NBA D-League represented at World Championship
Published on August 21, 2006 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C., August 21 - Coach Sam Vincent of the Fort Worth Flyers and six players with ties to the NBA Development League are competing in the 2006 FIBA World Championship that runs through September 3 in Japan.
Vincent is the coach of the Nigerian National Team and is joined on that team by one of his success stories with the Flyers, current New York Knicks guard Ime Udoka. NBA players assigned to the D-League during the 2005-06 season, Peter John Ramos (Washington Wizards) and Ersan Ilyasova (Milwaukee Bucks), are participating with Puerto Rico and Turkey, respectively.
A 2006 All-D-League First Team selection and the winner of the league's Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, Udoka averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 45 games for Fort Worth before earning a GATORADE Call-Up to the Knicks. Ilyasova played in 46 games for Tulsa, averaging 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, while Ramos averaged 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 43 games for Roanoke.
The Senegal roster includes Mamadou N'Diaye, who played in the D-League with Asheville (2003-04) and Makhtar N'Diaye, who played in Charleston (2001-02). New Zealand National Team guard Kirk Penney also played in the D-League with Asheville (2004-05).
The NBA Development League includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (Calif.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Los Angeles D-Fenders, Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.).
The D-League continues to develop talent from across all disciplines for the NBA's 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. In addition to the assignment of 29 players to D-League affiliates, there were also 18 GATORADE Call-Ups from the D-League to the NBA last season. Additionally, every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has worked in the D-League, while coaches, athletic trainers and front office executives are also being developed.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the D-League also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com.
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