Ridiculous Update #1

Recent weeks here have seen a sharp decline in content from anyone who isn't Scott Schroeder (and a not-at-all coincidental rise in quality), a development that has led me to find my own little niche here. Advanced statistics? I believe in them, sure, but I'm never exactly sure how to work them into my writing. Pure basketball analysis? Also not my strongest suit. To make my mark here, I've decided to lean upon my one surefire talent: retaining large amounts of information, information I use in endless rosterbation.

So, without further adieu, welcome to the inaugural edition of Ridiculous Update, where I evaluate the career of every single D-League alum in the NBA in what I hope will be a weekly (or at least monthly) update here at RU.

To start off this first post, I figured best to divide all eligible players into two categories, those who originated from the D-League and those who were actually drafted by NBA teams. Pretty much anyone mentioned in these should be on one of these two lists.

Draft Picks, with their current NBA team, all D-League teams and any accolades. (sorted alphabetically)

Alexis Ajinca (C, Toronto Raptors. Maine Red Claws)

Solomon Alabi (C, Toronto Raptors. Erie BayHawks)

Cole Aldrich (F/C, Oklahoma City Thunder. Tulsa 66ers)

James Anderson (G/F, San Antonio Spurs. Austin Toros)

Luke Babbitt (F, Portland Trail Blazers. Idaho Stampede)

Matt Barnes (F, Los Angeles Lakers. Fayetteville Patriots)

Brandon Bass (F/C, Orlando Magic. Tulsa 66ers)

Rodrigue Beaubois (G, Dallas Mavericks. Texas Legends)

Andray Blatche (F/C, Washington Wizards. Roanoke Dazzle)

Craig Brackins (F, Philadelphia 76ers. Springfield Armor)

Avery Bradley (G, Boston Celtics. Maine Red Claws)

Aaron Brooks (G, Phoenix Suns. Rio Grande Valley Vipers) - winner, NBA Most Improved Player, 2010.

Shannon Brown (G, Los Angeles Lakers. Albuquerque Thunderbirds/RGV Vipers) - 2 time NBA Champion.

DeMarre Carroll (F, Houston Rockets. Dakota Wizards)

Earl Clark (F, Orlando Magic. Iowa Energy)

Daequan Cook (G, Oklahoma City Thunder. Iowa Energy) - NBA Three Point Shootout Champion

Ed Davis (F, Toronto Raptors. Erie BayHawks)

Joey Dorsey (F/C, Toronto Raptors. Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

Devin Ebanks (F, Los Angeles Lakers. Bakersfield Jam)

Jeremy Evans (F, Utah Jazz. Utah Flash)

Christian Eyenga (G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers. Erie BayHawks)

Jordan Farmar (G, New Jersey Nets. Los Angeles D-Fenders)- 2 time NBA Champion.

Kyrylo Fesenko (C, Utah Jazz. Utah Flash)

Jonny Flynn (G, Minnesota Timberwolves. Sioux Falls SkyForce)- NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Marcin Gortat (C, Phoenix Suns. Anaheim Arsenal)

Donte Greene (F, Sacramento Kings. Reno Bighorns)

Danny Green (G/F, San Antonio Spurs. Reno Bighorns)

Ryan Hollins (C, Cleveland Cavaliers. Fort Worth Flyers)

Ersan Ilyasova (F, Milwaukee Bucks. Tulsa 66ers)

Darnell Jackson (F, Sacramento Kings. Erie BayHawks)

Amir Johnson (F, Toronto Raptors. Fayetteville Patriots/Sioux Falls Skyforce)

Armon Johnson (G, Portland Trail Blazers. Idaho Stampede)

James Johnson (F, Toronto Raptors. Iowa Energy)

Dahntay Jones (G, Indiana Pacers. Fort Wayne Mad Ants)

Dominique Jones (G, Dallas Mavericks. Texas Legends)

Kosta Koufos (F/C, Denver Nuggets. Utah Flash)

Gani Lawal (F, Phoenix Suns. Iowa Energy)

Shaun Livingston (G, Charlotte Bobcats. Tulsa 66ers)

Ian Mahinmi (C, Dallas Mavericks. Austin Toros)

Josh McRoberts (F, Indiana Pacers. Idaho Stampede)

C.J. Miles (G/F, Utah Jazz. Albuquerque Thunderbirds/Idaho Stampede)

Patrick Mills (G, Portland Trail Blazers. Idaho Stampede)

Byron Mullens (C, Oklahoma City Thunder. Tulsa 66ers)

Hamady N'diaye (C, Washington Wizards. Dakota Wizards)

Steve Novak (F, San Antonio Spurs. RGV Vipers/Reno Bighorns)

Daniel Orton (C, Orlando Magic. New Mexico Thunderbirds)

Patrick Patterson (F, Houston Rockets. Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

Dexter Pittman (C, Miami Heat. Sioux Falls Skyforce)

