Now that the Los Angeles D-Fenders season has come to a close, we have the opportunity to look back on the most successful season in franchise history (and arguably in league history). We took the time to reflect on the D-Fenders incredible run to the 2012 NBA Development League Finals, and we compiled a list of the Top 10 memorable moments of the 2011-12 campaign.

10. Thank you for your ‘assist’ance

With the first pick of the 2011 NBA D-League Draft, the D-Fenders selected former NBA guard Jamaal Tinsley to lead a young team in need of veteran leadership. Tinsley, who eventually signed with the Utah Jazz for the year, lived up to his draft selection status, handing out a franchise record 15 assists in the D-Fenders 132-126 victory over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Dec. 5, 2011. Less than three months after Tinsley’s achievement, Courtney Fortson matched the mark when he dished out 15 assists to go with 22 points in a 121-102 win over the Idaho Stampede on Feb. 22, 2012. Prior to the 2011-12 season, the D-Fender franchise record was 11 assists set by Horace Wormely Feb. 3, 2010 at Bakersfield until Tinsley notched 13 assists in a 135-102 win over Reno on Nov. 28, 2011.

9. Three-Point Barrage

In Los Angeles’ 117-89 win over the Reno Bighorns on March 28th, the D-Fenders eclipsed the franchise mark for most three-point field goals made in a single game after pouring in 17 three-pointers on 28 shots. Prior to the 17 made threes, the D-Fenders single-game record was 15 three-pointers (2/9/08 vs. Idaho). In addition, the D-Fenders tied five other teams for the second-most three-pointers made in a game in league history, trailing only Greenville’s 21 deep balls made on Mar. 22, 2003.

8. Triple-Doubles by Millsap, Fortson and Polynice

Before the 2011-12 season, no D-Fender player had every registered a triple-double. This year the franchise tallied four, including two by Elijah Millsap (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 3/3/12 vs. Fort Wayne) (26 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 1/20/12 at Bakersfield), one by Courtney Fortson (13 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 2/4/12 vs. Erie) and another by Eniel Polynice (23 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 12/12/11 vs. Texas).

7. Costner and Moon each named Player of the Month

Brandon Costner made history on January 5th after he was named the NBA D-League Player of the Month, the first such honor awarded to a D-Fenders player, for games played in November and December. The 6-9 forward out of North Carolina State led the D-Fenders to a 10-6 record in the first two months of the season, averaging 25.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in that span.

Shortly thereafter, Jamario Moon was named NBA D-League Player of the Month for games played in March. Moon led Los Angeles to an 8-1 record in March, helping the team to clinch the top spot in the Western Conference. During the month, he averaged 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 36.6 minutes. He was the team’s high scorer and rebounder twice last month, scoring in double figures in eight of nine games, including a then season-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds in a 117-89 win over the Reno Bighorns on March 28. For the month, he shot 52 percent from the floor, 37 percent from three-point range and 82 percent from the line.

6. Point taken

On January 30th, the D-Fenders set the record for largest margin of victory in franchise history after smacking the Canton Charge 127-87. The win over Canton bested the D-Fenders previous largest margin of victory in franchise history (32 points) that was set against the Reno Bighorns earlier this season on November 28th. Prior to the 2011-12 season, the D-Fenders largest margin of victory over an opponent was 28 points, set by the 2007-08 squad on Jan. 1, 2008 vs. Dakota.

5. MVP, Grandmama and a Shooting Star

Zach Andrews, Gerald Green and Elijah Millsap were three of the 20 D-Leaguers selected to play in the sixth annual NBA Development League All-Star Game Presented by 26 Seconds on Saturday, February 25th in Florida. The trio helped make it possibly one of the most exciting D-League All-Star Games in league history. First, Green became the first All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in D-Fenders history after finishing with 28 points (10-17 FG, 3-8 3FG) and three rebounds to lead the Western Conference to a 135-132 victory. Then, Andrews dressed up like Grandmama as a dunk contest participant, and Millsap shined in the Shooting Stars competition at the D-League Dream Factory. Not a bad weekend.

4. Road Warriors

In Game One of the 2012 NBA Development League Finals, the D-Fenders and Elijah Millsap completed one of the most memorable comebacks of the season for their 26th win in 28 games. Down by five points on the road with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Millsap drilled a three-pointer and later nailed a pair of free throws to tie the game at 93. After a series of defensive possessions, the D-Fenders forced the game into overtime. The D-Fenders then used an 8-0 run to begin the overtime and outscored the Toros 16-8 in the final frame to help secure the 109-101 victory. Not to be overlooked, Malcolm Thomas scored 21 points and pulled down an NBA D-League Finals record 25 rebounds in the W.

3. Five D-Fenders Make NBA rosters

In the first four seasons of existence, the D-Fenders totaled just three NBA GATORADE Call-Ups. However, this year the D-Fenders tallied the most unique Call-Ups (five different players) and third most Call-Ups in the D-League this year (eight total Call-Ups). The list of Call-Ups includes Gerald Green (New Jersey), Jamaal Tinsley (Utah), Courtney Fortson (Houston/Los Angeles Clippers), Jamario Moon (Charlotte), Ishmael Smith (Orlando) and Malcolm Thomas (Houston/San Antonio).

2. Coach of the Year

Eric Musselman’s value as a head coach could not be any more evident than the time spent on the sidelines for the D-Fenders. In his first year with the D-Fenders, Musselman’s team finished with the best record in the 11-year history of the NBA Development League (38-12) and claimed the title of Regular Season Champion. Furthermore, Musselman, who was named the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year, steered the D-Fenders to 21 wins in the final 23 regular season games as well as two playoff series sweeps en route to the first NBA D-League Finals berth in franchise history. More impressively, the D-Fenders limited opponents to a league-low FG% (.442), led the league in rebounding percentage (.572) and registered the second best FG% (.483) in the league during the extraordinary season.

1. D-Fenders Win an NBA D-League Record 38 Games

Certainly worthy of the top spot on our list is the D-Fenders record-breaking wins total. On April 7th, the D-Fenders concluded the regular season with their league-record 38th win, marking the best regular season in the 11-year existence of the NBA D-League. After reeling off 21 wins in their final 23 games, the D-Fenders supplanted the Energy, who posted a 37-13 record in both 2009-10 and 2010-11, for the best record in league history. Furthermore, Musselman’s squad secured the title of Regular Season Champion and grabbed the top spot in the Western Conference for the first time in D-Fenders history.