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Fort Worth to Host Albuquerque on Saturday, April 22

Published on April 15, 2006 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Fort Worth Flyers and the Albuquerque Thunderbirds will play for the 2006 NBA Development League Championship presented by Delta Air Lines on Saturday, April 22 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.

The regular season champions and top seed in the postseason, the Flyers advanced to the title game with an 87-78 victory over Roanoke on Saturday. Second-seeded Albuquerque advanced by defeating the Florida Flame 80-71 on Saturday.

The title game will be the 10th meeting between the Flyers and Thunderbirds this season, with Fort Worth holding a 5-4 series advantage. Albuquerque comes into the championship game having won 10 of its last 13 games, while Fort Worth is looking to be the first D-League team to win a title in its expansion season.

Fort Worth coach Sam Vincent will be looking to secure his second D-League championship after leading the Mobile Revelers to the crown in 2003. The Flyers are also vying to become just the second team in the five-year history of the D-League to win the championship after also earning regular season honors.

Current NBA D-League teams include 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.). Expansion teams already announced to begin play with the start of 2006-07 season include the Dakota Wizards (N.D.), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.) and Anaheim (Calif.).

The D-League is developing talent from across all disciplines for the NBA's 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. This season 19 NBA teams have assigned 29 players to D-League affiliates. There have also been 17 GATORADE Call-Ups from the D-League to the NBA this season. Additionally, every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has worked in the D-League, while coaches, athletic trainers and front office executives are also being developed.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com.




NBA G League Stories from April 15, 2006


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