The wait is over:2012 D-League All-Stars Announced
nbdl is far far far away from almost every euro national leagues (maybe except england, portugal, netherlands and scandinave countries). I don't think it's better than ncaa too, cause the rosters are not steady enough to have a real team play.
But i think this league can be usefull to grab some talents (not hodden gems but some good role players) who went undrafted or took some years to improve : steimsma for example, and I think Ivan johnson went through.
I don't think it's as high a caliber of some NCAA teams, I think Kentucky or Syracuse could beat a few D-League teams, but playing the worst D-League team is still a higher caliber team than the worst team in any major NCAA conference.
It's a more pro style game with pro rules and pro sized players. There are not as many 6'7'' or 6'8'' starting centers or 6'4'' starting power forwards like there are in the NCAA.
I'm a big D-League supporter, I think it's a great asset for NBA teams and a great opporunity for players who are willing to take a pay cut in order to keep the dream of playing in the NBA alive on a week to week basis. I don't feel it's a very good option for high school players who don't want to goto college, just yet. Maybe in a few years salaries will be higher, but it's hard to generate income unless there are fans going to games.
Maybe people would attend if they would get rid of some of those awful names. D-Fenders, Mad Ants, Energy? That's terrible. On a side note though, some of those names are familiar. I thought Costner might have a legitimate shot at sticking in the NBA
good point for anton....
the only way to upgrade the level is to base everything on good coaching able to develop some prospects on specialized role players and able to create some collective way of playing the ball (easier to say than to do when your roster can change every ady).
Twenty of the NBA Development League’s top prospects, including eight who have NBA experience, have been chosen to play in the sixth annual NBA D-League All-Star Game.
Chosen to the NBA D-League All-Star West Team are Justin Dentmon and Lance Thomas (Austin Toros), currently a member of the New Orleans Hornets; Brandon Costner, Gerald Green, and Elijah Millsap (Los Angeles D-Fenders); Blake Ahearn and Andre Emmett (Reno Bighorns); Greg Smith (Rio Grande Valley Vipers); and Jerome Dyson and Marcus Lewis (Tulsa 66ers).
Selected to the NBA D-League All-Star East Team, playing host to the West Team in Orlando, are Tyrell Biggs (Canton Charge); Edwin Ubiles (Dakota Wizards); Keith McLeod (Erie BayHawks); Darnell Lazare and Walker Russell, Jr. (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), currently a member of the Detroit Pistons; Marqus Blakely (Iowa Energy); Charles Garcia (Sioux Falls Skyforce); and JamesOn Curry, Jeff Foote, and Jerry Smith (Springfield Armor).
Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/218887/2012_D_League_All_Stars_Announced#ixzz1ltaAJq4O