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The 2011–12 NBA Development League season is the 11th season of the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). The NBA D-League is the official minor league basketball organization owned and run by the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league was formed in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL). The league adopted its current name in 2005 to reflect its close affiliation with the NBA. The 2011–12 season will be competed by 16 teams. The Los Angeles D-Fenders, after spending one season inactive, joined the 15 returning teams from the previous season. The Utah Flash ceased operation at the end of the previous season and would not be playing in the 2011–12 season. The New Mexico Thunderbirds relocated to Canton, Ohio and were renamed as the Canton Charge.
2011–12 NBA Development League season | |
---|---|
League | NBA Development League |
Sport | Basketball |
Duration | November 25, 2011 – April 28, 2012 |
Total attendance | 1,055,239 |
TV partner(s) | Versus/NBC Sports Network, NBA TV |
Draft | |
Top draft pick | Jamaal Tinsley |
Picked by | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
Regular season | |
Top seed | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
Season MVP | Justin Dentmon (Austin Toros) |
Top scorer | Blake Ahearn (Reno Bighorns) |
Playoffs | |
Finals | |
Champions | Austin Toros |
Runners-up | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
This season, an all-time high nine teams will have single-affiliation partnerships with NBA teams, up from four in the previous season.[1][2] Five of them, the Austin Toros, the Canton Charge, the Dakota Wizards, the Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Tulsa 66ers, are owned by their NBA affiliates. Four teams, the Erie BayHawks, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Springfield Armor and the Texas Legends, have a hybrid single-affiliation partnership with NBA teams, where their basketball operations are controlled by their NBA affiliates. The other seven teams are affiliated with three NBA teams each.[1][2]
On July 7, 2011, the league announced the affiliation system for the season. Five teams, the Austin Toros, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Texas Legends and the Tulsa 66ers, continued their single-affiliation partnerships with their parent teams. The Los Angeles D-Fenders, who returned after one-year hiatus, resumed their single-affiliation partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers. Four teams, the Canton Charge, the Dakota Wizards and the Erie BayHawks, each began a single-affiliation partnership with an NBA team. The Springfield Armor also began a single-affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets, their NBA affiliate for last two seasons. The other seven teams are affiliated with three NBA teams each. Only one team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, retained the same affiliates from the previous season. Due to several team changes above and other circumstances, some affiliation changes occurred.[2]
^ | Denotes a single-affiliation partnership |
Team | NBA team | Previous affiliate | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Bakersfield Jam | Phoenix Suns | Iowa Energy (2008–2011) | — |
Bakersfield Jam | Toronto Raptors | Erie BayHawks (2009–2011) | • The BayHawks began a single-affiliation partnership with the New York Knicks. |
Canton Charge^ | Cleveland Cavaliers^ | Erie BayHawks (2008–2011) | • The Cavaliers purchased the New Mexico Thunderbirds and relocated them to Canton, Ohio as the Canton Charge. • The BayHawks began a single-affiliation partnership with the New York Knicks. |
Dakota Wizards^ | Golden State Warriors^ | Reno Bighorns (2010–2011) | • The Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards. |
Erie BayHawks^ | New York Knicks^ | Springfield Armor (2009–2011) | • The BayHawks began a single-affiliation partnership with the Knicks. • The Armor began a single-affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets. |
Idaho Stampede | Utah Jazz | Utah Flash (2007–2011) | • The Flash ceased operations. |
Iowa Energy | New Orleans Hornets | New Mexico / Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2009–2011) | • The Cleveland Cavaliers purchased the Thunderbirds and relocated them to Canton, Ohio as the Canton Charge. |
Iowa Energy | Washington Wizards | Dakota Wizards (2006–2011) | • The Golden State Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards. |
Los Angeles D-Fenders^ | Los Angeles Lakers^ | Bakersfield Jam (2010–2011) | • The D-Fenders, who are owned and controlled by the Lakers, returned after a one-year hiatus. |
Maine Red Claws | Philadelphia 76ers | Springfield Armor (2009–2011) | • The Armor began a single-affiliation partnership with the New Jersey Nets. |
Reno Bighorns | Atlanta Hawks | Utah Flash (2009–2011) | • The Flash ceased operations. |
Reno Bighorns | Memphis Grizzlies | Dakota Wizards (2007–2011) | • The Golden State Warriors purchased the Dakota Wizards. |
