D-League

Dan Lovi

Around 60 eager players shuffle into the Kings Practice Facility early on a Sunday morning. There is a sense of excitement yet urgency in the air.

Reno Bighorns Head Coach Darrick Martin has been in their shoes. He knows firsthand the road to the NBA is not easy. That’s why he takes open tryouts like these seriously. That’s why he takes coaching seriously.

“The biggest thing is to be organized at all times,” said Martin. “Always have a first, second and third plan.”

Fortunately for the Bighorns leader, he’s been around influential coaches during his career. He played four years at UCLA under Coach Jim Harrick, who was named College Coach of the Year in 1995. In Sacramento, he learned from the franchise leader in wins, Rick Adelman.

Along with those for whom he played, one coach in particular has had a lasting impact on the former point guard.

“I think CBA coaches, with Coach (Dave) Joerger and Coach (Bryan) Gates’ experience, they understand,” said Martin, who began his professional career in 1994 with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. “That’s something I definitely learned from Flip Saunders by playing for him in the CBA and in the NBA.”

Similar to Joerger, the Bighorns coach doesn’t measure growth in just wins and losses. It’s about teaching the game, and doing the best to prepare players for what lies ahead.

The “D” in D-League doesn’t stand for development without good reason. Martin believes it’s a key component to the success of the players and franchise.

“Guys need time to develop, I think it’s what the D-League is for, “said the Reno coach. “It’s our first and foremost job, to develop, and winning is a byproduct of the guys developing in the right fashion.”

The D-League was founded in 2001 and started with just eight franchises. It has since expanded to 20 teams, with the possibility of further expansion down the road. Martin hopes one day each NBA team will have an exclusive affiliation with a single club.

“That’s the plan, that’s in progress,” he explained. “I’m definitely a proponent of each NBA team having its own affiliate.”

For now, the Bighorns skipper is focused on the day’s tryouts – he’s looking to add a few players to the roster. Momentum is starting to pick up as players move from dribbling and shooting drills to 5-on-5 scrimmages.

“What I like in these tryouts is the energy these guys are bringing,” he said. “The fact we’ve had great energy and they come out here and play hard, it’s a great sign.”

Coming from a coach who made a name for himself over the course of a 13-year NBA career exuding similar qualities, the D-League hopefuls are taking strides in the right direction.

chasing-the-d-league-dream

Chasing the D-League Dream

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“The beauty of Curry’s game is his versatility,” writes Rafferty in HP Basketball Network’s D-League Blog “Upside &amp; Motor.”

The 6-foot-2 Seth Curry was signed by the Kings in late July following a stellar showing at the annual NBA Summer League Tournament in Las Vegas in which he lead all players in scoring.

In addition to his NBA Summer League First Team selection, Curry compiled averages of 23.8 points per game on 48 percent from the field in 43 games with the Erie BayHawks during the 2014-15 D-League season.

“His shot chart is basically just a field of green,” continued Rafferty. “He’s comfortable playing off of the ball, whether it be curling off of screens or spotting up on the wings, and is automatic in catch-and-shoot situations.”

This should figure to be a much-needed addition for the Kings who ranked 28th in the NBA in three-pointers attempted and made last season.

“When it’s all clicking, Curry can rattle off points from anywhere on the court at the blink of an eye. He scored 30-plus points on eight occasions in Erie, making 42 three-pointers in the process.”

Rafferty also describes his passing and driving ability, stating, “because of his shooting ability and lack of playmaking, pairing him with Rajon Rondo in small lineups would be ideal.”

The “make or break” area could be his defense, as with many young players in the NBA.

However, Erie BayHawks head coach Bill Peterson, weighed in on Curry’s clutch gene – which is one of the aspects of his game that is so special.

“He’s very good in clutch situations. He’s one of those guys that just has it. I think he made three or four game-winners for us this past year in Erie,” said Peterson to Sactown Royalty.

Regardless of the amount of playing time the MVP’s brother sees this season for the Kings, his growth will be fun to watch.

“His shooting should make a seamless transition to the NBA, and he possesses the tools to develop into a more well-rounded player in due time,” concluded Rafferty.

