Rafer Alston may be the only high school basketball coach competing in the NBA D-League.
Alston, 35, is taking a break from coaching Humble (Texas) Christian Life Center in order to get his own playing career back on track.
“I’m just trying to open eyes again and let people know I still got a lot in the tank and just compete,” Alston, now with the LA Defenders, told SNY.tv in his first interview since returning to the pros. To read more of this story, click here
As reported earlier today on my Twitter, former NBA point guard Rafer “Skip to My Lou” Alston is attempting a comeback and could be in the NBA D-League by Friday.
“He has to get picked up and he gets cleared for the NBDL Friday at 1 p.m.,” a source close to Alston told SNY.tv.
Alston, 35, had been coaching at Humble (Texas) Christian Life Center, but is apparently attempting to return to the NBA. The former Queens Cardozo and streetball star last played with the Nets and Miami Heat during the 2009-10 season. To read more of this story, click here
Former New Jersey school boy star Derrick Caracter has made a few stops during his basketball career.
Now he’s headed to the NBA D-League.
The Lakers on Wednesday assigned the 6-foot-9 Caracter to their D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles Defenders.
Caracter, the 58th pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, appeared in 41 games for the Lakers last season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.2 minutes. To read more of this story, click here
With the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Development League Draft, the Los Angeles D-Fenders selected NBA veteran Jamaal Tinsley.
A former first-round NBA Draft pick, Tinsley spent eight seasons with the Pacers and Grizzlies.
“I’m humble and blessed for this opportunity,” Tinsley said.
A two-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month with the Indiana Pacers in 2001-02, Tinsley was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 9.4 points and 8.1 assists in his first season out of Iowa State. Twice ranked among the league’s To read more of this story, click here
Former Rutgers star Hamady N’Diaye is the latest NBA player sent to the NBA D-League.
“I feel great about it,” N’Diaye’s agent, Keith Glass, said by text. “It will give him a chance to play. It’s a great opportunity while still being the property of Washington. The best of both worlds.”
The 7-foot, 235-pound N’Diaye has appeared in four games this season with the Washington Wizards. He was selected in the second round (56th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and was acquired by Washington in a draft-night swap. To read more of this story, click here
The Big East named Louisville guard Peyton Siva and DePaul forward Cleveland Melvin the winners of the conference’s weekly men’s basketball honors for the week ending Dec. 26.
Siva was named Big East Player of the Week. In Louisville’s only game of the week, Siva poured in 29 points and dished eight assists in a 114-82 victory at Western Kentucky. He shot 8-of-13 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. For the year, Siva, who hails from Seattle, Wash., is averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 assists and 2.1 steals. His steals average is third in the Big East.
Melvin, who was named Big East Rookie of the Week led the Blue Demons to a 71-62 win over Florida Atlantic by scoring 23 points and grabbing four rebounds. He outscored FAU 13-12 in the first 11 minutes of the game. Melvin, a native of Baltimore, Md., has reached double figures in his last five games. For the season, he is averaging 10.4 points and 3.3 rebounds.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
PEYTON SIVA, Louisville, G, So.
BIG EAST Rookie of the Week
CLEVELAND MELVIN, DePaul, F, Fr. To read more of this story, click here
Charlotte Bobcats guard Sherron Collins is the latest NBA player sent to the NBA Development League.
The former Kansas star was assigned to the Maine Red Claws, Charlotte’s D-League affiliate, where he will join former Syracuse star Paul Harris and former Oklahoma standout Tiny Gallon.
The assignment marks the 17th time in the 2010-11 season an NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate. To read more of this story, click here
NEW YORK — Shawne Williams was the 15th man on the Knicks roster out of training camp.
After sitting for most of the early portion of the season, the 6-foot-9 former Memphis star has now become a go-to guy for head coach Mike D’Antoni, especially in the fourth quarter.
Williams is averaging 13.3 points in his last three games and is 10 of 12 from beyond the arc.
“For him to go to me in the fourth quarter on defense, that’s great,” Williams said before the Knicks beat the Raptors 113-110 Wednesday night at MSG. “That lets me know he’s got a lot of confidence in me and I appreciate that.” To read more of this story, click here
NEW YORK — Avery Johnson never played in the NBA D-League, but he sure likes its potential.
Johnson, the Nets head coach, recently helped demote 2009 first-round NBA Draft pick Terrence Williams to the Springfield Armor of the D-League and thinks it’s a good place for young players to evolve.
“If a guy is going to play 6 or 8 minutes a game, why not?” Johnson said Tuesday before the Knicks beat the Nets, 111-100, at Madison Square Garden. “I think it’s a great tool, sometimes even if it’s just for a week.”
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The flurry of NBA players sent packing to the D-League keeps on coming.
Sacramento Kings center Hassan Whiteside, who has ties to Newark East Side High School and Greenburgh, N.Y., was sent to the Reno Bighorns on Monday.
Whiteside, the No. 33 pick in this year’s draft, is the ninth NBA player on assignment to the D-League this season, joining 2009 first-round picks Terrence Williams and Christian Eyenga; 2010 first-round picks Cole Aldrich, Patrick Patterson and Ed Davis; and 2010 second-round picks Dexter Pittman, Solomon Alabi and Gani Lawal. To read more of this story, click here
