Iowa Energy head coach Nick Nurse today was named the winner of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award, as voted by his fellow NBA Development League head coaches.

“Nick’s passion and dedication played a huge role in making the Iowa Energy the NBA D-League’s best team this regular season,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “Not only did Iowa flourish as a team this year under Nick’s guidance, but the Energy also produced two players who ended the season on NBA rosters and the NBA D-League’s Most Valuable Player. Nick’s expertise and commitment to excellence have been invaluable to Iowa, and I congratulate him on this honor.”

In his fourth season with Iowa, Nurse guided the Energy to a league-best 37-13 record through the regular season, earning the top seed in the NBA D-League Playoffs, as well as an Eastern Conference title.

Curtis Stinson of the Iowa Energy today was named the NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player, as voted on by the NBA D-League’s 16 head coaches.

Stinson, a 6-3, 215-pound guard out of Iowa State, started in 48 of Iowa’s regular season games, averaging 19.3 points, 9.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 42.9 minutes. Stinson led the NBA D-League this season in assists, minutes, triple-doubles (five) and double-doubles (28), leading Iowa to the Eastern Conference title with a 37-13 regular season record, the best in the NBA D-League.

“It’s a real honor to be named MVP of the D-League,” Stinson said. “There are a lot of great players in this league, and to receive this award is one of the highlights of my career. I am truly thankful to have great teammates and coaches, and I appreciate all they have done to help me earn this recognition.”

Maine Red Claws forward DeShawn Sims was selected by the NBA D-League’s 16 head coaches as the NBA Development League’s 2010-11 Rookie of the Year.  

Joining Sims on the NBA D-League’s inaugural All-Rookie First Team are Tulsa 66ers guard Jerome Dyson, Springfield Armor guard Scottie Reynolds, Iowa Energy forward Marqus Blakely, who ended the season with the Houston Rockets, and Rio Grande Valley Vipers center Patrick Sullivan. 

Iowa Energy guard Curtis Stinson, the third player in NBA Development League history to earn All-NBA D-League First Team honors in consecutive years, joins Bakersfield Jam guard Trey Johnson, Dakota Wizards center Chris Johnson, Erie BayHawks forward Ivan Johnson and Texas Legends forward Joe Alexander on the 2010-11 All-NBA D-League First Team, as voted on by the NBA D-League’s 16 head coaches. 

Of the First Team members, Alexander, the eighth overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2008 NBA Draft, Trey Johnson, who is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Chris Johnson, who is now a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, have NBA experience. Stinson, meanwhile, was voted to the First Team for the second straight year, joining Randy Livingston (Idaho, 2006-07, 2007-08) and Tierre Brown (North Charleston, 2002-03; Charleston, 2003-04) as the only players in NBA D-League history to earn such honors. 

Named to the Second Team were Iowa Energy guard Othyus Jeffers, who is currently with the Washington Wizards, Utah Flash guard Orien Greene, who earned a  Call-Up to the New Jersey Nets this year, Rio Grande Valley Vipers forward Jeff Adrien, who is now a member of the Golden State Warriors, Tulsa 66ers forward Larry Owens, who is also with the Washington Wizards, and Austin Toros center Marcus Cousin, who is now on the Houston Rockets’ roster, on assignment to Rio Grande Valley. 

The Third Team consists of Rio Grande Valley guard Jerel McNeal, who earned a  Call-Up with the New Orleans Hornets this season, Texas Legends guard Antonio Daniels, who is now with the Philadelphia 76ers, Sioux Falls Skyforce forward Patrick Ewing Jr., who is currently on the Hornets’ roster, Maine Red Claws forward DeShawn Sims and Texas Legends center Sean Williams. 

Joe Alexander of the Texas Legends has been named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played during the week of March 28.

Alexander, a 6-8, 220-pound forward out of West Virginia, who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, led the Legends to a 2-1 record on the week, averaging 32.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists, shooting 66.7 percent (40-60) from the field.

Curtis Stinson of the Iowa Energy has been named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in March.  The honor is the second for both Stinson and Iowa this season.

Stinson, a 6-3, 215-pound guard out of Iowa State who played in the 2010 NBA Summer League with the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors, led Iowa to a 7-3 record last month, averaging 26.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 11.1 assists. In March, Stinson scored 30 or more points four times, logged eight double-doubles, including two triple-doubles, which came in consecutive road games: 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a loss at Austin on March 23; 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in a win at Erie on March 25.

Stinson was previously honored as NBA Development League Co-Player of the Month with Erie’s Ivan Johnson in February.