A record 85 former NBA Development League players, including 52 who played in the league last season, are represented on training camp rosters for the 2007 NBA preseason.
"D-League coaches understand our league is about development," NBA Development League Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert said. "They spend countless hours assisting our players in developing their skills for the next level. It's extremely encouraging to see the NBA teams taking notice and utilizing the D-League as a primary source of talent."
The 85 former D-League players on NBA Training Camp rosters is an increase from 64 players one year ago. Last season, all call-ups during the NBA season came from D-League rosters.
?I believe there will be a continued surge in the number of signings of D-League players by the NBA in the upcoming season,? D-League Director of Basketball Operations Shawn Respert said. ?It?s a tribute to the league and its teams, but also to those players who believed in our system and have used it to their advantage to help fulfill their dreams of making it to the NBA.?
Every NBA team has at least one former D-League player on its roster. The Miami Heat has the most players with seven including Earl Barron, Brian Chase, Devin Green, Alexander Johnson, Smush Parker, Dorell Wright and 2006-07 All-NBA Development League Second Team member Jeremy Richardson. Of the seven, a league-high five competed in the D-League last year.