Larry Sanders (F/C, Milwaukee Bucks. Fort Wayne Mad Ants)

Ramon Sessions (G, Cleveland Cavaliers. Tulsa 66ers)

Pape Sy (G, Atlanta Hawks. Utah Flash)

Jermaine Taylor (G, Sacramento Kings. Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

Hasheem Thabeet (C, Houston Rockets. Dakota Wizards)

Von Wafer (G, Boston Celtics. Colorado 14ers)

Bill Walker (G, New York Knicks. Utah Flash/Maine Red Claws)

Willie Warren (G, Los Angeles Clippers. Bakersfield Jam)

Martell Webster (G/F, Minnesota Timberwolves. Fort Worth Flyers)

Sonny Weems (G/F, Toronto Raptors. Colorado 14ers)

D.J. White (F/C, Charlotte Bobcats. Tulsa 66ers)

Hassan Whiteside (C, Sacramento Kings. Reno Bighorns)

Louis Williams (G, Philadelphia 76ers. Fort Worth Flyers)

Terrence Williams (G/F, Houston Rockets. Springfield Armor)

Dorell Wright (G/F, Golden State Warriors. Florida Flame) - NBA Champion.

Undrafted Players, with their current NBA team, all D-League teams, career accolades.

Jeff Adrien (F, Golden State Warrios. Erie BayHawks/RGV Vipers)

Lou Amundson (F, Golden State Warriors. Colorado 14ers) - D-League Rookie of the Year/First Team

Joel Anthony (F/C, Miami Heat. Iowa Energy)

Jose Juan Barea (G, Dallas Mavericks. Fort Worth Flyers)

Earl Barron (F/C, Milwaukee Bucks. Huntsville Flight/Florida Flame/LA D-Fenders/Iowa Energy)- NBA Champ

Will Bynum (G, Detroit Pistons. Roanoke Dazzle)

Matt Carroll (G/F, Charlotte Bobcats. Roanoke Dazzle)- D-League MVP

Marcus Cousin (C, Utah Jazz. Austin Toros)

Zabian Dowdell (G, Phoenix Suns. Tulsa 66ers)

Gary Forbes (G/F, Denver Nuggets. Sioux Falls SkyForce/Tulsa 66ers)

Sundiata Gaines (G, New Jersey Nets. Idaho Stampede)

Alonzo Gee (G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers. Austin Toros) D-League Rookie of the Year

Stephen Graham (G/F, New Jersey Nets. Sioux Falls Skyforce)

Hamed Haddadi (C, Memphis Grizzlies. Dakota Wizards)

Chuck Hayes (F/C, Houston Rockets. Albuquerque Thunderbirds)

Othyus Jeffers (G/F, Washington Wizards. Iowa Energy)

Pooh Jeter (G, Sacramento Kings. Colorado 14ers)

Chris Johnson (C, Portland Trail Blazers. Dakota Wizards)

Jeremy Lin (G, Golden State Warriors. Reno Bighorns)

Cartier Martin (G/F, Washington Wizards. Iowa Energy)

Jerel McNeal (G, New Orleans Hornets. Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

Jamario Moon (F, Los Angeles Clippers. Mobile Revelers/Huntsville Flight/Fort Worth Flyers)- NBA Rookie 2nd

Josh Powell (F, Atlanta Hawks. Fort Worth Flyers)- 2 time NBA Champion

Samardo Samuels (F/C, Cleveland Cavaliers. Erie BayHawks)

Mustafa Shakur (G, Washington Wizards. Tulsa 66ers/RGV Vipers)

Garret Siler (C, Phoenix Suns. Iowa Energy)

 

Ishmael Smith (G, Memphis Grizzlies. Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

Garrett Temple (G, Charlotte Bobcats. RGV Vipers/Erie BayHawks)

Anthony Tolliver (F, Minnesota Timberwolves. Iowa Energy/Austin Toros/Idaho Stampede)

Ben Uzoh (G, New Jersey Nets. Springfield Armor)

C.J. Watson (G, Chicago Bulls. Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

Reggie Williams (G/F, Golden State Warriors. Sioux Falls SkyForce)

That's a little over 90 NBA players with previous D-League experience. Keep in mind, this list includes only players who are currently on an NBA roster, which leaves out players like Orien Greene, Lester Hudson and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, to name a few.

This little database here will serve a basic talent pool for the second half of this Update, my Former D-League Player of the week.

Being as this is the first week, I won't be putting as much emphasis on this section. I'm planning on using the second group, the players who made their NBA careers through the D-League, for this award. Nevertheless, I need a winner now.

Former D-League Player of the Week: Earl Barron, Milwaukee Bucks.

For lack of a better candidate (and any serious statistical analysis), Earl gets the award for single-handedly stopping the Bucks from setting an NBA record for point scoring futility with his team-high 10 points in 10 minutes during the Bucks 87-56 loss to Boston.

Runner-up: C.J. Watson, Chicago Bulls.