February 10, 2013

MCALLEN, Texas - The Houston Rockets today assigned second year center-forward Greg Smith to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment is the record 127th of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons, while Smith becomes one the record 53rd NBA player to be assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

Smith (6-10, 250, Fresno State), who was assigned to the Vipers twice during the 2011-12 season, has played in 44 games for Houston this season, averaging 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.9 minutes.

Smith is expected to join the Vipers today and be available tonight when the team travels to face the Iowa Energy in Des Moines at 5 p.m. ET.

Rockets fans can follow Smith’s time in Rio Grande Valley by logging onto NBADLeague.com to watch all of the Vipers games live, online, for free.

The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA franchises, the league offers professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Twenty percent of players in the NBA at the start of the 2012-13 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com.