Sioux Falls Skyforce | Orlando Magic | New Mexico Thunderbirds (2010–2011) | • The Cleveland Cavaliers purchased the Thunderbirds and relocated them to Canton, Ohio as the Canton Charge. |
Offseason | ||
---|---|---|
Team | 2010–11 coach | 2011–12 coach |
Canton Charge | Darvin Ham (with New Mexico Thunderbirds) | Alex Jensen |
Dakota Wizards | Rory White | Nate Bjorkgren |
Iowa Energy | Nick Nurse | Kevin Young |
Los Angeles D-Fenders | Franchise inactive | Eric Musselman |
Maine Red Claws | Austin Ainge | Dave Leitao |
Reno Bighorns | Eric Musselman | Paul Mokeski |
Rio Grande Valley Vipers | Chris Finch | Nick Nurse |
Springfield Armor | Dee Brown | Bob MacKinnon, Jr. |
Texas Legends | Nancy Lieberman | Del Harris |
Utah Flash | Kevin Young | Franchise inactive |
In-season | ||
Team | Outgoing coach | New coach |
Tulsa 66ers | Nate Tibbets | Dale Osbourne |
Fort Wayne Mad Ants | Joey Meyer | Steve Gansey |
An NBA D-League team roster consists of draftees, returning, allocation and tryout players. In addition, NBA teams can assign players who are on their first or second NBA season to their D-League affiliates. The roster must consist of 10 D-League players, but the maximum roster size is 12 players, including NBA assignees. If a team had more than two NBA assignees, the team must reduce its roster to avoid having more than 12 players. In the D-League, all players sign a one-year NBA D-League Standard Player Contract with the league, not with the specific D-League teams.[25]
Returning players are players who played in the league during the previous season and are retained by their respective teams. The D-League teams are allowed to invite a limited number of returning players. Players who signed a D-League contract but are not retained by their previous teams are placed on the draft pool, along with new players who also sign with the league.[26] Tryout players are the players who are invited to join the D-League team from the open tryouts which are held by each teams in October, before the season began.[25]
The eleventh annual NBA Development League Draft was held on November 3, 2011. In this draft, all 16 teams took turns selecting eligible players for their roster. Former NBA first-round draft pick and eight-year NBA veteran Jamaal Tinsley was selected first by the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Another former NBA first-round pick Alando Tucker was selected second by the Texas Legends. Former NBA second-round pick Gabe Pruitt was also selected in the first-round. Other notable picks in the later rounds are former NBA players Cedric Bozeman and Chris Taft who were selected in the second and fourth round respectively. 18 players selected in the draft were participants of the NBA D-League National Tryouts that were held in June. A total of 127 players were selected in the eight-round draft.[27]
Each NBA team can assign players with two years or less of experience to its affiliated NBA Development League team. Players with more than two years of experience may be assigned to the D-League with the players' consent.[28]
A call-up occurs when a player is signed by an NBA team. An NBA team is allowed to sign any D-League player as long as they are eligible to play in the NBA under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). However, an NBA team could not call-up a player whose draft rights are still held by other NBA teams. A D-League player is usually signed to a 10-day contracts, a short term contract which lasted ten days and are available to be used starting February 6. A player can only sign two 10-day contracts with the same team in one season. If the team want to retain the player after the second 10-day contract expired, the team has to sign the player for the remainder of the season.[29]
Due to the 2011 NBA lockout, the D-League season started earlier than the NBA season. Therefore, the NBA training camps, which are usually attended by a number of D-League players to compete for a spot on NBA roster, started on December 9, three weeks after the D-League season started. A total of 62 D-League players left their teams to attend NBA training camps.[30] Eleven of them made the NBA opening day roster on December 25 and therefore they are considered as NBA call-ups.[31]
As of April 6, 2012, there has been 49 call-ups, involving 33 different players. 22 of them are still on the NBA roster, although 6 of them are currently on 10-day contracts. The Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Austin Toros have the most players called up with five players, while the Erie BayHawks each has four players called up. Mike James received the most call-ups with four, all of them to the Chicago Bulls. Two players, Mickell Gladness and Donald Sloan, has been called up three times. Gladness was called up by the Miami Heat (twice) and the Golden State Warriors, while Sloan was called up to three different NBA teams, the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Orleans Hornets.
