Thunderbirds Begin Training Camp
Published on November 6, 2006 under NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., November 6, 2006 - The 2005-2006 NBA D-League Champion Albuquerque Thunderbirds will be conducting training camp from November 6 through 13 prior to traveling to China to play the Chinese National Team. Practices will be conducted at various locations and some days will feature two practices as the team prepares for the season in just 18 days.
The Thunderbirds training camp will highlight veterans T.J. Cummings, Tony Bland, Marcus Douthit, Brandon Mason, Brandon Robinson and Joe Shipp. Joining the vets from last years squad will be 11 other players vying for a spot on the 10 man squad. The roster will be cut to 12 players on November 12, a day prior to the team leaving for China. Final roster cuts will be made on November 22.
Among the 11 new faces are point guard Troy Bell, a 6-1, 180-pound point guard from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bell was a member of the United States World Championship for Young Men team that won gold in 2001. Bell was drafted by the Memphis Grizzles in the first round (16th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft. He played in six games during the 2003-2004 NBA season with Memphis and spent time in Spain with Real Madrid, where he averaged 5.5 points a game and 4.0 rebounds a game.
Additionally, the Thunderbirds acquired Ronald Ross as a local allocation player. Born and raised in Hobbs, N.M. and a graduate of Texas Tech University, Ross was named First Team All-Big 12 as a senior at Texas Tech. He also earned Conference All-Defensive Team honors, and played in 132 career games, the most in school history.
The Thunderbirds will play two exhibition games against the Chinese National Team on November 16 and 18, Team China will play the Thunderbirds on November 16 at the Beilun Gymnasium (6,000 capacity) in Ningbo City, and then at the Tashi Gymnasium (3,500 capacity) in Macau on Nov. 18. Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 8 p.m. local time. The Nov. 16 contest will be televised live by China Central Television (CCTV) and NBA TV, while the game in Macau will be televised on delayed basis by CCTV and NBA TV.
Be sure to keep up to date on the Thunderbirds website, www.abqtbirds.com, for new pictures and bio's on this years Storm Chasers dance squad.
Thunderbirds 2006-07 season tickets are already on sale and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com or at the Thunderbirds Front Office. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK.
The D-League continues to develop talent from across all disciplines for the NBA's 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. This season, 19 NBA teams assigned 29 players to D-League affiliates. There were also 18 GATORADE Call-Ups from the D-League to the NBA. Additionally, every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has worked in the D-League, while coaches, athletic trainers and front office executives are also being developed.
The NBA D-League is composed of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (Calif.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Los Angeles D-Fenders, Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.).
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com.
For additional information about the Albuquerque Thunderbirds call (505) 265-DUNK or log on to www.abqtbirds.com.
ALBUQUERQUE THUNDERBIRDS
2006-07 Training Camp Roster
Player Position Height Weight School/Year
Tony Bland G 6'5" 201 San Diego State '03
T.J. Cummings F 6'9" 215 UCLA '04
Marcus Douthit C 6'11" 233 Providence '04
Brandon Robinson F 6'8" 215 Auburn '04
Joe Shipp G/F 6'5" 220 University of California '03
Brandon Mason G 6'5" 200 New Mexico State
Steven Barber G 5'10" 160 UT-Arlington '02
Troy Bell G 6'1" 181 Boston College '03
Eddy Fobbs C 6'11" 240 Sam Houston State '05
Moses Marbury G 6'2" 190 Rhode Island '01
Jason McCoy F 6'9" 210 Wisconsin-Milwaukee '06
Isma'il Muhammad F 6'1" 225 Georgia Tech '05
Manual Narvaez C 6'10" 235 S. Nazarene '02
Ronald Ross G 6'2" 185 Texas Tech '05
Chris Shumate F 6'6" 220 Murray State '05
Jamaal Thomas F 6'8" 220 Angelo State '02
Greg Baker G/F 6'4" 200 North Lake Junior College '05
Head Coach: Michael Cooper
Assistant Coach(s): Joe Harge
Athletic Trainer: Michael Douglas
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