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NBA D-League Update

March 11, 2014 - NBA G League (G League) News Release


EXPANSION FOR 2014-15

The NBA Development League and The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) have announced that MSG has acquired the right to own and operate an NBA D-League team that will play in White Plains, New York.

The new team will be the NBA D-League's record 18th team and will be the exclusive affiliate of the New York Knicks, playing its home games at the Westchester County Center, approximately 30 miles north of New York City. With the purchase, the Knicks become the seventh NBA team to fully own and operate their own NBA D-League affiliate.

"We are thrilled to work with the New York Knicks and Westchester County to bring NBA D-League basketball to White Plains," said Dan Reed, NBA D-League president. "The New York area has a rich basketball history and we're excited to give some of the game's best fans the opportunity to watch top NBA prospects up close and personal in an intimate, family-friendly and affordable environment."

Allan Houston, the Knicks' Assistant General Manager, will serve as the new team's General Manager, while Bill Boyce joins the MSG family as the vice president of sales and business operations for the club in Westchester, reporting to Dave Howard, president of MSG Sports. Bill joins MSG after four years as the president of the NBA D-League's Frisco-based Texas Legends.

"We are very excited to bring a New York Knicks NBA Development League franchise to Westchester, a great basketball community that has embraced orange and blue and served as our training home for 25-plus years," said Houston. "The NBA D-League is thriving, and this opportunity allows us to develop players closer to our training facility, and to provide high level, affordable basketball entertainment to the community."

The Knicks are inviting fans to help choose the name for the new team. From now until March 24, fans can go to NYKnicksDLeague.com to submit their names online. Following the submission process, fans will go back to the same website to vote for the final team name. In addition, beginning today, fans can enter to win two full season tickets on the website; the sweepstakes will run until April 11.

"Westchester County is proud to be teaming up with three great organizations - the NBA Development League, The Madison Square Garden Company and the New York Knicks," said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "What's exciting is that the partnership works on so many levels. It brings professional basketball to the County Center. It offers fans and families a lot of fun and thrills at an affordable price. And it will generate revenues and new jobs for the county at no cost to taxpayers. It all adds up to a winning combination."

Prospect Report

Kevin Murphy, Idaho Stampede -- Had Murphy come along 30 years ago, there's little doubt he'd have played a very long career in the NBA as a guy supplying offensive punch in however many minutes per night he was afforded. Early to mid-80's, free-flowing offenses en vogue, guys shooting open 18-footers all night long. That's the NBA in which Murphy would have excelled, given his ability to score the ball. After spending his rookie season in the NBA -- he selected by the Utah Jazz with the 47th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft -- and not being in the NBA this season, Murphy is looking at things a little differently, according to a recent Q&A with Ridiculous Upside. "Just being tuned in on the defensive side of the game. I believe that everyone wants to score the ball, so I just want to become a good defender. Being locked-in, rebounding, and doing whatever I can do to help the team win." In 23 games for the Stampede this season, after beginning the season overseas, Murphy is averaging 26.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. According to a recent report, Murphy was scheduled to work out for the Philadelphia 76ers in the hopes of landing a contract.

NEWS & NOTES

Texas Legends' Damion James Named NBA D-League Performer of the Week

Texas Legends' forward Damion James was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, March 4 - Sunday, March 9. The award is the first for James, who becomes the second Legends player to be honored as Performer of the Week this season. James (6-7, 225, Texas) led the Legends to a 3-0 week last week, averaging 24.7 points to go with 14.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks. He recorded a season-high 19 rebounds on March 6, in a 126-119 win over the Iowa Energy, scoring 34 points to tie his season best. James, who was traded to Texas from the Bakersfield Jam last month, is averaging 24.9 points and 12.0 rebounds in eight games with the Legends. For the season, he is averaging 16.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in 35 total games.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned forward Reggie Williams to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. Williams has appeared in 20 games (16 starts) for the 66ers this season, averaging 20.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.55 steals in 37.3 minutes per game ... The Portland Trail Blazers have assigned rookie guard Allen Crabbe to the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede. Crabbe, 21, is averaging 2.0 points, 0.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 4.9 minutes in 12 games for the Trail Blazers this season. Acquired by Portland in a draft day trade with Cleveland, Crabbe was the 31st overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft out of California ... The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard Nemanja Nedovic to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League. Nedovic has appeared in seven games (five starts) for Santa Cruz this season, compiling averages of 15.6 points, 3.7 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.14 steals in 26.6 minutes per game.

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