^ | Denotes player who is currently in the NBA |
Player | Team | NBA team | Date(s) called up and contract(s) signed | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dennis Horner | Springfield Armor | New Jersey Nets* | December 9, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster January 18, 2012: Waived |
[31][32] |
Carldell Johnson | Austin Toros | New Orleans Hornets | December 9, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster February 7, 2012: Waived |
[31][33] |
Donald Sloan | Erie BayHawks | Atlanta Hawks | December 9, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster January 26, 2012: Waived |
[31][34] |
Greg Stiemsma^ | Sioux Falls Skyforce | Boston Celtics | December 9, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster |
[31][35] |
Lance Thomas | Austin Toros | New Orleans Hornets | December 9, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster December 31, 2011: Waived |
[31][33] |
Mychel Thompson | Erie BayHawks | Cleveland Cavaliers | December 9, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster February 6, 2012: Waived |
[31][36] |
Chris Wright^ | Maine Red Claws | Golden State Warriors | December 10, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster |
[31][37] |
Mickell Gladness | Dakota Wizards | Miami Heat | December 10, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster February 7, 2012: Waived |
[31][38] |
Terrel Harris^ | Rio Grande Valley Vipers | Miami Heat | December 10, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster |
[31][39] |
Jamaal Tinsley^ | Los Angeles D-Fenders | Utah Jazz | December 10, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster |
[31][40] |
Ryan Reid | Tulsa 66ers | Oklahoma City Thunder* | December 13, 2011: Signed for training camp December 25, 2011: Named in the opening day roster March 21, 2012: Waived |
[31][41] |
Cory Higgins^ | Erie BayHawks | Charlotte Bobcats | December 26, 2011: Claimed off waivers from the Denver Nuggets (previously signed for training camp on December 9) | [42] |
Mike James | Erie BayHawks | Chicago Bulls | January 11, 2012: Signed January 28, 2012: Waived |
[43] |
Malcolm Thomas | Los Angeles D-Fenders | San Antonio Spurs | January 11, 2012: Signed February 7, 2012: Waived |
[44] |
Courtney Fortson | Los Angeles D-Fenders | Los Angeles Clippers | January 11, 2012: Signed January 27, 2012: Waived |
[45] |
Larry Owens | Tulsa 66ers | New Jersey Nets | January 18, 2012: Signed January 31, 2012: Waived |
[46] |
Walker Russell, Jr.^ | Fort Wayne Mad Ants | Detroit Pistons* | January 20, 2012: Signed | [47] |
Ish Smith^ | Los Angeles D-Fenders | Orlando Magic | February 2, 2012: Signed | [48] |
Lance Thomas^ (2) | Austin Toros | New Orleans Hornets | February 6, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract February 16, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract February 27, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season |
[49][50][51] |
Donald Sloan (2) | Erie BayHawks | New Orleans Hornets | February 8, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract February 20, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract |
[52][53] |
Greg Smith^ | Rio Grande Valley Vipers | Houston Rockets* | February 8, 2012: Signed | [54] |
Ben Uzoh | Rio Grande Valley Vipers | Cleveland Cavaliers | February 10, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [55] |
Mickell Gladness (2) | Dakota Wizards | Miami Heat | February 12, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract February 28, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract |
[56][57] |
Andre Emmett | Reno Bighorns | New Jersey Nets | February 14, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [58] |
Mike James (2) | Erie BayHawks | Chicago Bulls | February 14, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [59] |
Eric Dawson | Austin Toros | San Antonio Spurs* | February 20, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [60] |
Manny Harris | Canton Charge | Cleveland Cavaliers* | February 21, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract March 2, 2012: Signed to a second 10-day contract |
[61][62] |
Gerald Green^ | Los Angeles D-Fenders | New Jersey Nets | February 27, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract March 8, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract March 18, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season |
[63][64][65] |
Bobby Simmons | Reno Bighorns | Los Angeles Clippers | February 27, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract March 9, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract |
[66][67] |
Jeff Foote | Springfield Armor | New Orleans Hornets | March 9, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [68] |
Mike James (3) | Erie BayHawks | Chicago Bulls | March 14, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract | [69] |
Eric Dawson (2) | Austin Toros | San Antonio Spurs* | March 16, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract | [70] |
Donald Sloan^ (3) | Erie BayHawks | Cleveland Cavaliers | March 16, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season | [71] |
Jerry Smith | Springfield Armor | New Jersey Nets* | March 16, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [72] |
Courtney Fortson^ (2) | Los Angeles D-Fenders | Houston Rockets | March 17, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract March 27, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season |
