COMMENTARY – Since its founding in 2001, the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) has become the NBA’s official minor league system. With more than 120 players with NBA D-League experience finishing the 2011-2012 season on NBA team rosters, no wonder why the NBA D-League has become an important resource for the NBA. A current Milwaukee Bucks talent knows that if they are on the bubble on the team roster, the NBA D-League is the place to make the jump.
NBA & NBA D-League form affiliation
The NBA and the NBA D-League formed an affiliate system before the 2011-2012 season, with nine NBA teams having a single NBA D-League affiliate, and seven NBA D-League teams having three NBA parent teams. Being one of the current 16 teams competing in the NBA D-League, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants are affiliated with the Milwaukee Bucks and three other NBA teams (Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Bobcats).
NBA D-League players who have Wisconsin ties
There are currently six players that have active status on NBA D-League rosters with Wisconsin ties. The players have played for the Milwaukee Bucks or other NBA teams, were star players on Wisconsin-based college teams such as the Marquette Warriors, or the Wisconsin Badgers and were considered top high school players.
Three players that have had storied careers with Marquette that are currently on NBA D-League team rosters include Jerel McNeal, Darius Johnson-Odom and Lazar Hayward.
Former Marquette Warriors in NBA D-League
McNeal is currently averaging (13.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.6 APG) and plays guard for the Bakersfield Jam, who are currently in first place in the Western Division. During his career at Marquette he became the sixth player in the Golden Eagles history to tally over 1,500 points and 500 rebounds. Played one game as a reserve for the NBA Toronto Raptors in the 2012-2013 season before going back to Bakersfield.
Johnson-Odom was selected 55th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks after having a star-studded career at Marquette. Dallas immediately sold his contract to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Lakers assigned him to the team’s NBA D-League affiliate the Los Angeles D-Fenders. He was back-and-forth from the Lakers and the NBA D-League a few times so far this year. Johnson-Odom is one of a few key players for the D-Fenders, averaging 20.6 PPG and 5.0 RPG.
A third former Marquette player Lazar Hayward (6-6, 225) was recently acquired by the Los Angeles D-Fenders, but was signed Dec. 31 to a 10-day contract by the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves. Hayward’s return to the NBA is not a new one, as he has played 68 career games for the Timberwolves (2010-2011) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (2011-2012). Assigned to the Tulsa 66ers from the Thunder last season, Hayward has played in three NBA D-League games, averaging 24.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 34.3 minutes per game.
Former Wisconsin Badgers players with NBA D-League
Former 6′-11″ Wisconsin Badger center Brian Butch is a fellow teammate of Jerel McNeal with the Bakersfield Jam, and has seen good success so far in his third season in the NBA D-League. Butch has started all 17 games in the 2012-2013 season and is averaging 10.1 PPG and 9.9 RPG. He was a key contributor for the Badgers in his senior year during the 2008-2009 season.
Another former Wisconsin Badger who was tearing up the NBA D-League with the Canton Charge this year after being assigned Dec. 7 to the D-League by the Cleveland Cavaliers is 6′-10″ small/power forward Jon Leuer. The Cavs claimed him off waivers on July 20, 2012. Leuer was averaging 19.5 PPG and 12.3 RPG this season with Canton before Cleveland recalled him on Jan. 7, 2013. Leuer was a second round draft pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2011-2012 season, and had some success with the Bucks throughout the year, starting 12 games and averaging 4.7 PPG and 2.6 RPG. This season he has played in eight games with the Cavaliers and is averaging 2.8 PPG and 1.6 RPG.
A third former Wisconsin Badger who has had great success in the NBA D-League so far is Marcus Landry. Landry has played and started 17 games this season (2012-2013) for the Reno Bighorns. He has averaged 17.2 PPG and 4.5 RPG. He is the NBA D-Leagues best three-point shooter shooting at a 45.6 percent clip behind the arc and 49 percent overall. The 6′ 7″ small forward played in 18 games in the NBA with the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks in the 2009-2010 season. Landry was undrafted after playing for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2005 – 2009. He was a training camp invite of the New York Knicks and made the 15-man roster for the start of the 2009-2010 season. Landry was a top high school player for Milwaukee Vincent High School.
Former Milwaukee area high school player with NBA D-League Ties
Former Homestead High School (Mequon, Wis.) standout Coby Karl, (6′-5″) guard/small forward, has started 20 games in 2012-2013 season for the Idaho Stampede, and is averaging 11.8 PPG and 5.5 APG. Karl is the son of current NBA head coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets. Karl has played 17 games with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007-2008 season, and four games with the Golden State Warriors and three games with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2009-2010 season. Karl got 37 seconds of fame with the Los Angeles Lakers in his NBA debut in the 2006 season after the Lakers signed him on as a free agent. He was later assigned to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League.
NBA D-League Showcase and call-ups
The NBA D-League may be the minor league of the NBA, but it by no means a slouch in comparison. During the recent NBA D-League Showcase held in Reno. Nevada from Jan. 7 to 11, NBA D-League players had a good chance to prove that they are NBA caliber talent. The event has become the premiere in-season scouting event for top NBA prospects. NBA teams that call up NBA D-League players usually sign them for a 10-day contract.
Just two days after the showcase event ended, Damion James (6-7, 225) of the Bakersfield Jam was called up by the NBA Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 13. This was the 14th call-up of the 2012-2013 season which runs until April 6. In all 17 starts for Bakersfield, James averaged 15.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 28.8 minutes per game.
On Jan. 8, 2013, 10-year NBA veteran and current Texas Legend guard Mike James (6-2, 190), was called up by the Dallas Mavericks. In another call-up the day before, guard Donald Sloan (6-3, 205) of the Sioux Falls Skyforce was called up by the New Orleans Hornets.
The bottom line
With all the recent NBA call-up activity, it sends a clear message to NBA D-League players (including ones with Wisconsin ties) that they need to be ready because injuries, illnesses and other change factors are commonplace in the NBA.
The NBA D-League is not just a showcase for players, it is also applies for coaches and referees. Nearly 40 coaches have started their career in the NBA D-League, and have gone to sit on NBA tram benches and call plays for the some of the best in the game. Every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has started their career in the NBA D-League.
David A. Keup is a Yahoo! Featured Contributor in Sports and covers the NBA D-League and the NBA Milwaukee Bucks as a SE Wisconsin-based sports journalist, online editor/publisher, and blogger. You can read him on the Ozaukee Meet Up News, http://OzaukeeMeetUpNews.zoomvillage.com
