NBDL daily developments
April 1, 2004 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
PENIGAR VOTED TOP ROOKIE: Asheville Altitude forward Desmond Penigar has been selected as the National Basketball Development League's 2003-04 Rookie of the Year. Penigar is tied with Charleston guard Tierre Brown for the league lead in scoring with 18.6 points per game. He has played in 34 games (29 starts) and is averaging 29.2 minutes, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
NBDL ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
2004 Desmond Penigar Asheville Currently on Asheville roster
2003 Devin Brown Fayetteville Currently on Spurs roster
2002 Fred House Charleston Currently playing in Yugoslavia
NOT JUST ON THE COURT: The NBDL is not only developing on-court talent for the NBA, but is also gaining a reputation for developing off-court talent as well. The league has produced 28 front office advancements to major league sports, 22 of those to the NBA/WNBA family.
NBDL POSTER BOY FOR FIRSTS: Denver Nuggets forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen was the first player selected in the inaugural NBDL Draft in 2001. He was also the first-ever NBDL-to-NBA Gatorade Callup, signing with the Nuggets on November 21, 2001, and was the first former D-Leaguer to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star 2004.
HANGING AROUND: Seven of the 13 players that have made the NBDL-to-NBA jump this season have eventually signed full season or multi-year contracts with their respective NBA team. Following is that list.
Player NBA Team NBDL Team
Matt Carroll Spurs Roanoke Dazzle
Jason Collier Hawks Fayetteville Patriots
Omar Cook Trail Blazers Fayetteville Patriots
Ronald DuPree Bulls Huntsville Flight
Britton Johnsen Magic Fayetteville Patriots
Mikki Moore Jazz Roanoke Dazzle
Mamadou N'diaye Hawks Asheville Altitude
HANGING BY A THREAD: The Columbus Riverdragons are hanging by a whisker to hopes of landing the final spot in the NBDL Delta Air Lines Postseason Classic. A loss at home to Roanoke on Friday would mathematically eliminate Coach Jeff Malone's club. Columbus has won 10 of its last 15.
NBDL ON NBA TV: April 5 at 4 p.m. ET, Charleston at Fayetteville; at 6 p.m. "This Week in the NBDL", guests include Charleston G Tierre Brown, Asheville F Desmond Penigar and Huntsville F Rodney Bias.
LITTLE KNOWN NBDL FACT: NBDL players get first-hand knowledge of how life works in the NBA on a daily basis. Seven of the 12 bench coaches in the NBDL have NBA playing experience.
NBA G League Stories from April 1, 2004
- Riverdragons Upcoming Home Games -- April 2004 - Columbus Riverdragons
- Asheville's Desmond Penigar Named NBDL Rookie of the Year - Asheville Altitude
- Flight Claims G Larry Reid - G League
- NBDL daily developments - G League
- Asheville's Desmond Penigar Named NBDL Rookie of the Year - G League
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