ATLANTA, NOV. 7, 2008 – The Tulsa 66ers selected Chris Richard, a 6-9 center/forward from Florida, with the first overall selection in the 2008 NBA Development League Draft. With the second pick, the Colorado 14ers drafted James Mays, a 6-8 power forward from Clemson.

Richard, who was drafted by Minnesota with the 41st overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, played with the Timberwolves for the entirety of the 2007-08 season, appearing in 52 games . Richard was also featured on Minnesota’s 2008 summer league and preseason rosters.

Richard was one of a number of players with NBA experience selected in the 2008 NBA D-League Draft, including Jermareo Davidson, a 6-10 forward who was selected third overall by the Idaho Stampede, Smush Parker, who was selected in the first round by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and David Noel, selected by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds with their first round pick. Davidson, who was selected 36th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by Golden State before being traded to Charlotte, appeared in 38 games for the Bobcats last season.

Parker, a 6-4 guard, averaged 9.0 points and 2.9 assists in 274 career games with six different NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. Noel, who was drafted 39th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by Milwaukee appeared in 22 games during his rookie campaign with the Bucks.

Complete rosters for each of the 16 2008-09 NBA D-League teams will be comprised of the ten players drafted tonight along with seven returning, allocation, and local tryout players. Rosters will be reduced to 12 players on Nov. 20 and opening-day 10-man rosters must be set by Nov. 26 in anticipation of the Nov. 28 tip off of the NBA D-League’s eighth season. Each team will play one preseason game between Nov. 19 and 25.