NBA D-League Tips Off Season of Giving

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2009 – NBA Development League teams, players, and staff today tipped off the NBA D-League Cares Season of Giving. All 16 NBA D-League teams and players will bring holiday cheer to families in need by hosting more than 200 charitable events throughout November and December. Players and coaches will join community partners and local volunteers in an effort to make a difference in the lives of children and families during these tough economic times while generating awareness around the importance of giving back.

NBA D-League Cares Season of Giving events will include:

• In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Austin Toros will prepare and serve meals to local children and families in need in downtown Austin.

The entire Toros training camp, assistant coach Taylor Jenkins, five members of the dance team and the mascot served dinner to 213 constituents at the downtown shelter of the Salvation Army in Austin, Texas.

Many of the people they served knew the players by name - and mentioned they were looking forward to the beginning of the season.

The players enjoyed serving the meals at the Salvation Army so much, that they asked to extend their time there by 30 minutes. Recent draft pick, Alonzo Gee and returning player Carldell "Squeeky" Johnson, as well as the rest of the team felt this was a great way to return to their lives as NBA prospects - a reminder of how much they - and all of us - are thankful for.

This event is one of over 200 events that the NBA D-League will participate in during our Season of Giving.

• The Los Angeles D-Fenders will team up with the L.A. Dream Center to support their "Christmas in the City" initiative, which delivers thousands of Christmas gifts to families through December, including 2,000 new bikes.

• The Fort Wayne Mad Ants will join forces with retail outlet Meijer to host their annual "Christmas with the Ants" program, in which each player will be paired up with a child from the Vincent Village homeless shelter and take them on a shopping spree with gift cards.

• The Iowa Energy will hand out gifts and serve Christmas dinner at the Hope Trinity Church with Children and Families Urban Ministries on Christmas Eve.

• The Sioux Falls Skyforce will host a free youth basketball clinic at Harrisburg High School prior to their preseason game on Nov. 20.

• The Maine Red Claws will visit Southern Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and Maine Medical Center the week before Christmas.

NBA D-League Basketball Black Friday tips off Friday, Nov. 27 with six great matchups, including the first-ever NBA D-League game played in Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball, when the Springfield Armor hosts the Iowa Energy at 7:00 p.m. ET. Also at 7:00 p.m., the defending Western Division Champion Utah Flash travels to take on the Tulsa 66ers, while the Maine Red Claws tip off their inaugural season in South Dakota against the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Fans can stay in step with the NBA D-League on opening night and all season long by logging onto nba.com/futurecast to watch every game live, for free.