NBA D-League Players And Coaches To Take Part In Asia Challenge
September 1, 2009 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
NEW YORK - August 31, 2009 - Six NBA D-League players from the 2008-09 season will join with NBA legends to play exhibition games in Korea and the Philippines as part of the 2009 Asia Challenge. New Dakota Wizards head coach Rory White and NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will serve as the coaching staff for the team.
The team will begin play on September 5 against the KBL All-Stars in Seoul, before returning to action on September 6 in Incheon against the ETIiland Backslammers. The team closes out the Asia Challenge in the Philippines on September 11 against the PBA All-Stars.
NBA D-League players Derrick Dial (Tulsa), Chris Ellis (Sioux Falls), Marcus Hubbard (Rio Grande Valley), Russell Robinson (Reno), Lanny Smith (Idaho), and Billy Thomas (Colorado) will join NBA legends Tim Hardaway, Robert Horry, Dominique Wilkins, and Vlade Divac on the ten-man roster. Thomas won an NBA D-League title in April with the Colorado 14ers, while Hubbard was a member of the NBA D-League Select squad that compile a 3-2 record at the Las Vegas Summer League. Robinson had an impressive rookie season with Reno Bighorns after winning a national title at Kansas, while Ellis and and Smith served as key contributors for their respective teams during 2008-09. Dial, who played in his second season with Tulsa in 2008-09, also brings more NBA experience to the team having played in a total of 82 games with the Spurs, Nets, Raptors and Magic between 2000 and 2004.
The NBA D-League players on the team and the Asia Challenge game schedule are listed below:
2009 NBA Development Futures
Derrick Dial (Tulsa)
Guard
6-4
190
12/20/75
Eastern Michigan
Chris Ellis (Sioux Falls)
Forward
6-9
265
3/5/84
Wake Forest
Marcus Hubbard (Dakota/Rio Grande Valley)
Center
6-9
230
12/23/83
Angelo State
Russell Robinson (Reno)
Guard
6-1
190
1/24/86
Kansas
Lanny Smith (Idaho)
Guard
6-3
190
10/30/84
Houston
Billy Thomas (Colorado)
Guard
6-5
215
12/23/75
Kansas
Head Coach: Rory White (Dakota)
Celebrity Assistant Coach: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
NBA G League Stories from September 1, 2009
- Red Claws To Take On Los Angeles, Sioux Falls In First Showcase Appearance - Maine Celtics
- Stampede to face off against Springfield and Fort Wayne at Showcase - Idaho Stampede
- 2010 NBA D-League Showcase Schedule Announced - G League
- 66ers Player Derrick Dial Travels to Asia Challenge - Tulsa 66ers
- NBA D-League Players And Coaches To Take Part In Asia Challenge - G League
- Stampede to Take Part in Asia Challenge - Idaho Stampede
- Hubbard Part of Team NBA at Asia Challenge - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Rory White Coaching Team NBA at Asia Challenge - Dakota Wizards
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