To read the complete article, click here.

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Signing Seth a ‘Savvy Move’ by the Kings

On Wednesday, the NBA Development League announced its 2014-15 ALl-NBA D-League Teams.

Making the list from the Kings D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns was former call-ups David Stockton, Sim Bhullar and David Wear.

Stockton, who was called up to two separate 10-day contracts with the Kings, earned All-NBA Development League All-Rookie Second Team Honors.

The Gonzaga standout showcased his deft passing and scoring abilities in the D-League, averaging 20.1 points (.461 FG%, .398 3pt%, .824 FT%), 4.2 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 30.5 minutes per game in 43 contests.

Bhullar, who also signed a 10-day contract with the Kings this season, earned both All-NBA Development League All-Rookie Third Team and All-NBA Development League All-Defensive Second Team honors.

The 7-foot-5 New Mexico State center led the D-League in blocked shots per game (3.9), while averaging 10.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Wear signed a 10-day contract with the Kings in March and was named to the All-NBA Development League All-Rookie Third Team with teammate Sim Bhullar.

The 6-foot-10 forward from UCLA averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Check out the complete list of All-NBA Development League Teams below:

FIRST TEAM
Jerelle Benimon – Idaho
Seth Curry – Erie
Earl Barron* – Bakersfield /Phoenix
Tim Frazier* – Maine/Portland
Willie Reed – Grand Rapids

SECOND TEAM
Chris Babb* – Maine/Boston
Bryce Cotton* – Austin/Utah
James McAdoo* – Santa Cruz/Golden State
Arinze Onuaku*  – Canton/Minnesota
Elliot Williams – Santa Cruz

THIRD TEAM
Jabari Brown* – Los Angeles/LA. Lakers
Eric Griffin – Texas
Jerel McNeal* – Bakersfield/Phoenix
Adonis Thomas – Grand Rapids
Damien Wilkins – Iowa

2015 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ALL-ROOKIE TEAMS

FIRST TEAM
Jerrelle Benimon – Idaho
Khem Birch – Sioux Falls
Bryce Cotton* – Austin/Utah
Tim Frazier* – Maine/Portland
James McAdoo* – Santa Cruz/Golden State

SECOND TEAM
Jabari Brown* – Los Angeles/L.A. Lakers
CJ Fair – Fort Wayne
Shawn Jones – Sioux Falls
David Stockton* – Reno/Sacramento
Talib Zanna – Oklahoma City

THIRD TEAM
Sim Bhullar – Reno
Semaj Christon – Oklahoma City
Andre Dawkins – Sioux Falls
Roscoe Smith – Los Angeles
David Wear – Reno

2015 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAMS

FIRST TEAM
Khem Birch – Sioux Falls
Clint Capela* – Rio Grande Valley/Houston
Aaron Craft– Santa Cruz
Fuquan Edwin – Sioux Falls
Willie Reed– Grand Rapids

SECOND TEAM
Thanasis Antetokounmpo – Westchester
Sim Bhullar – Reno
Tim Frazier* – Maine/Portland
Eric Griffin – Texas
Joe Jackson – Bakersfield

THIRD TEAM
Chris Babb* – Maine/Boston
Ognjen Kuzmic* – Santa Cruz/Golden State
Dominique Sutton – Santa Cruz
Jonathan Simmons – Austin
Hasheem Thabeet – Grand Rapids

* - Finished the 2014-15 season on an NBA roster

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Three Bighorns Named to All-NBA D-League Teams

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1-on-1-with-coby-karl

1-on-1 with Coby Karl

From February 20 to March 2, David Stockton was a member of the Sacramento Kings. During the 10-day contract with the big league club, something clicked in the NBA Hall of Famer's son.

One week removed from his time in Sacramento, he was named NBA D-League Performer of the Week, putting up a ridiculous stat line of 38.7 points, 13.7 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 steals per game. Leading the Reno Bighorns to a 2-1 record.

The week of video game stat lines for Stockton started on March 4 against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. No. 11 was scorching from distance and nearly pulled off a quadruple-double en route to a career-high 44 points, 10 assists, eight steals and seven rebounds.

