Getting the Call
Published on August 7, 2003 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. (August 7, 2003) â While it's true that the National Basketball Development League continues to fulfill its mission of offering players the opportunity to develop and elevate their careers to the NBA level, the league has also proven that "callups" aren't just for those in uniform.
It's been well documented that since play began in November 2001 that the NBDL has had 18 players representing 22 "callups" take their games to the NBA. What hasn't been as readily talked about are the number of front office and non-playing promotions to the next level of professional sports.
Through early August, the number of front office "callups" to major league sports organizations from the NBDL numbered 21, including 14 to either NBA or WNBA related positions. Former NBDL personnel have also taken positions associated with the National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball.
"When an NBDL front office employee moves to the next level it is a double-edged sword," NBDL president Phil Evans said. "While we are proud of their accomplishments and proving our worth as a human resources pool, we are also losing quality people in important positions within our organizations.
In all, 16 members of NBDL team front office staffs have taken positions with major league sports organizations over the last two seasons. Add five NBDL league office employees, three referees, an athletic trainer and 18 players, and the two-year total for NBDL callups equals 43.
"I have been pleased, but not surprised, by the number of opportunities available to not only NBDL players, but to off-the-court personnel as well," Evans said. "The nature of our business as a development league dictates that quality employees earn the opportunity to move up to the next level."
Recent NBDL team "callups" include former Huntsville Flight senior marketing manager Chris Rooks to Minnesota as a member of the Timberwolves' sales team and former Asheville Altitude client services coordinator Shauna Sikorski to the New Jersey Nets as associate director of marketing. Following year one, Bradford Evans went from media relations manager at Asheville to the Miami Heat communications staff.
Former NBDL executive director Karl Hicks and marketing director John Manyo-Plange are among those from the NBDL league office that have made career advancements since the end of the 2002-03 season. Hicks is a vice-president for the Charlotte Bobcats, while Manyo-Plange recently assumed the position of director of international business for the NBA. Former NBDL director of sponsorships Bruce Burge recently assumed a marketing position with the Detroit Pistons.
Former Greenville Groove athletic trainer Mike Elliott has also broken the ice as the first NBDL trainer to land an NBA post. Elliott is now an assistant athletic trainer for the Phoenix Suns.
The NBDL, the NBA's minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), North Charleston Lowgators (S.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.) and Asheville Altitude (N.C.).
NBA G League Stories from August 7, 2003
- Getting the Call - G League
- Flight Hires Ryan Black As Manager of Sales and Marketing - Huntsville Flight
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.
