63 Former NBA D-League Players On 2009 Opening Night Rosters

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 2008 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 D-League Team (season)
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
College
Atlanta Hawks
Anaheim (assigned 2008-09)
F
6-8
225
Ohio State
Boston Celtics
Utah (assigned 2008-09)
G
6-5
215
New Mexico
Boston Celtics
Utah (assigned 2008-09)
G/F
6-6
220
Kansas State
Charlotte Bobcats
Sioux Falls (assigned 2008-09)
C
7-0
262
France
Charlotte Bobcats
Sioux Falls (2006-07)
F
6-6
215
Oklahoma State
Chicago Bulls
Bakersfield (2008-09)
G/F
6-7
220
Vanderbilt
Cleveland Cavaliers
Erie (assigned 2008-09)
F
6-8
253
Kansas
Cleveland Cavaliers
Idaho (2008-09)
G
6-5
215
Boise State
Cleveland Cavaliers
Fort Worth (2005-06)
F
6-8
200
Meridian CC
Cleveland Cavaliers
Rio Grande Valley (2008-09)
F
6-9
220
North Carolina
Dallas Mavericks
Fort Worth (assigned 2006-07)
G
6-0
175
Northeastern
Dallas Mavericks
Roanoke (2004-05)
G
6-6
212
Notre Dame
Denver Nuggets
Fayetteville (2001-02)
F/C
6-10
228
Blinn JC
Detroit Pistons
Roanoke (2005-06)
G
6-0
185
Georgia Tech
Golden State Warriors
Fort Worth (2006-07)
G
6-5
220
Kentucky
Golden State Warriors
Roanoke (2004-05)
C
7-0
225
Nebraska
Golden State Warriors
Rio Grande Valley (2007-08)
G
6-2
175
Tennessee
Houston Rockets
Rio Grande Valley (assigned 2007-08)
G
6-0
161
Oregon
Houston Rockets
Rio Grande Valley (assigned 2008-09)
F/C
6-8
268
Memphis
Houston Rockets
Albuquerque (2005-06)
F/C
6-6
238
Kentucky
Houston Rockets
Austin (2008-09)
F
6-9
235
George Washington
Indiana Pacers
Fort Wayne (2007-08)
G
6-6
210
Duke
Indiana Pacers
Idaho (assigned 2007-08)
F
6-10
240
Duke
Los Angeles Clippers
Rio Grande Valley (assigned 2007-08)
F
6-10
220
Marquette
Los Angeles Lakers
Iowa (assigned 2007-08)
G
6-4
211
Michigan State
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles (assigned 2006-07)
G
6-2
180
UCLA
Los Angeles Lakers
Fort Worth (assigned 2005-06)
F
6-9
240
NC State
Memphis Grizzlies
Colorado (2008-09)
F
6-9
185
Northwestern State
Memphis Grizzlies
Dakota (assigned 2008-09)
C
7-2
254
Iran
Miami Heat
Iowa (assigned 2007-08)
G
6-9
245
UNLV
Miami Heat
Iowa (assigned 2007-08)
G
6-5
210
Ohio State
Miami Heat
Florida (assigned 2005-06)
G/F
6-9
210
South Kent Prep HS
Milwaukee Bucks
Tulsa (assigned 2005-06)
F
6-10
235
Turkey
Minnesota Timberwolves
Asheville (2001-02)
G
6-3
180
Syracuse
Minnesota Timberwolves
Fort Worth (assigned 2006-07)
C
7-0
230
UCLA
Minnesota Timberwolves
Idaho (assigned 2008-09)
F
6-10
280
Australia
Minnesota Timberwolves
Tulsa (assigned 2007-08)
G
6-3
190
Nevada
New Jersey Nets
Mobile (2002-03)
G
6-2
175
Fresno State
New Jersey Nets
Mobile (2002-03)
F
6-6
230
DePaul
New Jersey Nets
Colorado (assigned 2008-09)
F/C
6-10
235
Boston College
New Orleans Hornets
Fayetteville (2002-03)
G
6-5
210
Texas San Antonio
Oklahoma City Thunder
Tulsa (2008-09)
G
6-7
185
Peoria Central HS
Oklahoma City Thunder
Tulsa (assigned 2008-09)
G
6-6
201
Washington State
Oklahoma City Thunder
Tulsa (assigned 2008-09)
F
6-9
251
Indiana
Orlando Magic
Fayetteville (2004-05)
F
6-7
226
UCLA
Orlando Magic
Tulsa (assigned 2005-06)
F
6-8
250
LSU
Orlando Magic
Anaheim (assigned 2007-08)
C
6-11
240
Poland
Orlando Magic
Mobile (2001-02)
G
6-3
195
College of Charleston
Philadelphia 76ers
Fort Worth (assigned 2006-07)
G
6-1
175
South Gwinnett HS
Phoenix Suns
Colorado (2006-07)
F
6-9
225
UNLV
Phoenix Suns
Iowa (assigned 2008-09)
F
6-6
205
Wisconsin
Portland Trail Blazers
Fort Worth (assigned 05-06)
G
6-7
235
Seattle Prep HS
Sacramento Kings
Reno (assigned 2008-09)
F
6-11
226
Syracuse
San Antonio Spurs
Austin (assigned 2008-09)
G
6-6
220
Oregon
San Antonio Spurs
Austin (assigned 2008-09)
C
6-11
230
France
Toronto Raptors
Erie (2008-09)
G
6-3
175
Rutgers
Toronto Raptors
Sioux Falls (assigned 2006-07)
F
6-9
210
Westchester HS
Toronto Raptors
Bakersfield (assigned 2007-08)
C
7-0
250
Bradley
Toronto Raptors
Colorado (assigned 2008-09)
G/F
6-6
203
Arkansas
Utah Jazz
Utah (assigned 2008-09)
C
7-1
300
Ukraine
Utah Jazz
Utah (assigned 2008-09)
C
7-0
235
Ohio State
Utah Jazz
Idaho (assigned 2006-07)
G/F
6-6
227
Skyline HS
Washington Wizards
Roanoke (assigned 2005-06)
F/C
6-11
260
South Kent Prep HS