Strawberry Second Assigned Player to the Thunderbirds in 2007-08 Season
December 18, 2007 - NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
Albuquerque, N.M., December 18, 2007 - The Albuquerque Thunderbirds and the Phoenix Suns announce today that the Suns have recalled Alando Tucker and assigned rookie guard D.J. Strawberry to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. The official announcement was made by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.
The 59th selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, the Maryland product has made appearances in six games for Phoenix this season, averaging 2.0 points and 0.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 37 minutes of action.
A product of Maryland, Strawberry as a junior earned ACC All-Defensive Team Honorable Mention honors. As a senior, Strawberry was named to the All-ACC Second Team and ACC All-Defensive Team. He scored in double figures in all 25 Maryland victories that season.
Phoenix recalled Tucker Monday on the same day he was named the D-League's Performer of the Week after leading the Thunderbirds to two victories while averaging 36.0 points and 6.5 rebounds and shooting 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field, including 6-of-10 from three-point range. Tucker scored a D-League season-high 40 points in an Albuquerque victory over the Bakersfield Jam on Friday. The Wisconsin product was originally assigned to the Thunderbirds on Nov. 28 and averaged 28.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in five games with Albuquerque.
Strawberry joins an Albuquerque squad with a 4-4 record on the season, coached by 1984 NBA All-Star Jeff Ruland and features 2004 NBA champion Darvin Ham.
Strawberry is the 19 NBA player assigned to a D-League affiliate this season. Twenty-seven (27) NBA teams have designated 72 players to D-League affiliates since the start of the 2005-06 season.
Strawberry is expected to be in uniform for Sunday's game when the Thunderbirds (4-4) visit the Colorado 14ers (6-3) wearing No. 8.
The Thunderbirds hit the road to take on the Colorado 14ers on December 23rd before returning home on December 28th when they tip off against the Utah Flash at 7:00 pm. Both Thunderbirds games can be heard on KBZU 96.3 "The Buzz" FM.
Thunderbirds 2007-08 single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com, Ticketmaster or at the Thunderbirds front office at 111 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 240, Albuquerque, NM 87102. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK.
The Thunderbirds stay focused on the community by participating in community events such as the Read to Achieve Program as well as D-League Cares. In the past two seasons the Thunderbirds have worked over 3,000 hours in the community, staying dedicated to Albuquerque and New Mexico.
The NBA Development League is the NBA's official minor league, and the first-ever basketball league with direct affiliations to NBA teams. Now in its seventh season the D-League's goals are to provide affordable, NBA-caliber entertainment to fans of its 14 teams, as well as continue to develop players, coaches, referees and front-office personnel for the NBA. As the single source for in-season player "call-ups" to the NBA, fans of the D-League enjoy the highest caliber of basketball played outside the NBA. In fact, former D-League players represented 10 percent of NBA players on 2007-08 opening day rosters, numbering 44 in total. In addition, the D-League has produced 25 percent of current NBA referees and 16 current NBA coaches, including head coach Sam Vincent with the Charlotte Bobcats. The D-League is an innovative and rapidly growing sports property that also serves as an experimental testing ground for new initiatives of the NBA and its teams, provides continuing education and professional development resources for its players, and is committed to serving its local communities through D-LEAGUE CARES and grassroots efforts.
Individually, the Thunderbirds have had two player call-ups, two front office call-ups, two training staff call-ups and three call-ups from the Storm Chasers Dance and Cheer squad.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the D-League offers NBA-quality basketball and fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com.
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NBA G League Stories from December 18, 2007
- Colorado tops the Toros behind Gill's triple double - Colorado 14ers
- Strawberry Second Assigned Player to the Thunderbirds in 2007-08 Season - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Bulls Assign Demetris Nichols to Iowa Energy - Iowa Wolves
- Suns Assign Strawberry to Thunderbirds - G League
- D-League Daily Developments - G League
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