Congrats are in order to the NBA D-League Select Team for their 2-0 record in the NBA Summer League, after defeating the Sacramento Kings. I had the great pleasure of watching the game live in Las Vegas and a few things struck me:
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The NBA D-League Select Team is creating a buzz in Las Vegas.
Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images/NBAE |
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One, the buzz around this team at the summer league in Vegas is palpable -- our team is really opening people's eyes as to the sheer depth and quality of basketball talent in the NBA D-League. Most of the people who have scouted the league heavily aren't all that surprised, but a lot of people are getting into it, and getting to know up-and-coming prospects like Othyus Jeffers, Gary Forbes, Trey Johnson, and Walker Russell Jr much better. Personally I've received a lot of questions about some specific players on our team, and it's clear that several players are playing well and positioning themselves very nicely for the "two-step call-up".
Two, our players have the right attitude. I couldn't say it any better than Trey Johnson's quote after the game last night:
“This experience has been great,” said Johnson of the Select Team’s time in Las Vegas. “We have a great group of guys who want to play and want to win first and foremost - we all know winning’s more important than anything and I think that says volumes about how good of basketball players we are.”
They play like a team, and they're getting more attention for their individual talents because they're WINNING.
Three, as good as the talent is, our coaching staff -- head coach Scott Roth, assistants Dale Osbourne and Jason Glover, and trainer Michael Douglas -- are doing a masterful job. They're showing that the great talent in the NBA D-League isn't only on the court, its also on the sidelines.
Four, I had a blast watching the game. I've worked at the league level (either NBA or NBA D-League) for 5 years now, and of course at the league you don't take an active rooting interest in any particular team. Well, in this case I was able to cut loose and root for "my" team, and it was fun!
Game 3 is on Friday -- click here to find out how you can watch it online (as well as watch alll of the other players from the NBA D-League -- for example the game I watched afterward featured Will Conroy, James White, Joey Dorsey, and Rod Benson on the Houston Rockets). Enjoy!
