NBA D-League Daily Developments
Published on January 30, 2009 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
IOWA'S CARTIER MARTIN CALLED UP TO CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
The Charlotte Bobcats signed Cartier Martin of the Iowa Energy, making him the sixth GATORADE Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season and the 125th overall since the league began play in 2001. Martin is also the third player to be called-up to the NBA from the Energy this season. Martin, a 6-7 forward, has appeared in and started 21 games for the Energy this season where he averaged 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 37.6 minutes. Martin has scored in double-digits 18 times this season, including a season-high 32 points on two occasions. Martin is expected to join the Bobcats and be available on today when the team travels to Denver to take on the Nuggets.
TOROS ADD POPS MENSAH-BONSU
The Toros announced the addition of Pops Mensah-Bonsu to the roster. London born, Mensah-Bonsu is a 6-10, 240 pound forward/center who spent his collegiate years at George Washington University. He was second team all-conference in 2004-05, and first team all-conference in 2005-2006. Mensah-Bonsu signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2006 and was assigned to the Fort Worth Flyers, the NBA D-League affiliate. He played in the inaugural D-League All-Star game and was named MVP, with 30 points and seven rebounds. Mensah-Bonsu played in Italy during the 2007-08 season with team Benetton Treviso, averaging 8.3 points and 9.2 rebounds. Mensah-Bonsu will join the Toros for back to back games in Tulsa today and Saturday. He will wear jersey #44.
IOWA'S NICK NURSE AND AUSTIN'S QUIN SNYDER TO COACH 2009 NBA D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
Iowa Energy head coach Nick Nurse and Austin Toros head coach Quin Snyder will coach the 2009 NBA D-League All-Star game in Phoenix on Feb. 14. Nurse, Snyder and their assistants earned the honor by securing the best winning percentages in the league through Jan. 27. Nurse and Snyder will each coach a 10-man roster comprised of top NBA D-League prospects. The 2009 NBA D-League All-Star Game will be held on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas at 2pm MT.
Nurse's Energy (15-6, .714) started the season winning nine of the team's first 10 games and has secured a league-best 9-2 home record. The squad is on a four-game winning streak. Nurse, in his second year as head coach in Iowa, has produced three GATORADE Call-Ups - Courtney Sims, who was also honored as the season's first Performer of the Week on Dec. 1 and called up to the Phoenix Suns, Anthony Tolliver, called up to the New Orleans Hornets, and Cartier Martin, who was just yesterday called up to the Charlotte Bobcats. Nurse will be joined by Energy assistant coach Gary Garner in Phoenix.
Also in his second season as head coach, Snyder has led the Toros to a 16-7 (.696) mark through the team's first 23 games. Snyder has had one player called-up to the NBA, Malik Hairston, who earned the season's second GATORADE CALL-UP signing with the San Antonio Spurs. During his first season at the helm in Austin, Snyder guided his team to a 30-20 regular season record and the team's first trip to the NBA D-League Finals before falling in three games to the eventual champion Idaho Stampede. Assistant coach Wendell Alexis will accompany Snyder to Phoenix.
THURSDAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS...top performers from Thursday's games
Othyus Jeffers scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Thursday night as the Iowa Energy won their fifth straight game. Patrick Sanders added 25 points for the Energy. Curtis Stinson and Brian Evans scored 14 points apiece. Stinson added 10 assists for Iowa.
Glen McGowan scored 22 points and Kasib Powell added 20 for Sioux Falls which also had five players in doubles figures.
Will Conroy scored 35 points and David Noel added as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds recovered for a 109-106 victory over the Dakota Wizards.
Renaldo Major scored 24 points, Rod Benson added 19 off the bench and Richard Hendrix 17 for the Wizards.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS: A look at D-League Alumni in last night's NBA games:
Three players with D-League experience competed in two NBA games last night.
Matt Barnes scored 13 point sin 19 minutes off the bench for the Phoenix Suns.
GATORADE CALL-UP BOARD:
Player NBA Team D-League Team Call-Up Dates
Blake Ahearn San Antonio Dakota 11/16/08
Malik Hairston San Antonio Austin 12/22/08
Jermareo Davidson Golden State Idaho 1/5/09
Courtney Sims Phoenix Iowa 1/20/09
Anthony Tolliver New Orleans Iowa 1/21/09
Cartier Martin Charlotte Iowa 1/29/09
ASSIGNMENT BOARD: 1 NBA Player is Currently on Assignment with an NBA D-League Affiliate
Player NBA Team D-League Team Assignment Date
Malik Hairston San Antonio Austin 12/26/08
NBA G League Stories from January 30, 2009
- Tulsa Falls Short to Austin - Tulsa 66ers
- Stampede Surge Past D-Fenders - Idaho Stampede
- Energy Team Up with Ames, Des Moines Lincoln for Basketball Triple-Header - Iowa Wolves
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- Albuquerque Defeats Dakota, Back to .500 - New Mexico Thunderbirds
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