Notable Players From NBA's D-League

SI Staff | Jan 10, 2013

Notable Players From NBA's D-League /

Notable Players From NBA's D-League

Jeremy Lin

The Knicks sensation spent a significant portion of his rookie year in the D-League, averaging a cool 20.4 points in 20 games for the Reno Bighorns.

Hasheem Thabeet

The highest drafted player ever to be sent to the D-League, the 2009 No. 2 overall pick spent parts of his first two seasons in the league, playing six games for both the Dakota Wizards and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Chris Andersen

Andersen was an original D-Leaguer, playing three games for the Fayetteville Patriots in the D-League's inaugural season.

Marcin Gortat

Phoenix's starting center played five games in the D-League in 2007-08, averaging 9.8 points per game during his brief stint with the Anaheim Arsenal.

Matt Barnes

The current Clippers forward played in the D-League after graduating from UCLA, averaging 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 50 games for the Fayetteville Patriots in 2002-03.

Jordan Farmar

The former UCLA star was sent down to the D-League by the Lakers in the 2006-07 season, averaging 14.7 points and 5.7 assists in three games for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Anthony Tolliver

Currently a power forward for the Hawks, Tolliver toiled in the D-League for parts of three seasons, playing for Iowa in 2007-08, Austin and Iowa in 2008-09 and Idaho in 2009-10.

Bobby Simmons

The NBA's Most Improved Player in 2005, Simmons has spent part of three seasons in the D-League, playing for the Mobile Revelers in 2002-03 and suiting up for the Reno Bighorns in 201-11 and 2011-12.

C.J. Watson

Derrick Rose's former backup averaged 26.3 points and 5.8 assists in 16 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2007-08.

Chuck Hayes

The Kings power forward (right) played part of the 2005-06 season for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, averaging a double-double in 15 games with the team

Dahntay Jones

Now a reserve player for the Mavericks, Jones tore up the D-League in 2007-08, when he averaged 24.4 points in 10 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

J.J. Barea

Before he was one of the stars of the 2011 Finals, Barea was a D-Leaguer, playing eight games for the Fort Worth Flyers in the 2006-07 season.

Jamario Moon

The former Clippers forward played the entire 2001-02 season in the D-League and had brief stints in the league in three subsequent years. He should've brought his afro to the NBA.

Martell Webster

Currently a shooting guard in Washington, Webster played eight games in the D-League in 2005-06, scoring 10.8 points per game for the Fort Worth Flyers.

Rafer Alston

Skip 2 My Lou averaged 15.8 points and 9.7 assists over six games with the Revelers in 2002-03. He signed with the Los Angeles D-Fenders during the 2011-12 season but ultimately appeared in only four games.

Ramon Sessions

Sessions was the first NBA player to be assigned to the D-League in the 2007-08 season, getting sent by the Milwaukee Bucks to the Tulsa 66ers at the start of the year. He played well for Tulsa, winning the NBDL Player of the Week award twice before getting pulled back up to the NBA at the end of his rookie year.

Shannon Brown

The Suns guard spent time in the D-league during his first and second seasons as a pro, making one appearance for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds in the 2006-07 season and playing in a combined 11 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Iowa Energy the next year.

Smush Parker

The former Lakers point guard spent parts of two seasons in the NBDL, playing 23 games for the Florida Flame in 2004 and appearing in 18 contests for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2008.

Brandon Bass

Bass played a lone D-League game in the 2005-06 season, scoring 16 points and adding five boards for the Tulsa 66ers.

Devin Brown

The journeyman shooting guard played 44 games for the Fayetteville in 2002-03, averaging 16.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Patriots. The former Spurs player is currently back in the NBDL, playing with the Erie BayHawks.

Sundiata Gaines

Gaines was Tolliver's teammate in Idaho in 2009-10, averaging 23.9 points and 6.9 assists in 14 games with the Stampede.

Earl Barron and Dorell Wright

Barron and Wright, former Warriors, both spent time in the D-League, even suiting up together in the 2005-06 season for the Florida Flame.

Von Wafer

The current CBA guard spent part of the 2005-06 season and most of the 2006-07 season in the D-League, playing eight games for Fort Worth in 05-06 and appearing in 42 games for the Colorado 14ers in 06-07.

Published Jan 10, 2013

SI STAFF