The NBA Developmental League or D League is exactly what it sounds like. It’s what the “D List” is to celebrities, or what kind of grades you earned if you were a “straight Ds student.” You don’t have Fs for failing grades, but you’re below the C students- those are the guys playing professionally overseas.
The basketball A and B students are obviously in the real NBA; I mean those letters comprise 2/3 of the league’s name acronym (coincidence?).
Former Indiana Pacers guard and leader of the greatest Iowa State Cyclones team in college basketball history, Jamaal Tinsley was the 1st overall pick by the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA D League draft. If you haven’t heard of the NBDL draft, it’s understandable, I didn’t either until yesterday.
Look how much more interesting the D League draft becomes when you have a lockout.
Being the #1 pick in the d league is kind of like being the greatest player in Iowa State basketball history; it’s akin to being the least annoying/irritating Progressive Insurance or “Flo” commercial.
The all-time leading scorer in Wisconsin Badgers history, Alando Tucker went second to the Texas Legends. And looking through the entire eight round draft, I see a lot of familiar names from Midwestern college basketball. Lots of once hopeful NBA prospects’ names showed up in the league career life support that is the D League draft.
Former Michigan State swingman and 2010 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player Durrell Summers went to the Maine Red Claws (these names are fun aren’t they?) in the second round. Former Big Ten rival, Mike Tisdale of the Illini, joined him on the team a few picks later.
In the third round, Former Kansas player Brady Morningstar went second to the Tulsa 66ers, and another Spartan, former league Defensive Player of the Year Travis Walton was picked by the Bakersfield Jam.
Icon of white trash Eric Devendorf, the infamous Syracuse 6 OT “jump on the scorers’ table” guy, went to the Idaho Stampede in the fourth round. Two Minnesota Golden Gophers went back-to-back in the fifth round (Al Nolen to the Erie Bay Hawks, Lawrence Westbrook to the Bakersfield Jam). The name of Butler stalwart Willie Veasley showed up a few picks later. I forgot which team picked him, and I don’t really care.
Absolutely no one you’ve ever heard of got picked in rounds 6-8. I’m a huge basketball nerd and these names are all meaningless to me in the final three rounds. So I’m guessing normal, less hoops-obsessed people have never heard of these guys either.
After reading this post, I’m sure you’ll agree with me- we really need basketball to start back up.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports.
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; he’s also a member of the FWAA, USBWA and SPJ. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.