Two days later, he nearly broke the NBA D-League assist record. The Gonzaga standout tallied a career-high 22 assists to go along with 37 points and five rebounds as the Bighorns won again over the Texas Legends.

He didn’t stop there. Stockton would close the week with another standout performance in a close loss to the Iowa Energy, tallying 35 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

David now ranks fourth in the D-League averaging 8.4 assists per game and second on the Bighorns at 18.5 points per game.

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Stockton's Crazy Week

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SACRAMENTO, CA - The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has signed Quincy Miller to a 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.  

Miller, a 6-10, 220-pound forward, is averaging 26.3 points (.522 FG%, .356 3pt%, .895 FT%), 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.7 blocks in 14 games for the Reno Bighorns, Sacramento’s NBA D-League affiliate. He leads the NBDL in scoring average and blocks per game.   

Originally selected by Denver with the 38th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, he posted averages of 4.5 points (.366 FG%, .702 FT%), 2.5 rebounds and 0.54 blocks in 59 games (started 16) over two seasons for the Nuggets. 

Miller will be available for the Kings contest tonight at Sleep Train Arena versus the Los Angeles Clippers.

kings-sign-quincy-miller-to-a-10-day-contract

Kings Sign Quincy Miller to a 10-Day Contract

Steven Wilson

The Bighorns second season as a single-affiliate of the Sacramento Kings begins tonight in Reno.

Head Coach David Arseneault Jr. — the son of the original creator of the prolific system which was so successful at Grinnell College in Iowa — enters his first season at the helm of the Bighorns program with expectations of a high-flying offense.

Arseneault joins the Sacramento Kings D-League affiliate after spending the last four seasons as an associate head coach for the Pioneers. Serving next to his father, the Grinnell offense racked up 110.7 points per game and connected on an average of 18.8 threes per game over the past four years. In that span, his team won 72 of 96 games.

Now, the youngest Arseneault brings his knowledge to the D-League level looking to replicate that level of success.

“It’s going to be a process” the rookie coach admitted. “It’s basically like I’m coaching freshman, because they’ve never seen this style of play.”

Keith Chamberlain - a 6-foot-9 forward for the Bighorns - is the only player on Reno’s current roster with any experience in Arseneault’s system. Chamberlain played at Grinnell and played side-by-side with his newcoach, as teammates for three years.

“He’s been very valuable for us,” stated the 28-year-old coach, who still owns the assists per game (9.4) record in Division III. "Not only in terms of knowing what to do on the floor, but also by helping some of the other guys figure out what they’re supposed to be doing.”

Arseneault Jr.'s system is predicated on strong perimeter shooting, penetration, good decision-making and full-court press defense. One of the most important players on the floor is the point guard - the decisions he makes will navigate the offense.

The Bighorns coaching staff is working with the current backcourt group to help them be more aggressive. The point guard in Arseneault’s system is not only responsible for getting his team into the offense, but is often asked to score at a high level as well.

“We always tell our point guards that they have to find a way to draw a double team and if they don’t draw a double team then they have to score,” said the Bighorns leader.

The system - a deviation of Paul Westhead’s run-and-gun, fast-break offense at Loyola Marymount in the late 1980s - looks to wear down their opponents thanks to a break-neck pace.

“There are differences,” admitted Arseneault when asked about the run-and-gun. “We will regularly rotate groups of five in a platoon and the idea there is we want the five guys on the floor to play as hard asthey can and then we want them to take a break and we’ll get a new five on the court.”

The offensive scheme features a barrage of perimeter shooting. Through two preseason games, Reno has attempted 113 threes and connected on 32 of them. While that is only a 27-percent clip, Arseneault says that number will grow, and grow quickly.

“If we’re getting quality shots and we’re forcing the other team to turn it over and we’re crashing the offensive glass, then we’re going to cover ourselves on bad-shooting nights,” admitted Arseneault. “If you look at the statistics, we had a bad-shooting night against Santa Cruz, but we were still able to score enough points to win - that says a lot about how we performed in those other areas.”

