NBA D-League Boasts 63 Players On NBA Opening Day Rosters

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -NEW YORK, October 27, 2009 – An all-time high 63 players with NBA Development League experience highlight 2009-10 NBA opening day rosters.  The 63 former NBA D-Leaguers on NBA opening day rosters surpasses the previous highs of 60 featured on 2008-09 NBA start-of-season rosters, and the 44 former NBA D-Leaguers on 2007-08 opening day rosters.  In just four years, the number of former NBA D-League players on NBA start-of-season rosters has nearly doubled, going from 35 on opening day in 2006-07 to 63 today. 

Twenty-nine of 30 NBA teams feature at least one player with NBA D-League experience, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors each have four former NBA D-Leaguers on their respective rosters.  Two members of the 2009 NBA D-League Champion Colorado 14ers are on NBA rosters, with Trey Gilder suiting up for the Memphis Grizzlies and Sonny Weems joining the Raptors. 

Of the 63 former NBA D-League players currently in the NBA, 18 are members of teams in action tonight, including Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar and Josh Powell, members of the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Following is the list of players with NBA D-League experience on opening day rosters.

Player                                           NBA Team            Last NBA D-League Team

Alexis Ajinca*                                Charlotte                 Sioux Falls

Rafer Alston                                  New Jersey             Mobile

Louis Amundson                            Phoenix                   Colorado

Chris Andersen                              Denver                    Fayetteville

Joel Anthony*                                Miami                      Iowa

Kelenna Azubuike                          Golden State            Fort Worth

Jose Barea*                                   Dallas                      Fort Worth

Matt Barnes                                   Orlando                   Fayetteville

Brandon Bass*                               Orlando                   Fort Worth

Andray Blatche*                            Washington              Roanoke

Aaron Brooks*                               Houston                   Rio Grande Valley

Devin Brown                                 New Orleans           Fayetteville

Shannon Brown*                            L.A. Lakers             Iowa

Derrick Byars                                Chicago                   Bakersfield

Will Bynum                                    Detroit                     Roanoke

Matt Carroll                                   Dallas                      Roanoke

Daequan Cook*                             Miami                      Iowa

Joey Dorsey*                                 Houston                   Rio Grande Valley

Quincy Douby                                Toronto                   Erie

Jordan Farmar*                              L.A. Lakers             Los Angeles

Kyrylo Fesenko*                            Utah                        Utah

J.R. Giddens*                                Boston                     Utah

Trey Gilder                                    Memphis                 Colorado

Marcin Gortat*                               Orlando                   Anaheim

Stephen Graham                             Charlotte                 Sioux Falls

Donte Greene*                               Sacramento             Reno

-more-

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Former NBA D-Leaguers on NBA Opening Day Rosters

Player                                           NBA Team            Last NBA D-League Team

Hamed Haddadi*                           Memphis                 Dakota

Malik Hairston*                              San Antonio             Austin

Jason Hart                                     Minnesota                Asheville

Chuck Hayes                                 Houston                   Albuquerque

Ryan Hollins*                                 Minnesota                Fort Worth

Othello Hunter*                              Atlanta                    Anaheim

Ersan Ilyasova                               Milwaukee               Tulsa

Darnell Jackson*                            Cleveland                Erie

Nathan Jawai*                               Minnesota                Idaho

Anthony Johnson                            Orlando                   Mobile

Amir Johnson*                               Toronto                   Sioux Falls

Dahntay Jones                               Indiana                    Fort Wayne

Coby Karl                                      Cleveland                Idaho

Kosta Koufos*                               Utah                        Utah

Shaun Livingston                            Oklahoma City         Tulsa

Ian Mahinmi*                                 San Antonio             Austin

Josh McRoberts*                           Indiana                    Idaho

Pops Mensah-Bonsu                      Houston                   Austin

C.J. Miles*                                    Utah                        Idaho

Jamario Moon                                Cleveland                Fort Worth

Mikki Moore                                  Golden State            Roanoke

Steve Novak*                                L.A. Clippers           Rio Grande Valley

Patrick O'Bryant*                          Toronto                   Bakersfield

Josh Powell*                                  L.A. Lakers             Fort Worth

Ramon Sessions*                           Minnesota                Tulsa

Bobby Simmons                             New Jersey             Revelers

Alando Tucker*                             Phoenix                   Iowa

Bill Walker*                                   Boston                     Utah

C.J. Watson                                   Golden State            Rio Grande Valley

Kyle Weaver*                                Oklahoma City         Tulsa

Martell Webster*                           Portland                   Fort Worth

Sonny Weems*                              Toronto                   Colorado

D.J. White*                                   Oklahoma City         Tulsa

Jawad Williams                              Cleveland                Rio Grande Valley

Sean Williams*                               New Jersey             Colorado

Louis Williams*                              Philadelphia             Fort Worth

Dorell Wright*                               Miami                      Florida

*NBA assigned player

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises.  For the 2009-10 season, the league will feature 16 teams – including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor.  A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams.  In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs.  The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA.  Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

Commissioner Bud Selig shaved drug suspensions of players and broke the rules of MLB. Will Manny Ramirez and three others do a year? What will happen to dozens of minor league players whose records, teams, and leagues are affected? Read the whole story at SZ ( www.mlnsports.com).