[73] |
Manny Harris^ (2) | Canton Charge | Cleveland Cavaliers* | March 17, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season | [74] |
Edwin Ubiles | Dakota Wizards | Washington Wizards | March 18, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [75] |
Mickell Gladness^ (3) | Dakota Wizards | Golden State Warriors | March 22, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract March 27, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season |
[76][77] |
Keith Benson | Sioux Falls Skyforce | Golden State Warriors | March 24, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [78] |
Justin Dentmon | Austin Toros | San Antonio Spurs* | March 24, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [79] |
Bobby Simmons^ (2) | Reno Bighorns | Los Angeles Clippers | March 24, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season | [80] |
Alan Anderson^ | Canton Charge | Toronto Raptors | March 26, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract April 6, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract |
[81] |
Malcolm Thomas (2) | Los Angeles D-Fenders | Houston Rockets | March 27, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [82] |
Ben Uzoh^ (2) | Rio Grande Valley Vipers | Toronto Raptors | March 27, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract April 6, 2012: Signed a second 10-day contract |
[83] |
Cartier Martin^ | Iowa Energy | Washington Wizards* | March 28, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [84] |
Dennis Horner^ (2) | Springfield Armor | New Jersey Nets* | March 30, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [85] |
Lester Hudson^ | Austin Toros | Cleveland Cavaliers | March 30, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [86] |
Mike James^ (4) | Erie BayHawks | Chicago Bulls | April 5, 2012: Signed for the remainder of the season | [87] |
Justin Dentmon^ (2) | Austin Toros | Toronto Raptors | April 6, 2012: Signed a 10-day contract | [88] |
Note
The eighth annual NBA D-League Showcase was held at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada from January 9 until January 12, 2012. The event featured every D-League team who played two games each over a four-day schedule. The games were attended by the professional scouts from all NBA teams. The event was designed to allow the NBA teams to evaluate the D-League's prospects for future call-ups.[89]
Eastern Conference
|
Western Conference
|
Notes
Category | Player | Team | Statistic |
---|---|---|---|
Points per game | Blake Ahearn | Reno Bighorns | 23.8 |
Rebounds per game | Marcus Lewis | Tulsa 66ers | 12.7 |
Assists per game | Jeremy Wise JamesOn Curry | Bakersfield Jam Springfield Armor | 6.3 |
Steals per game | Dominique Coleman | Sioux Falls Skyforce | 2.2 |
Blocks per game | Hamady N'Diaye | Maine Red Claws Iowa Energy | 2.74 |
Field goal percentage | Greg Smith | Rio Grande Valley Vipers | .668 |
Three-point field goal percentage | Antoine Agudio | Canton Charge | .539 |
Free throw percentage | Blake Ahearn | Reno Bighorns | .962 |
Double-doubles | Marcus Lewis | Tulsa 66ers | 34 |
Triple-doubles | Maurice Baker Kenny Hayes Elijah Millsap | Dakota Wizards Maine Red Claws Los Angeles D-Fenders | 2 |
The sixth annual NBA D-League All-Star Game was held during the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, Florida. The game was played in the Orange County Convention Center on February 25. The Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars 135–126, led by forward Gerald Green of the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Green scored a game-high 28 points and was named as the MVP of the game.[91]
Eastern Conference All-Stars 129, Western Conference All-Stars 132 | ||
Scoring by half: 54–56, 78–79 | ||
Pts: Jameson Curry 25 Rebs: Jeff Foote 7 Asts: Jameson Curry 8 |
Pts: Gerald Green 28 Rebs: Marcus Lewis 10 Asts: Dawson, Alhearn 8 |
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida Referees:
|
The fifth annual NBA D-League Dream Factory Friday Night was held on February 25 during the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend. The events included a slam dunk contest, a three-point shooting contest and a shooting stars competition, all of which are also annual competitions in the NBA All-Star Saturday Night. In the Slam Dunk Contest, reigning champion L.D. Williams of the Springfield Armor retained the title after defeating Texas Legends center Chris Douglas-Roberts in the final round with a score of 93–90. Another player who won again was Legends guard Booker Woodfox in the Three-Point Contest. The Shooting Stars Competition was won by the team of Marqus Blakely (Sioux Falls), Jery Smith (Springfield) and Cameron Jones (Fort Wayne).[92]
First round | Second round | Finals | ||||||||||||
1 | Los Angeles* | 2 | ||||||||||||
7 | Iowa | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Los Angeles* | 2 | ||||||||||||
6 | Bakersfield | 0 | ||||||||||||
4 | Dakota | 0 | ||||||||||||
6 | Bakersfield | 2 | ||||||||||||
1 | Los Angeles* | 1 | ||||||||||||
3 | Austin | 2 | ||||||||||||
3 | Austin | 2 | ||||||||||||
5 | Erie | 1 | ||||||||||||
3 | Austin* | 2 | ||||||||||||
7 | Canton | 1 | ||||||||||||
2 | Springfield | 1 | ||||||||||||
7 | Canton | 2 |
Notes
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