Antonio Anderson (Photo Credit: Dana/Dutch Cowgill)

September 22, 2010

MCALLEN, TEXAS - The NBA Development League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced on Wednesday that their parent club, the Houston Rockets, has signed guard Antonio Anderson (6-6, 215, Memphis), who played with the Vipers last season.

The Vipers’ first round pick in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft. Anderson recorded the assist on Craig Winder’s Championship-winning buzzer-beater on April 27 at State Farm Arena. He averaged 17.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game in the postseason after averaging 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game during the regular season. Anderson earned a GATORADE Call-Up the Oklahoma City Thunder during the season, signing two 10-day contracts. He also played for the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2010 AirTran Airways Pro Summer League in Orlando and the Denver Nuggets during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Anderson is one of four Vipers alumni in training camp with the Rockets, joining guards Aaron Brooks (6-0, 161, Oregon) and Jermaine Taylor (6-4, 210, Central Florida) as well as reigning NBA Development League Most Valuable Player and forward Mike Harris (6-6, 235, Rice). Brooks spent time with the Vipers during the 2007-08 season while Taylor and Harris played for the Vipers during the 2009-10 season.

The Rockets open training camp on Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The Rockets will shift Training Camp to State Farm Arena in Hidalgo on October 3 and 4 before hosting the Orlando Magic in their first pre-season game on October 5 at 7:30 p.m. on the Vipers’ home court. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling the Vipers at 972-1144 or online at rgvipers.com.

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are the NBA Development League affiliate of the NBA Houston Rockets. The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. For the 2010-11 season, the league will feature 16 teams – including the debut of the Texas Legends. A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front-office staff for the NBA and its teams. 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. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.