Golden State's C.J. Watson is one of 83 former D-League players in Las Vegas. Randy Belice/NBAE/Getty Images

NEW YORK, July 11, 2008 – Eighty-nine players with NBA Development League experience highlight the 21 NBA rosters at NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports. The desert classic tips off in Las Vegas today and will feature 53 games over eleven days at the COX Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

The Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks top the list of teams with the most former NBA D-Leaguers on their summer league rosters with eight apiece, while each of the 21 teams feature at least one former NBA D-Leaguer.

Mike Taylor, the first NBA D-League player drafted into the NBA, tops the list of former NBA D-League standouts who will showcase their skills in Las Vegas. Taylor, who was selected 55th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on draft night, was a member of the 2008 NBA D-League Champion Idaho Stampede.

Of the 89 players, 16 received Gatorade Call-Ups from their NBA D-League team to the NBA, including Golden State’s C.J. Watson, who was the 100th Call-Up and Billy Thomas, the recipient of the NBA D-League’s 2008 Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award for his time with the Colorado 14ers.

A number of coaches with NBA D-League experience will also be on the benches in Las Vegas. Current Austin Toros head coach Quin Snyder and one of his assistants, Roy Rogers will work with the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff, while Joe Wolf, formerly of the Colorado 14ers is currently with the Milwaukee Bucks and John Treloar, the inaugural head coach of the Erie BayHawks will be working with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Additionally, Los Angeles D-Fenders head coach Dan Panaggio and his assistant coach Chucky Brown will coach the Lakers in Las Vegas.

An additional 38 players with NBA D-League experience are playing for the six NBA teams participating in the Orlando Pro Summer League, which began play on July 7. Standout former NBA D-Leaguers currently playing in Orlando include Earl Calloway and Stephen Graham of the Indiana Pacers who are averaging 16.0 points, 4.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds and 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in three games, respectively. Miami’s Kasib Powell is averaging 15.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in three games.

Players with NBA D-League experience are also expected to appear on the rosters of the six NBA teams playing in Utah’s Rocky Mountain Revue in addition to a full squad of NBA D-League players, the Ambassadors. The Ambassadors team will be named early next week and will consist of 10 players who competed in the NBA D-League this past season.