft via conference call alongside fans, season ticket holders, sponsors and local media during the Flame's 2005 D-League Draft Party on Thursday, November 3 at Grills of Naples Sports Bar & Restaurant in Naples, Fla.

The event is a unique opportunity for fans and media alike to go inside the Flame war room while head coach Jeff Malone and assistant coach Terry Thimlar make the number one overall pick in the draft.

The Florida Flame 2005 D-League Draft Party at Grills is open to the public. There will also be a VIP area available to Flame season ticket holders and sponsors. Doors for the Draft Party will open at 6 p.m. The first round of the draft will begin at 7 p.m.

"Being a coach is about accountability," said Malone. "What could hold you more accountable than having to make crucial decisions about your team while the folks who come and support you every night are standing right there beside you? I know from my years in the D-League that many of the fans are not afraid to share their opinions with me - so having them at the draft on Thursday should not only make it interesting but fun as well."

Grills of Naples Sports Bar & Restaurant is located at 8004 Trail Blvd. in Naples, just south of Vanderbilt Beach Road. Grills features a wide variety of menu items; including baby back ribs, fried and grilled grouper, chicken, steaks, pizza, buffalo wings, and sandwiches. With over 20 beers on tap and over 25 television screens, Grills is the perfect place to hang out with friends and family to watch your favorite sports action on television. Grills is also the home of the Florida Flame and Southwest Florida Notre Dame fan clubs. For reservations or directions call (239) 566-1006.

The league's fifth annual draft will take place over 10 rounds and be conducted via conference call from locations in each of the eight NBA D-League markets. The selection process will operate in like fashion to last year's draft, with each team having one pick in each of the 10 rounds. Teams will have up to three minutes to make a selection in each round. No trades will be permitted during the draft and only players signed to an NBA Development League Standard Player Contract will be eligible to be drafted.

The draft order is based upon how each team finished last season. The Flame, who finished the 2004-05 campaign tied with Fayetteville for fifth place will have the number one overall pick in this year's draft. The 2005 D-League Draft order is as follows:

1) Florida Flame
2) Fayetteville Patriots
3) Fort Worth Flyers
4) Arkansas RimRockers
5) Roanoke Dazzle
6) Albuquerque Thunderbirds
7) Tulsa 66ers
8) Austin Toros

In the team's inaugural draft last year, the Flame selected power forward and NBA veteran Kirk Haston with the fifth pick in the first round. Haston went on to finish among 2004-05 league leaders in scoring (4th-16.4), rebounding (4th-7.9), minutes (2nd-36.3), blocked shots (5th-1.7), and double-doubles (T-5th-11).

The Flame open training camp on Sunday, November 5 in Fort Myers. Florida's season opener is Friday, November 25 at 7 p.m. against the Roanoke Dazzle at Germain Arena. For ticket information call (877) FLAME-TIX or visit floridaflame.com.

The NBA Development League tips off its fifth season on November 18. The league includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.).

The D-League offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. In addition to thirty-four (34) players, eleven (11) former D-League coaches, six athletic trainers, 14 referees and 30 front office executives have also earned call-ups since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.

For additional information, please visit floridaflame.com or contact Florida Flame Director of Media Relations, Tim Becwar at (239) 561-8130 and tbecwar@nba.com. For additional information on the NBA Development League please visit NBADLEAGUE.com.



NBA G League Stories from October 27, 2005


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.

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