Vander Blue of the Los Angeles D-Fenders has been named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 29.

Blue (6-4, Marquette) led Los Angeles to a 2-0 week, averaging 32.5 points (second in the league) on 45.0 percent shooting to go with 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. On Jan. 26, with the D-Fenders trailing 119-112 with 2:25 to play, Blue connected on back-to-back three-pointers and added two free throws to secure a 125-120 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He finished the game with 37 points and seven rebounds. On Jan. 29, Blue tallied 28 points, nine rebounds and three steals in a 132-104 win over the Austin Spurs.

Blue, who has scored at least 30 points seven times this season, is averaging 25.5 points (third in the league), 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals. This is the second Performer of the Week award for Blue this season.

Other top performers considered included Canton’s Chris Evans and Eric Moreland, Delaware’s Shawn Long, Erie’s Kalin Lucas, Iowa’s Jarell Martin, Maine’s Jalen Jones and Ryan Kelly, Northern Arizona’s Elijah Millsap, Oklahoma City’s Daniel Hamilton, Rio Grande Valley’s Darius Morris, Santa Cruz’s Phil Pressey and Scott Wood and Texas’ C.J. Williams.

Abdel Nader of the Maine Red Claws was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 16, through Sunday, Jan. 22.

Nader (6-8, Iowa State) led Maine to a 2-0 week, averaging 26.0 points (eighth in the league) on 48.6 percent shooting to go with 6.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal. He connected of 7-of-14 attempts from three-point range and was named to NBADLeague.com’s 2017 All-Showcase First Team. On Jan. 19, he scored 29 points and connected on 6-of-10 three-point attempts in a 122-117 win over the Canton Charge. On Jan. 21, he recorded 23 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 112-107 victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Nader is averaging 22.4 points on 48.6 percent shooting and 6.0 rebounds on the season. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt and was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 58th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft presented by State Farm.
Other top performers considered included Austin’s Cory Jefferson, Canton’s Quinn Cook, Delaware’s Devondrick Walker, Erie’s Gabe York, Grand Rapids’ Jordan Crawford, Iowa’s JaKarr Sampson, Los Angeles’ Josh Magette, Maine’s Jalen Jones, Northern Arizona’s Johnny O’Bryant, Oklahoma City’s Dakari Johnson, Raptors 905’s Edy Tavares, Santa Cruz’s Dennis Clifford, Sioux Falls’ Patrick Miller, Texas’ CJ Williams, Westchester’s Courtney Fells and Windy City’s Will Bynum.

Shawn Long of the Delaware 87ers has been named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 2, through Sunday, Jan. 8.

Long (6-9, 248, Louisiana-Lafayette) led Delaware to a 3-1 week, averaging 24.5 points on 53.5 percent shooting to go with a league-leading 13.5 rebounds. He registered a point-rebound double-double in each of his four games. On Jan. 6, he scored a career-high 45 points on 19-of-26 shooting to go with 14 rebounds in a 129-105 victory over the Erie Bayhawks. On Jan. 7, he scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 116-88 win against the Westchester Knicks.

Long is averaging 19.1 points on 52.5 percent shooting and 10.3 rebounds (fourth in the league) on the season. Long is one of four players in the league averaging a double-double on the season.

Other top performers considered included Austin’s Dejounte Murray, Canton’s Quinn Cook, Erie’s Anthony Brown and Gabe York, Grand Rapids’ Jordan Crawford, Maine’s Jalen Jones, Northern Arizona’s Askia Booker, Oklahoma City’s Josh Huestis, Raptors 905’s Axel Toupane, Reno’s Lamar Patterson, Rio Grande Valley’s JP Tokoto, Santa Cruz’s Dennis Clifford, Sioux Falls’ Keith Benson, Texas’ Manny Harris and Windy City’s Alfonzo McKinnie.

Sioux Falls Skyforce center Keith Benson has been named the NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in December.

Benson (6-11, Oakland) led Sioux Falls to a 9-3 record behind averages of 20.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. He scored in double figures in all 12 games and tallied at least 18 points eight times. Benson also recorded three or more blocks in eight of 12 games.

On Dec. 23, he scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in a 103-84 victory over the Iowa Energy. Benson finished the month by scoring a career-high 33 points, grabbing 17 rebounds and recording five blocks in a 110-109 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars on Dec. 30.

Other players who received consideration for the monthly award were Austin’s Cory Jefferson, Delaware’s Shawn Long, Fort Wayne’s Trey McKinney-Jones, Maine’s Jalen Jones, Northern Arizona’s Elijah Millsap, Oklahoma City’s Daniel Hamilton, Raptors 905’s Axel Toupane and Texas’ Pierre Jackson.

Manny Harris of the Texas Legends today was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 1.

Harris (6-5, 185, Michigan) led Texas to a 1-1 week, averaging a league-best 38.0 points on 57.4 percent shooting to go with 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals. On Dec. 28, he scored 47 points on 17-of-28 shooting to go with five rebounds, a season-high-tying five assists and three steals in a 130-125 win over the Austin Spurs. On Dec. 30, he had 29 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 112-104 loss to the Reno Bighorns.

Harris is averaging a league-leading 27.2 points on 46.3 percent shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals (second in the league) on the season. Harris was selected to the NBA D-League All-Star Game in 2014.

Other top performers considered included Austin’s Bryn Forbes, Iowa’s Troy Williams, Los Angeles’ Vander Blue, Maine’s Jalen Jones, Northern Arizona’s Johnny O’Bryant III, Raptors 905’s Axel Toupane, Rio Grande Valley’s Darius Morris and Sioux Falls’ Keith Benson.