MLK Showcase Begins on Sunday, Over 50 NBA Scouts Present
January 11, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, Okla., January 11, 2006 - There will be eight NBA Development League games played in two days beginning Sunday at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. The second annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Showcase will be more than just a gathering of the best basketball players outside of the NBA, it will be a celebration of community and a legacy as well.
Every team in the D-League, along with more than 50 NBA scouts, will converge on the home of the Fayetteville Patriots for four games on Sunday and four more on Monday. Games begin at 11 a.m., 2, 5 and 8 p.m. ET each day. Every game will also be shown on a tape-delayed basis by NBA TV.
While the games go on, so will events to highlight the Fayetteville community and the legacy of Dr. King. The Patriots, in conjunction with local schools, are conducting Reading Time-Outs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Players, coaches and front office staff are also involved with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Telethon, a Candlelight Vigil at MLK Park and the MLK Parade in downtown Fayetteville. The D-League will also be represented at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast at the Crown Coliseum on Monday.
The D-League and Patriots are also combining with Fort Bragg to showcase the base to NBA and D-League visitors. The nation's largest military installation will host basketball executives and players for lunch with the troops, special weapons training, as well as a base museum tour. A VIP reception at Sports USA on Fort Bragg is scheduled to take place prior to the league conducting a Player Development Team Awareness Meeting, also on base.
Following is the schedule of games for the Showcase (All Times Mountain):
Time Sunday, January 15 Monday, January 16
9 a.m. Austin vs. Arkansas Albuquerque vs. Austin
12 p.m. Tulsa vs. Albuquerque Arkansas vs. Florida
3 p.m. Florida vs. Fayetteville Fort Worth vs. Tulsa
6 p.m. Roanoke vs. Fort Worth Fayetteville vs. Roanoke
High school bands from the surrounding area will participate in a "Battle of the Bands" that will take place throughout the entirety of the Showcase. Two bands will battle at halftime of each of the eight games.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The D-League 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.
The NBA Development 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 Tulsa 66ers next home game is Saturday, January 28, when they take on the Florida Flame for the first time in the Expo Square Pavilion with a 7 p.m. tipoff. Tickets start as low as $9 and can be purchased at tulsa66ers.com or by calling the Expo Square Box Office at (918) 376-6000. For premium or group seating call the Tulsa 66ers office at (918) 585-8444.
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