Preseason Progress: Moreland, James, Caven Show Potential

Reno finished its two-game exhibition slate with a 1-1record, falling to Idaho before beating Santa Cruz in overtime. The Bighorns suffered a defeat in the first outing, but did force Iowa into 39 turnovers. Three days later against the Warriors, the green and gold forced 36 turnovers and earned a 128-126 victory.

“In the first preseason game against the Stampede, I thought we did a few things well,” said Coach David Arseneault Jr. “We didn’t shoot the ball very well and we also didn’t defend well outside of those turnovers, obviously if we’re giving up 158 points. So I was very pleased with the progress we made the next game against Santa Cruz.”

In both of those outings, the Bighorns were led by Tajuan Porter who is averaging 26.5 points per game. He’s also racked up a team-high 9 steals and made a team-high 10 triples in those two contests.

“He was pretty much built to play in this system,” said Arseneault Jr. “He can get up and down and go and he’s just so quick, he can get to the rim, he can make plays for others and he is a lights-out shooterfrom three… I’m hoping that this system helps his showcase his skills and what he can offer to a basketball team.”

Assignment player Eric Moreland from the Sacramento Kings has also shined in Arseneault Jr.’s system. The rookie out of Oregon State is averaging a double-double thanks to his size and length. At 6-foot-9 and with a wingspan of 7-foot-3.5 inches, rebounding and shot-blocking have been Easy-E’s forte.

“He’s a very good fit for the system,” said Arseneault Jr. “He’s averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds and we haven’t run a play for him yet.”

“That’s just the player he is - he has a non-stop motor, he can guard point guards in the backcourt, he can out-run bigs to the rim, he can get offensive rebounds that nobody else has business getting. He’s really going to help our style of play.”

Moreland was a major contributor for the Kings Summer League team, which took home the trophy in July. He joined his new teammate Ra’shad James on that squad - a player Arseneault Jr. has been readily impressed with this year.

“You can tell Ra’shad has worked on his game,” said the new coach. “The way he shot the ball in the preseason did not reflect the way he shot the ball in training camp. If anything, those two games have been anomalies. He’s really worked on his perimeter shooting and his ability to read the pick-n-roll. So I’ve been very impressed with what he’s done and how he’s going to impact this team.”

Rookie picks Brady Heslip - a 6-2 guard out of Baylor - is another “lights-out” shooter at Arseneault’s disposal, while rookie guard Joonas Caven from Finland has also impressed the new coaching staff.

“Right now, [Joonas Caven is] coming back from wrist surgery, but he got a few live reps today,” said Arseneault Jr. “He’s a 6-foot-11 wing that can shoot the three - he hit one where he was 2 or 3 steps beyond the NBA three-point line today. And he’s fast. I know he’s going to be an NBA Draft pick, it’s just a mater of where he goes.”

Caven is predicted to get substantial playing time this season once he is fully healthy.

The toughest thing for the two rookies and the majority of their teammates will now be comprehension - understanding the system and knowing where to go and what to do on every play.

“We’re not quite to the point where I’d like us to be offensively, but we’re headed in the right direction,” said Arseneault Jr.

Although he’s only been on the job for a month, the youngest Arseneault coach has made headway in the League. His team’s style was the main focus of the Santa Cruz Warriors recap earlier this week and his squad’s pace and ferocity has been a welcomed sight in Reno.

This season is Arseneault Jr.’s opportunity to show what he can do.

“I’m very thankful the Kings took a chance on me,” he admitted. “They’ve shown in a number of ways that they are willing to think outside the box and they’re willing to try something new. I’m hoping that’s going to lead to success.”

Reno opens its season tonight, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. against the Iowa Energy at the Reno Events Center in the first regular-season test for David Arseneault Jr., and his fast-paced offense.

Bighorns supporters can watch the new high-scoring squad online via YouTube.

The first 1000 fans in attendance will receive a Danny Green Replica Jersey. Green, an NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs last season, played for Reno during the 2010-11 season.

To purchase single game tickets, discounted group tickets, or season tickets starting at just $4 per game, fans can visit RenoBighorns.com or call 775-853-8220.

D‑League