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NBA D-League Update

Published on April 1, 2014 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


BECOMING MR. MAD ANT

Ron Howard's professional basketball career actually started an hour late and a few dollars short.

At 24 years old, Howard had just about given up the idea of playing basketball for a living until, at the urging of a friend, he attended an open tryout for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants -- then about to enter their inaugural season in 2007-08.

He was an hour late.

"I went to the open tryout and I showed up an hour late because there's an hour time difference from Chicago to Fort Wayne -- there shouldn't be," Howard remembered, able to now laugh off the situation. "So when I showed up I was an hour late. I'm coming to an open tryout to tryout for a team, and I'm an hour late. So I'm thinking they're not gonna give me a chance."

Howard placed a call to a friend who knew Jeff Potter, the President of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and that friend convinced Potter to give Howard a chance.

There was still, of course, the matter of money.

"I get there and there's a fee to try out," Howard said, estimating the cost at $185. "I'm broke. I didn't have any money. I didn't come with any money, I barely have gas money. So they allowed me to use a credit card over the phone." From there, all the road-fatigued Howard had to do was stand out amongst a crowd of what Potter and Howard each remembered to be about 120-130 players, mostly at Howard's position of guard.

It was, even by Howard's standards, a longshot.

Rewind the tape even further and the fact that Howard even made it to the Fort Wayne tryout -- let alone that he'd enjoy an NBA D-League career that has spanned seven seasons, all with the Mad Ants, and over 7,500 game minutes (fifth all-time) -- was a fortuitous feat in itself.

NEWS & NOTES

Bakersfield's Ike Diogu Named NBA D-League Player of the Month

Bakersfield Jam forward Ike Diogu was today named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in March. The award is the first of Diogu's career. Diogu (6-8, 255, Arizona State) led Bakersfield to a 10-3 record in March, including a 7-2 road record and a seven-game winning streak between March 12 and March 26. For the month, Diogu averaged 21.4 points, shooting 59 percent from the field, to go with 12.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. He recorded a double-double in 12 of his 13 games in March, notching two 30-plus point outings. On March 19, Diogu recorded a season-high 19 rebounds to go with 30 points in a 114-106 road win over the Texas Legends. The following week, on March 30, he tied his season high with 32 points in a 115-109 win at the Santa Cruz Warriors. For the season, Diogu is averaging 18.0 points on 55 percent shooting, to go with 9.4 rebounds, good for sixth-best in the NBA D-League.

Tulsa's Mustafa Shakur Named NBA D-League Performer of the Week

Tulsa 66ers guard Mustafa Shakur was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, March 24 - Sunday, March 30. The award is the first for Shakur this season. He joins Rodney Bartholomew and Reggie Williams as 66ers to be honored during the 2013-14 campaign. Shakur (6-3, 190, Arizona) led the 66ers to a 2-0 week, defeating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Austin Toros on back-to-back nights. For the week, Shakur averaged and NBA D-League high 30.0 points to go with 9.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists, good for fourth-best in the NBA D-League. He recorded a 29-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against the Vipers on March 28, the first such game of his four-year NBA D-League career. Shakur returned the next night to score 31 points against the Toros. Shakur, who earned a GATORADE Call-Up to the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this month, has appeared in 20 games for the 66ers this season, averaging 16.7 points, 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Sacramento Kings have signed Jared Cunningham to a 10-day contract. Cunningham, the 24th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, spent his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks and played on assignment with the Texas Legends, averaged 15.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 34.5 minutes in 15 games. Traded to Atlanta on June 27, 2013, Cunningham appeared in 22 games for the Bakersfield Jam this season, averaging 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 31.1 minutes. He was waived by the Hawks on Feb. 22.

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NBA G League Stories from April 1, 2014


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