Los Angeles' D-Fenders Jelani McCoy Called-Up by Denver Nuggets

November 29, 2007 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2007 - The Denver Nuggets have signed Los Angeles D-Fenders center Jelani McCoy, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. McCoy becomes the second GATORADE Call-Up of the 2007-08 NBA Development League season, joining guard Eddie Gill who was Called-Up by the New Jersey Nets from the Colorado 14ers, and the 92nd overall since the league began play in November, 2001.

A member of the 2007-08 Nuggets preseason roster, McCoy, 6-10, 245, appeared in four exhibition games and averaged 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds before being waived on Oct. 23. As a member of the D-Fenders he averaged 8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds 4.0 blocks and 3.5 assists in two games.

A seven-year NBA veteran, McCoy has played with Seattle, the L.A. Lakers, Toronto, Cleveland and Atlanta. During his most recent NBA stint, he averaged 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 10 games with Atlanta during the 2004-05 season. He holds NBA career averages of 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 254 career appearances.

McCoy was originally selected in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft (33rd overall) by the Seattle SuperSonics from UCLA. As a Bruin, McCoy averaged 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds during his three-year, 78-game college career.

McCoy is expected to be available for tonight's game, wearing number 34, when the Nuggets take on the L.A. Lakers at the Staples Center.

The NBA Development League is the NBA's official minor league, and the first-ever basketball league with direct affiliations to NBA teams. Now in its seventh season the D-League's goals are to provide affordable, NBA-caliber entertainment to fans of its 14 teams, as well as continue to develop players, coaches, referees and front-office personnel for the NBA. As the single source for in-season player "call-ups" to the NBA, fans of the D-League enjoy the highest caliber of basketball played outside the NBA. In fact, former D-League players represented 10 percent of NBA players on 2007-08 opening day rosters, numbering 44 in total. In addition, the D-League has produced 25 percent of current NBA referees and 16 current NBA coaches, including head coach Sam Vincent with the Charlotte Bobcats. The D-League is an innovative and rapidly growing sports property that also serves as an experimental testing ground for new initiatives of the NBA and its teams, provides continuing education and professional development resources for its players, and is committed to serving its local communities through D-LEAGUE CARES and grassroots efforts.



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