The New York Knicks today signed Los Angeles D-Fenders guard Joe Crawford to a 10-day contract.
Crawford, taken by the Lakers with the 58th pick in the 2008 Draft, averaged 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 43 games for the Lakers D-League affiliate. The Kentucky product also represented the D-Fenders at All-Star Weekend in the Dream Factory H-O-R-S-E competition.
The D-Fenders continue on without Crawford against the Erie Bayhawks this Sunday in Pennsylvania. They return home Sunday April 5th to host the Utah Flash at noon. Tickets to the game are free. Head over to D-Fenders.com or print out this flyer for more information.
Click here for the Press Release
Rookie Guard Sun Yue has been assigned back to the Lakers Developmental League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, today.
This will be Yue’s second tour of duty with the D-Fenders. His first stint consisted of 4 games (4 starts), averaging 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.25 blocks in 36.0 minutes.
Here’s the link to the press release.
Phil Jackson explained after Sunday’s practice that as long as the Lakers don’t have any injuries on the road trip, rookie guard Sun Yue will stay in Los Angeles with the D-Fenders.
Playing in his second consecutive game for L.A.’s D-League affiliate on Saturday night after 44 minutes in Friday’s OT win, Sun scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range. He added four blocks, three rebounds, two steals and an assist in 35 minutes. The D-Fenders (13-25) dropped the game by just two points, 97-95, to the Anaheim Arsenal (15-23).
He’s finally here, L.A. D-Fenders.
Much like they did with Jordan Farmar during his rookie year, the Lakers will send rookie Sue Yue down to play with the D-Fenders prior to this’ evening’s big squad game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here’s the press release:
The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guard Sun Yue to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.
“This is a great opportunity for Sun to gain additional playing time while still being able to continue on the NBA level,” said head coach Phil Jackson. “Your rookie year is a learning process and the more time you get on the court, the better you will be for it in the long run. I am impressed with Sun’s basketball talents and am hopeful that he will play for the Lakers for many years to come.”
Originally selected by the Lakers in the second round (40th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Sun signed with the Lakers the following summer (August 25, 2008) shortly after representing China as a member of the Men’s Olympic Basketball Team in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Making his NBA debut on Dec. 7 versus Milwaukee with four points on 2-of-3 shooting in five minutes, Sun has appeared in 10 games with the Lakers this season, totaling six points, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot in 28 minutes.
If you’ve ever wondered what the D-League is all about then Sunday is the day for you.
The Lakers D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, are celebrating a “Season of Cheering” this Sunday by offering free tickets to their game against the Tulsa 66ers.
All you have to do is print out this flyer (.pdf), head to the STAPLES Center box office to redeem it, and you’re good to go (you can redeem it online through ticketmaster as well).
Some members of the D-Fenders roster will look familiar to Lakers fans. Joe Crawford, the Lakers second pick in 2008, leads the D-League in scoring, going off for 29 points per game through the first three contests. Point guard Brandon Heath and swingman Dwayne Mitchell also spent training camp with the Lakers and have turned in solid performances so far this season. (Click here for the full D-Fenders roster)
Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00pm at STAPLES Center.
Click here for the Free Ticket Voucher (.pdf)
For more info on the D-Fenders check them out at www.d-fenders.com
Lakers training camp invitees Joe Crawford and Brandon Heath will be joined by a familiar face when D-Fenders training camp opens later this month–Dwayne Mitchell. Today the D-Fenders front office acquired Mitchell in exchange for forward Patrick Sanders.
Mitchell spent the summer playing for the Lakers entry to the Vegas Summer Pro League, averaging 6.7 points on .619 shooting, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.83 steals in 15.0 minutes over six games.
Dwayne struggled to find his way during Lakers training camp as he was injured early and never found his way amid a crowded backcourt.
Before playing for the Lakers, the 6’5” 220-pound guard out of Louisiana Lafayette played for the D-League’s Iowa Energy, where he averaged over 20 points and 6 rebounds per game on his way to earning a spot on the D-League All-Star team.
Click here to learn more about Mitchell or visit D-Fenders.com.
It was announced today that rookie guard Coby Karl will be sent to the Lakers D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, for the second time this season.
In his previous stint Karl posted solid numbers averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 38.4 minutes while shooting .435 from three-point range and .492 from the field.
Click here for the press release.
The Lakers recalled Coby Karl from the D-Fenders today.
Coby averaged 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 38.5 minutes over the 10 games he played in the D-League. Karl was also bombing at a 43.5% clip from behind the arc.
Coby will be available for tomorrow’s holiday tilt against the Suns.
Click here to read the full press release
The Lakers meet up with AI, Melo, and the rest of the Denver Nuggets tonight at STAPLES Center (7:30, TNT).
The Nuggets have lost their last two games (at Houston, vs. Indiana), but still sport a 9-6 record that puts them just ahead of the Lakers in the Western Conference playoff race. Denver finished as the 6th seed last season, while the Lakers were the 7th seed.
The Nuggets are all kinds of banged up, but could get oft-injured forward Kenyon Martin back tonight. Former Laker Chucky Atkins has been ruled out of the game with a severe groin strain, as have big men Nene & Steven Hunter.
The Nuggets still have Marcus Camby–last year’s Defensive Player of the Year–manning the paint. The Bynum/Camby matchup should be fun to watch when the Lakers have the ball. Bynum continues to blossom, but Camby is averaging 3.5 blocks and close to 15 rebounds a game.
After being the bright spot of the team in the early going, the Lakers reserves have struggled to find their way after the trade to acquire Trevor Ariza and Drew moving to the first unit in Kwame Brown’s absence. It raises the question of “Who Starts?”
Continue reading ‘Lakers Today: 11/29/07′
In a somewhat expected move, Coby Karl has been sent to the Lakers Developmental League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Karl has played sparingly this season, appearing in only two games.
Coby’s first appearance for the D-Fenders will be this Thursday against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Game time is 3:30pm at STAPLES Center. Your ticket for Thursday’s Lakers-Nuggets game is also good for a lower level seat for the D-Fenders game that day.
Here’s the full press release:
The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guard Coby Karl to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.
Karl was signed by the Lakers as a free agent on July 30, 2007. He has appeared in two games this season, averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 assists in 2.0 minutes.
The 6’5” guard from Boise State averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior and was named First Team All-WAC. Karl’s 1,698 career points ranks third on Boise State’s all-time scoring list while leaving Boise State as the all-time leader in games played (127) and three-pointers made (266).
