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NBA D-League Update

Published on November 22, 2013 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


TOP STORYLINES TO WATCH DURING OPENING WEEKEND

The 2012-13 NBA Development League season saw a record 184 NBA assignments -- including appearances by NBA first-round picks Jeremy Lamb and Terrence Jones -- as well as 36 GATORADE Call-Ups and statement seasons from rising prospects such as Glen Rice Jr., Jeremy Tyler, MVP Andrew Goudelock and many others. What does the league's 13th season have in store? Here are the top storylines that will highlight opening weekend:

Live Streaming: For the second straight season, nearly every D-League game will be streamed live on the NBA D-League YouTube channel. That's over 350 games, including seven on opening night and eight more over the weekend.

Hyped Debuts: In June, Grant Jerrett and Pierre Jackson heard their names called early in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft. Five months later, both were top five picks in the NBA D-League draft by the Tulsa 66ers and Idaho Stampede, respectively. Today, they'll each make their pro debut -- Jerrett, the No. 1 pick, against ex-Miami Heat champion Jarvis Varnado, and Jackson (No. 4) against the Bakersfield Jam in Idaho.

The Comeback Trail: The NBA D-League is also a land of opportunity for veterans fighting to return to the NBA. The crop of familiar faces hoping for another shot this season includes former Mavericks All-Star Josh Howard (Austin Toros), veteran wings Ricky Davis (Erie BayHawks) and Kareem Rush (L.A. D-Fenders), and 26-year-old once-elite prospects Joe Alexander and Bill Walker.

Changing of the Guard: Reno and Sioux Falls both entered into single-affiliation partnerships during the offseason -- Reno with the Kings, led by new general manager Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Sioux Falls with the Heat. Bighorns forward DeQuan Jones, who spent 2012-13 with the Orlando Magic, and explosive Skyforce guard Quincy Douby, will be players to watch.

CDR Returns: Need I say more? Chris Douglas-Roberts dropped 49 points and eight assists in his Texas Legends debut last season and proved to be the best scorer in the league while with Texas. The former University of Memphis star will go head-to-head with two-time NBA D-League All-Star Ron Howard (career 16.8 ppg) as the Texas Legends take on the Fort Wayne Mad Ants twice.

Brothers in Arms: Seventy miles south of Oracle Arena, the Santa Cruz version of the Warriors' Splash Brothers -- comprised of Seth Curry and Mychel Thompson, siblings of Stephen and Klay -- will form their own dynamic duo beginning on today against the Toros. With Blake Griffin's brother, Taylor, also a Warrior, Santa Cruz's season will be a family affair, not to mention potentially the most exciting show the NBA D-League has to offer.

Sevens Up: The Sixers-affiliated Delaware 87ers, who became the D-League's 17th team in April, tip off their inaugural season against the Canton Charge, winners of the East Division in 2012-13. Under coach Rod Baker, the Sevens boast one of the most intriguing rosters in the league, featuring two former high school sensations in 5-foot-6 guard Aquille Carr and athletic big man Norvel Pelle, as well as top prospect Rodney Williams and Bucks rookie Giannis Antetokounmpo's brother, Thanasis.

Watching the Throne: The Rio Grande Valley Vipers' title defense begins fittingly against the D-Fenders in Los Angeles on Saturday. Despite losing many key pieces from their 2012-13 championship squad, the Vipers should remain elite thanks to Rockets assignments Isaiah Canaan and Robert Covington, plus second overall draft pick James Johnson.

Sunday Matinee: With newcomers Jeremy Tyler, C.J. Leslie, Ricky Davis and Chris Smith in the fold, the Erie BayHawks will present a major test for the Maine Red Claws' big three of 2013 NBA Draft pick Romero Osby and 2012-13 holdovers Jermaine Taylor and Chris Wright. The first afternoon game of the D-League season should be a good one.

Prospect Report

Malcolm Thomas, Los Angeles D-Fenders -- Thomas is like that fancy waffle maker you got for Christmas from Williams-Sonoma. You know it works great, but you just can't find space for it on the kitchen counter, so it gets tucked away in the cabinet most of the year, save those few times you really have a hankering for some waffles. Not drafted in 2011 out of San Diego State, Thomas has spent time with four NBA teams over the past two seasons, in between turning NBA Summer League into his own personal rebounding clinic. In three games with the Chicago Bulls this past summer, Thomas averaged 15.0 rebounds, including a record 22-rebound performance. Unfortunately -- and this has been a common theme in his professional career -- the Bulls were up against the cap and elected to waive Thomas before his contract became guaranteed. The book on Thomas remains the same. He doesn't slot easily into conventional player labels. He's built like a three, plays like a four, and contests shots and rebounds like a man possessed. In the simplest terms, he's just a player who does a lot of things out there, but can't seem to find a permanent home. No doubt he's on the Call-Up short list to begin the season, as has been the case the last two years.

NEWS & NOTES

Kings Assign Ray McCallum to Reno Bighorns

The Sacramento Kings have assigned rookie guard Ray McCallum to the team's NBA Development League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, it was announced by General Manager Pete D'Alessandro. McCallum, selected in the second round (36th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, has not seen action in the Kings' 11 games this season. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.20 steals and 12.2 minutes in five games off the bench for the Kings in the preseason. He is reunited with former Kings training camp players Brandon Heath, DeQuan Jones and Trent Lockett. The Bighorns open the 2013-14 season with back-to-back games at Sioux Falls on Friday (Nov. 22) and Saturday (Nov. 23).

Sixers Sign Lorenzo Brown from the Springfield Armor

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed free agent guard Lorenzo Brown. Per team policy, terms of the deal was not disclosed. Brown's signing marks the third GATORADE Call-Up of the 2013-14 NBA D-League season. Brown (6-5, 186) was an early entry candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft following his junior season at N.C. State and was selected with the 52nd overall pick by Minnesota. He participated for the Timberwolves in both the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and in training camp. Brown started 95 of his 101 games played with the Wolfpack and was named Second Team All-ACC as a junior and Third Team as a sophomore.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Atlanta Hawks have capitalized on NBA D-League experience in all facets. Seven current Hawks players have NBA D-League experience; assistant coaches Quin Snyder, Darvin Ham and Taylor Jenkins were NBA D-League head coaches; and Hawks assistant GM Wes Wilcox was GM of the NBA D-League's Canton Charge while serving as the Cleveland Cavaliers' director of player personnel ... The Golden State Warriors have recalled Dewayne Dedmon, Ognjen Kuzmic and Nemanja Nedovic from the Santa Cruz Warriors. Kuzmic and Nedovic began the season on the Warriors' roster. Dedmon, who was in training camp with the Warriors, but released just prior to the season, was signed by Golden State on Nov. 18 ... Ryan Kelly and Elias Harris have been recalled from the Los Angeles D-Fenders to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kelly and Harris have both appeared twice for the Lakers this season. Kelly has recorded six points and two rebounds in his seven minutes of action and Harris has posted a rebound, an assist and a steal in his 11 minutes. They will both rejoin the Lakers for tonight's game versus the Golden State Warriors.

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NBA G League Stories from November 22, 2013


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