D-League Names All-League Teams

Dear D-League,

You and I, as much as we both love D-League basketball, differ more than I'd like.  You enjoy former NBA talent and lots of scoring.  I enjoy learning about a player only because I live in Bismarck, North Dakota and watching that player succeed in his dream to become an NBA player (Dontell Jefferson, anyone?).

Today, the D-League announced it's All-League teams.  When putting this together, I'd consider an All-League team as the best players I could team up to play an NBA team.  Doesn't matter what their stats are - just the best five players at their respective position.

While all deserve the accolades they received, I don't think they came out in the right order.  We'll have the official RU All-League teams, along with our picks for MVP, Rookie, Impact Player and Coach Of The Year awards out tomorrow morning for your perusal, but today, I just wanted to bring up a few of the most notable differences.

Erik Daniels hasn't played forward all season, yet they made him a forward so he could make the first team.  Yes, he's an NBA forward, but he's started every game I've seen at center for the Bayhawks.  He even started the All-Star game as the center.  He's got a name, he has NBA experience and he's putting up stats this season (21 points, 10 boards), but I don't think he should have been a first-team forward when he hasn't started a game at forward all season.  I would have put him on the first team for best tattoos, however.

I wouldn't put Will Conroy on the first team either.  His numbers deserve it, yes, but if he was on another team, I don't think he'd have been putting up those numbers - first, his attitude would have him in trouble, and second, the vet's would have let him know what his role was, rather than watching him go out and score 26 points and turn the ball over more than four times a game.

Walker Russell as an Honorable Mention?  It shows me that you guys pay attention to RU enough to realize that he's not having the best year ever shooting wise, but seriously.  Russell broke the D-League assists record for most in a season and is averaging 16.3 points and 10.9 assists per game.  He's going to help his team a lot more than he hurts it.

Continue on for the full list.

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE FIRST TEAM

Position Player Team

Guard Blake Ahearn Dakota Wizards
Guard Will Conroy Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Forward Erik Daniels Erie BayHawks
Forward Marcus Williams Austin Toros
Center Courtney Sims* Iowa Energy

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SECOND TEAM

Position Player Team

Guard Trey Johnson Bakersfield Jam
Guard James White* Anaheim Arsenal
Forward Josh Davis Colorado 14ers
Forward Derrick Byars Bakersfield Jam
Center Chris Hunter Fort Wayne Mad Ants

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE THIRD TEAM

Position Player Team

Guard Eddie Gill Colorado 14ers
Guard Dontell Jefferson* Utah Flash
Forward Ronald Dupree Utah Flash
Forward Cartier Martin* Iowa Energy
Center Lance Allred Idaho Stampede

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION

Position Player Team

Guard Cedric Bozeman Anaheim Arsenal
Guard Joe Crawford* Los Angeles D-Fenders
Guard Malik Hairston# Austin Toros/Spurs
Guard Luke Jackson Idaho Stampede
Guard Othyus Jeffers Iowa Energy
Guard Walker Russell Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Guard Curtis Stinson Iowa Energy
Forward Will Frisby Dakota Wizards
Forward Richard Hendrix Dakota Wizards
Forward Jasper Johnson Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Forward Dwayne Jones Austin Toros
Forward Nick Lewis Bakersfield Jam
Forward Antonio Meeking Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Forward David Noel Reno Bighorns
Forward Trent Strickland Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Center Joe Dabbert Colorado 14ers
Center Kurt Looby Rio Grande Valley Vipers

* - player currently in NBA

# - player on assignment from the NBA