SALT LAKE CITY (March 10, 2013) – The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Travis Leslie of the NBA Development League’s Santa Cruz Warriors to a 10-day contract, marking the NBA’s 24th D-League Call-Up of the 2012-13 season.
A 2013 NBA D-League All-Star selection, the 6-4, 205-pound guard averaged 16.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting .511 from the field through 28 games (24 starts) for Santa Cruz this season. Leslie was also named the D-League All-Star Game’s MVP after finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds for the Prospect team during the February 14 event as part of NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston.
Originally selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round (47th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, Leslie appeared in 10 games as a reserve for the Clippers during the 2011-12 season, averaging 1.4 points in 4.5 minutes of play. Leslie was also twice assigned to the Clippers’ D-League affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam, where he appeared in 10 games (three starts) and averaged 10.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 20.4 minutes. Leslie attended 2012-13 training camp with the Clippers, but was waived prior to the start of the season.
The 22-year-old native of Decatur, Ga., played three collegiate seasons at the University of Georgia (2008-11), averaging 12.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 90 career games. Leslie was named Second Team All-SEC following a successful junior season (2010-11) that saw him average 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, ranking second in the SEC in offensive rebounding average (3.2).
Leslie becomes the ninth D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003-04), Louis Amundson (2006-07), Sundiata Gaines (2009-10), Othyus Jeffers (2009-10), Marcus Cousin (2010-11), Kyle Weaver (2010-11) and Blake Ahearn (2011-12).
Leslie will wear uniform #23 for the Jazz. Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 15 players.