MLK NBDL Showcase Begins Sunday

January 10, 2005 - NBA G League (G League) News Release

GREENVILLE, S.C., January 10 – There will be six National Basketball Development League games played in two days beginning Sunday at the Columbus (Ga.) Civic Center, but the Martin Luther King, Jr. Showcase will be more than just a gathering of the best basketball players outside of the NBA. It will also be a celebration of community and a legacy as well.

Every team in the NBDL, along with almost 40 NBA scouts, will converge on the home of the league-leading Columbus Riverdragons for three games on Sunday and three more on Monday. Games begin at 11 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. ET each day. All will be shown on a tape-delayed basis by NBA TV.

While the games go on, so will events to highlight the Columbus community and the legacy of Dr. King. The Riverdragons, in conjunction with local schools, are conducting a "What's Your Dream" essay and poster contest. The contest is open to elementary, middle and high school students. Each participant will receive a complimentary ticket to the Showcase on January 17 and prizes will be awarded for first ($100), second ($50) and third ($25) place in each category and age group.

At halftime of Monday's second game featuring Columbus and the Huntsville Flight, Riverdragons president Barry McMullin will make a presentation donating a portion of the Showcase's ticket proceeds to the MLK Jr. National Memorial Foundation on behalf of the NBDL and the Riverdragons.

Following is the schedule of games for the Showcase:

Time Jan. 16 Jan. 17
11 a.m. Florida vs. Fayetteville Fayetteville vs. Asheville
2 p.m. Huntsville vs. Roanoke Columbus vs. Huntsville
5 p.m. Asheville vs. Columbus Roanoke vs. Florida

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. Thirty (30) players have been called up the NBA on 41 separate occasions. Nine former NBDL coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001. Six additional front office executives have earned positions with other major league sports.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The NBDL is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.

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