NBA Training Camps feature 78 CBA Alumni
October 2, 2007 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
ALBANY, NY (October 2, 2007) - NBA training camps opened on October 2 in preparations for the upcoming 2007-08 season. All 30 NBA teams have Continental Basketball Association alum competing for roster spots or have coaches staffing the sidelines. Seventy-Eight players and coaches who are CBA alums overall are in camps with three players from last season alone.
The New Orleans Hornets have the most CBA alums in camp with six, including Linton Johnson, David Wesley, Anthony Richardson, Eric Chenowith, along with coaches Darrell Walker and Kenny Gattison. Richardson (Butte Daredevils) played in the CBA last season. The Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Toronto Raptors each have five former CBA alums on their training camp roster.
Among the former CBA stars in NBA training camps: 2004-05 First Team and All-Star Jackie Butler (Great Lakes Storm/Houston Rockets), 1999 CBA MVP Adrian Griffin (Connecticut Pride/Chicago Bulls), 2006 CBA Defensive Player of the Year Noel Felix (Sioux Falls Skyforce/Cleveland Cavaliers), and 2000 CBA MVP Jeff McInnis (Quad City Thunder/Charlotte Bobcats).
Three players who saw time in the CBA last season that are presently in NBA camps include: Brad Stricker (Great Falls Explorers/Denver Nuggets), Anthony Richardson (Butte Daredevils/New Orleans Hornets), and Jamario Moon (Albany Patroons/Toronto Raptors). Stricker briefly saw time with the Great Falls Explorers. Richardson averaged 15.5 ppg. and was the 2007 CBA All-Star Game Slam Dunk Champion. Moon was awarded the CBA Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 2.0 steals and 2.4 blocks a game, becoming only the second player in CBA history to accomplish this feat. Moon averaged 18.8 ppg. and 7.5 rpg. and was a member of the All-CBA First Team and CBA All-Defensive Team.
Along with players, there are nine NBA head coaches with CBA experience. Among that group of veteran head coaches who have been head coaches in the CBA, including Phil Jackson (Albany ), George Karl (Montana/Albany), Flip Saunders (Rapid City/La Crosse/Sioux Falls), Jerry Sloan (Evansville), and Larry Krystkowiak (Idaho). Also among the current NBA coaches who have played or served as an assistant coach in the CBA are; Maurice Cheeks (Asst. Coach Quad City, 1993-94), Eddie Jordan (Wyoming, 1983-84), Sam Mitchell (Wisconsin/Rapid City, 1985-87) and Marc Iavaroni (Sioux Falls 1991-92).
"CBA alums are making an immediate impact and making contributions to the NBA," said CBA Director of Operations Dennis Truax. "This shows the level of talent the CBA has produced over the years and how much the NBA values the players that have come through the CBA. We are happy for all of our alums."
The following is a complete list of former CBA players and coaches that are on NBA training camp rosters for 2007-08.
Total roster spots held by former CBA players and coaches in 2007-08 training camp rosters: 78
Total roster spots held by former CBA players who appeared on CBA rosters in 2006-07: 3
Atlanta (2): (Greg Ballard, Herb Brown)
Boston (1): (Clifford Ray)
Charlotte (5): (Paul Mokeski, Mike Sanders), Jeff McInnis, Jameel Watkins, Marcus Campbell
Chicago (3): (Jim Boylan, Pete Myers), Adrian Griffin
Cleveland (5): (Chris Jent), Damon Jones, Ira Newble, Darius Rice, Noel Felix
Dallas (1): Mario Elie
Denver (4): (George Karl), Anthony Carter, Chucky Atkins, Brad Stricker
Detroit (3): (Flip Saunders, Michael Curry, Dave Cowens)
Golden State (3): (Keith Smart), Stephen Jackson, Troy Hudson
Houston (4): (Elston Turner), Rafer Alston, Jackie Butler, Mike James
Indiana (2): (Lester Conner), Stephen Graham
LA Clippers (2): (Rory White), Aaron Williams
LA Lakers (3): (Phil Jackson, Craig Hodges), Ronny Turiaf
Memphis (2): (Marc Iavaroni, Dave Joerger)
Miami (2): William "Smush" Parker, Brian Chase
Milwaukee (3): (Larry Krystkowiak, Tony Brown), Awvee Storey
Minnesota (2): Mark Blount, Greg Buckner
New Jersey (1): Eddie Gill
NO: (6): (Kenny Gattison, Darrell Walker), Linton Johnson, David Wesley, Anthony Richardson, Eric Chenowith
New York (1); (Brendan Suhr)
Orlando (1): Bo Outlaw
Philadelphia (4) (Maurice Cheeks, Henry Bibby), Kevin Ollie, Ricky Sanchez
Phoenix (1): Raja Bell
Portland (1): (Bill Bayno)
Sacramento (3): (Kenny Natt, Jason Hamm), Mikki Moore
San Antonio (3): (Don Newman, Chip Engelland), Bruce Bowen
Seattle (3): (Scott Brooks, Ralph Lewis), Jermaine Jackson
Toronto (5): (Sam Mitchell), Darrick Martin, Jamario Moon, Maceo Baston, Anthony Parker
Utah (1): (Jerry Sloan)
Washington (1): (Eddie Jordan)
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