NBA NEWS - 63 Former NBA D-Leaguers Highlight Opening Day Rosters

Coby Karl - NBA photo

Twenty-nine of 30 NBA teams feature at least one player with NBA D-League experience, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors each have four former NBA D-Leaguers on their respective rosters.

NEW YORK, NY USA

Saturday October 31, 2009

An all-time high 63 players with NBA Development League experience highlighted the 2009-10 NBA opening day rosters. The 63 former NBA D-Leaguers on NBA opening day rosters surpasses the previous highs of 60 featured on 2008-09 NBA start-of-season rosters, and the 44 former NBA D-Leaguers on 2007-08 opening day rosters. In just four years, the number of former NBA D-League players on NBA start-of-season rosters has nearly doubled, going from 35 on opening day in 2006-07 to 63 today.

Twenty-nine of 30 NBA teams feature at least one player with NBA D-League experience, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors each have four former NBA D-Leaguers on their respective rosters. Two members of the 2009 NBA D-League Champion Colorado 14ers are on NBA rosters, with Trey Gilder suiting up for the Memphis Grizzlies and Sonny Weems joining the Raptors.

Of the 63 former NBA D-League players currently in the NBA, 18 are members of teams in action on the NBA's opening night, including Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar and Josh Powell, members of the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Coby Karl the son of Denver Nuggets coach George Karl played for the Los Angeles Defenders and the Idaho Stampede. In the NBA he has played for the Los Angeles Lakers and is now on the inactive list of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. For the 2009-10 season, the league will feature 16 teams - including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor.

A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2008-09 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.

(NBA)

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