D-LEAGUE
NBA D-LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2009-10 SCHEDULE: The NBA D-League has released its schedule for the 2009-10 season. Two D-League teams - the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor - are headed into their inaugural seasons. The ninth NBA D-League season will tip off Nov. 27, with six games, including the first D-League game played at Springfield's MassMutual Center when the Armor opens its inaugural season by hosting the Iowa Energy. Maine will travel to Sioux Falls to take on the Skyforce in its first NBA D-League game that same night.
D-LEAGUE SPLIT INTO TWO CONFERENCES: The NBA D-League will feature two conferences -- East and West -- during the 2009-10 season. That's a first for the developmental league.
The Eastern Conference will be comprised of the following teams: Dakota Wizards, Erie BayHawks, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Iowa Energy, Maine Red Claws, Sioux Falls Skyforce and Springfield Armor. The Western Conference will feature the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, Austin Toros, Bakersfield Jam, Los Angeles D-Fenders, Idaho Stampede, Reno Bighorns, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Tulsa 66ers and Utah Flash.
SHOWCASE RETURNING TO IDAHO: The fifth annual NBA D-League Showcase will be held in Idaho during the month of January (2010) as all 16 teams will play two games at Qwest Arena in downtown Boise. The full showcase schedule has not been released.
HUMPHRIES GETS GREEN LIGHT TO LEAD BIGHORNS AGAIN: Jay Humphries will lead the Reno Bighorns during the 2009-10 season. Humphries guided Reno to a 25-25 mark during the 2008-09 campaign. The Bighorns narrowly missed reaching the postseason during their debut season.
Humphries was the 13th overall pick of the Phoenix Suns in the 1984 NBA Draft and compiled an 11-year NBA career, playing from 1984-1995. His NBA career included stints with the Suns, Milwaukee, Utah and Boston. He averaged 11.1 points and 5.5 assists per game during a solid NBA career,
66ERS MOVING TO DOWNTOWN TULSA: The Tulsa 66ers will play at the Tulsa Convention Center beginning in the 2009-10 season. Tulsa completed the contract to play at the new venue earlier in the week. The Convention Center is in the midst of a multimillion dollar renovation project. Tulsa is the NBA D-League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last season, Thunder players Kyle Weaver, D.J. White and Shaun Livingston played for the 66ers.
FORMER D-LEAGUER VON WAFER SIGNS WITH OLYMPIAKOS: Former Colorado 14ers guard Von Wafer has signed to play overseas with Olympiakos. Wafer starred with the 14ers during the 2006-07 season, averaging 21 points per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field. The Florida State product has spent time in the NBA with the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Trailblazers and Rockets. Los Angeles drafted Wafer 39th overall in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft.
VIPERS REMAIN AFFILIATED WITH ROCKETS: The Rio Grande Valley Vipers will remain affiliated with the Houston Rockets. Houston will host an exhibition game in Rio Grande Valley in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The 2010 exhibition game will be held following three days of practice in Rio Grande Valley. The Rockets will practice at the McAllen Convention Center Oct. 4 and 5. Houston will host an exhibition game against Boston at Dodge Arena Oct. 7. Dodge Arena serves as a home venue for the Vipers.
RICE JOINS WIZARDS COACHING STAFF: Veteran minor leaguer Kevin Rice will remain on the Dakota Wizards bench during the 2009-10 season as assistant under head coach Rory White. Rice was an assistant coach under Dave Joerger when Dakota won the NBA D-League title during the 2006-07 season. He won two championships with the Wizards as a player (2000-01, IBA; 2002-03, CBA).
CBA
THUNDER SIGNS FORMER PRIDE PLAYER OLLIE: Former Connecticut Pride player Kevin Ollie signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Aug. 1 for the veteran's minimum. Ollie has played 11 seasons in the NBA with 10 different teams following his CBA stint. A former University of Connecticut standout, Ollie was captain for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2008-09 season.
JACKSON PRODUCED PRIOR TO SURGERY: CBA alum Stephen Jackson started 59 games in the 2008-09 NBA season for the Golden State Warriors prior to undergoing surgery for turf toe on his left foot. Jackson averaged 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 39.6 minutes per game. Those numbers ranked him among the top forwards in the league. The NBA swingman is expected to be back strong for the 2009-10 season. Jackson, who was drafted 43rd overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, played for the LaCrosse Bobcats during a brief CBA career.
ABA
COLEMAN-OWNED MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL FRANCHISE ANNOUNCED: Former NBA player Ben Coleman is slated to field a Minneapolis/St. Paul-based team in the ABA during the 2010-11 season. The Chicago Bulls drafted Coleman 37th overall as a 2nd round selection in the 1984 NBA Draft. Coleman, however, started his NBA career in 1986 with the New Jersey Nets.
AUSTIN TO GUIDE EXPRESS: Assistant coach Quaasim Austin has been promoted to the position of head coach of the New Jersey Express. The New Jersey franchise has its second open tryout scheduled for Aug. 11.
Minors Archive
Steve LeMaster covers minor league basketball for Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at stevenlemaster@suddenlink.net.
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