Sean Banks & Jelani McCoy highlight the rosters for the second annual
D-League All-Star Game presented by Spalding. The game will be held Feb. 16, on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and will tip off at 12 p.m. PST and will be shown live on NBA TV. They will join head coach Dan Panaggio and assistant coach & NBA Veteran Chucky Brown, who will be coaching the Blue Team.

McCoy, who earned a Los Angeles' first ever Gatorade NBA Call-Up from the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 29, is averaging 2.2 blocks, ranking him among the league's best defenders. Banks, in his second year with the team, is leading the way offensively with 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 26 games.

Panaggio, in his second season as head coach, holds a mark of 18-8 (.692) on the year. During the D-Fenders' inaugural season, Panaggio led the team to a 23-27 (.460) record.

The D-League will also host Dream Factory Friday Night, a first-time event similar to NBA All-Star Saturday Night, which will include a three-point shootout, a slam dunk contest, an interactive game of Hot-Shot with a fan and a game of HORSE. Dream Factory events will take place following the McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Center Court at Jam Session beginning at 6 p.m. PST on Friday, Feb. 15. For more information, log onto
www.D-Fenders.com.

Get to STAPLES Center early and experience twice the excitement of professional basketball with your Los Angeles D-Fenders playing before or after Lakers home games. Your Lakers ticket allows you to also watch the D-Fenders that same day. The D-League continues to develop talent from across all disciplines for the NBA's 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. This season there have been 20 NBA players assigned to the D-League and 3 GATORADE Call-Ups from the D-League to the NBA.

#41 STEPHANE LASME

Coming from Gabon (Africa), what was your first winter like in America (UMass)?

"I thought it was different, very different. I remember, true story, the first time I went outside. Instead of wearing a jacket, I wore a polo shirt because I was trying to act like I was back at home. I ended up catching a cold though."

#24 WENDELL WHITE

Growing up here in Southern California, were you a Lakers fan as a kid and did you have any special memories from the Lakers?

"I was a Lakers fan then and I always will be a Lakers fan. I took a picture with Kobe Bryant his rookie year. That was one of the highlights of my life. I got backstage tickets to a Magic Johnson All-Star game, so we went back there and I got the picture. If I get the chance to talk to him about that I will show him the picture."

The Los Angeles D-Fenders Heroes Among Us program honors those individuals and groups who have made a positive impact on the lives of others within our community. Every month during the season, the D-Fenders will present an award to the individual(s) who, through their commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made exceptional and lasting contributions to the Los Angeles community. This month's recipient is the Jewish Family Services SOVA Community Food and Resource Program.

If you would like to nominate someone who you feel is deserving of the Heroes Among Us award, please go online at www.d-fenders.com and fill out the nomination form.