NBA D-League Developments for February 26th
Published on February 26, 2009 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
Thursday's Schedule
Bakersfield @ Los Angeles 6:30ET
Dakota @ Erie 7:00 ET
Fort Wayne @ Rio Grande Valley 8:00 ET
Sioux Falls @ Iowa 8:00 ET
Albuquerque @ Austin 8:30 ET
Wednesday's Results
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EXPANDS TO PORTLAND, MAINE The NBA Development League has awarded an expansion team to Portland, Maine for the 2009-10 season, NBA D-League President Dan Reed announced yesterday at a press conference at Portland High School. The team, which is the first expansion franchise awarded for the 2009-10 season, will play at the Portland Expo Center.
The franchise will be owned and operated by Maine Basketball, LLC, which is principally owned by Bill Ryan Sr., the chairman of TD Banknorth Group and Bill Ryan Jr., who owns and operates Oxford Plains Speedway. Jon Jennings, a partner in Maine Basketball, LLC and former Boston Celtics assistant coach, will serve as the team's president and general manager.
Portland will be affiliated with two NBA team parent-clubs, which will be able to assign their first and second year players to the club a maximum of three times during a season. Thus far, the 2008-09 NBA D-League season has had 22 NBA players assigned on 24 occasions to NBA D-League affiliates as players continue to develop their game. An announcement regarding Portland's NBA team affiliations will occur during the offseason.
AUSTIN'S POPS MENSAH-BONSU CALLED UP TO SAN ANTONIO SPURS The San Antonio Spurs announced that they have signed forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu, of the Austin Toros, to a 10-day contract. Mensah-Bonsu becomes the 11th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season and the 129th overall since the league began play in 2001.
In eight games with the Toros, Mensah-Bonsu averaged 26.6 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.50 blocks in 39.8 minutes. On February 22 vs. Colorado he had 39 points and 18 rebounds in 47 minutes.
Mensah-Bonsu was signed by the Dallas Mavericks after going undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft. During the 2006-07 season, he appeared in 12 games with the Mavericks, averaging 2.4 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.9 minutes. That season he also appeared in 26 games for the Fort Worth Flyers of the D-League, averaging 15.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in 30.7 minutes. Mensah-Bonsu was selected to the 2007 D-League All-Star Game, where he captured MVP honors after scoring 30 points and grabbing seven boards.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS: A look at D-League Alumni in last night's NBA games: 25 players with D-League experience competed in 11 NBA games last night, three as starters.
v Dallas forward Brandon Bass recorded a double-double, scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds. Teammate Jose Juan Barea added 11.
v Bobby Simmons scored 18 points off the bench for New Jersey.
v Philadelphia's Louis Williams scored 16 points as the 76ers defeated the Wizards 106-98.
v As a starter for Orlando, Rafer Alston notched 15 points in a 114-109 over the Knicks.
v CJ Miles finished with 15 points, as a starter for the Utah Jazz.
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, 2/13/09
Anthony Tolliver New Orleans Iowa 1/21/09
Cartier Martin Charlotte Iowa 1/29/09
Trey Johnson Cleveland Bakersfield 2/03/09, 2/20/09
Eddie Gill Milwaukee Colorado 2/09/08
Pops Mensah-Bonsu San Antonio Austin 2/25/09 ASSIGNMENT BOARD:
Player NBA Team D-League Team Assignment Dates
Hamed Haddadi Memphis Dakota 2/17/09
NBA G League Stories from February 26, 2009
- Dawson helps Toros win six straight against T-Birds - Austin Spurs
- Skyforce defeat Energy 117-109 - Iowa Wolves
- Jordan shatters franchise assist record in win - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- BayHawks win Eighth Straight - Erie BayHawks
- Bakersfield Survives D-Fenders Late Rally for Win - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Toronto Raptors Assign Nathan Jawai To Idaho Stampede - Idaho Stampede
- Toronto's Jawai Assigned To Idaho Stampede - G League
- Anaheim Arsenal Announce American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Night - Anaheim Arsenal
- Toros acquire Jamaal Thomas - Austin Spurs
- Bighorns add a Physical Presence in Alton Ford - Reno Bighorns
- BayHawks Players Serve as Celebrity Bartenders - Erie BayHawks
- Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Rescheduled Basketball Camps - Dakota Wizards
- NBA D-League Developments for February 26th - G League
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