Former D-League Players On The Houston Rockets

Rafer Alston and the Houston Rockets have been doing plenty of celebrating lately. NBAE/Getty Images

March 19, 2008: The Houston Rockets are the talk of the NBA this month with the team completing a franchise-record 22-game winning streak, which is now the second longest streak in NBA history. This year's team has achieved their success with help of several former D-League players who are serving as key contributors, including starting point guard Rafer Alston and former GATORADE Call-Up Chuck Hayes. Eight different players with D-League experience have been part of the roster at one point this season, with six currently playing for the Rockets. Here is a look at all eight players, their roles with the Rockets this season, and a look back at their experiences in the D-League. You can check out some of the Rockets in action back in their D-League days in the Photo Gallery.

Rafer Alston, Guard (Mobile 2002-03)

Alston has started 63 games this year in his third season with Houston and is ranked third behind Tracy McGrady and the now-sidelined Yao Ming on the team with 13.0 points, including a career-high 31 points yesterday's win over the Lakers. The New York City playground legend and Fresno State star currently leads all 67 players with D-League experience in the NBA in scoring and assists, dishing out a team-high 5.6 per game. Alston's stay in the D-League was a short one, as he played in six D-League games for the Mobile Revelers back in the 2002-03 season. After averaging 15.8 points and 9.6 assists, Alston received a GATORADE Call-Up to the Toronto Raptors and developed into a contributor for Toronto and Miami before moving on to the starting point guard spot with the Rockets, where he has started 206 games over the past three seasons.

Chuck Hayes, Forward (Albuquerque 2005-06)

Hayes is the perfect example of a D-League success story, going from an undrafted rookie, to GATORADE Call-Up, to starter with the Rockets. The 6-7 Hayes has appeared in 63 games this season for Houston, starting 44, and is averaging 3.0 points and 5.7 rebounds. He chipped in 8 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in the Rockets' 20th straight win over Atlanta on Wednesday. After a standout college career at Kentucky, Hayes was selected in the first round of the 2005 D-League Draft by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. He averaged 10.8 points and 11.4 rebounds in 15 games before the Rockets signed him as a GATORADE Call-Up. He is now in his third season with Houston.

Aaron Brooks, Guard (Rio Grande Valley 2007-08)

The rookie from Oregon has provided backup minutes at guard in his first NBA season, averaging 4.2 points and 1.6 assists in 41 NBA games. The highlight of Brooks' season came on January 5 against the Knicks, when he scored a career-high 22 points on 8-10 shooting from the field. Back in December, Brooks was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League, where he averaged 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in two games before returning to Houston.

Steve Novak, Forward (Rio Grande Valley 2007-08)

Obviously Novak's shining moment of the season came a few weeks ago on February 13, when he nailed a three-pointer with two seconds left to lead the Rockets to an 89-97 win over the Kings, which was their eighth straight victory in the current streak. Known for his excellent three-point shooting, Novak is averaging 3.8 points and shooting .463 (19-41) from three-point range in his second season. Like Brooks, Novak was assigned to Rio Grande Valley at the start of the 2007-08 D-League season and went on to average 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in nine games. The 6-10 Novak, who was the 32nd overall pick by Houston in the 2006 NBA Draft out of Marquette, connected on .450 (27-50) from beyond the arc while he was in the D-League.

Mike Harris, Forward (Colorado 2006-07)

Harris signed with the Rockets on Saturday after a stint in China, and has appared in four games for the Rockets. He enjoyed a breakout performance in Friday's win over Charlotte, scoring twelve points and grabbing four rebounds. Last season he spent the entire D-League season with Colorado, averaging 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds as the 14ers advanced to the D-League Championship Game. The 6-6 Harris is no stranger to Houston as he played in training camp with the Rockets prior to this season and is the all-time leading scorer at Houston's Rice University.

Justin Williams, Forward (Dakota 2006-07)

Williams also signed with Houston on Saturday after being waived earlier in the season by Sacramento. The 6-9 Williams was leading the D-League in rebounding last season for the Dakota Wizards with 12.8 boards when the Kings made him a GATORADE Call-Up after 12 games. He scored three points and grabbed a rebound against the Nets in his Houston debut on March 10.