Cory Joseph And Justin Dentmon Join Forces Once Again In Austin

The returning NBA D-League champions just got a nice boost heading into regular season which will begin Wednesday, November 28 when the Toros take on the Texas Legends in Frisco, Texas. Cory Joseph has been assigned for the fourth time in his career all of which to the Austin Toros via the San Antonio Spurs. Joseph will join the former D-League MVP Justin Dentmon, the two guards give the Toros bragging rights for the most talented backcourt duo in the D-League as we enter the 2012-2013 season.

Both Joseph and Dentmon were influential pieces for the Toros as they won their first D-League championship last season. Joseph received a Call-Up in the middle of the Toros championship series against the Los Angeles D-Fenders, with their backs against the wall down 0-1 in a best of three series, his counterpart Dentmon took over. Dentmon took upon the scoring responsibilities finishing with over 25 points in the final two games and ultimately handing L.A. their only two loses of the postseason.

Dentmon averaged 22.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Toros last season, while Joseph averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists as he helped the Toros reach their championship destination. The Joseph/Dentmon duo gives Austin the edge in being the favorites heading into this D-League season.

Both players spent time with the Spurs last season, and Joseph started with the club for their first eight games this season appearing in just one of those games. Joseph and Dentmon showed vast improvement from their stints in the D-League, the two enjoyed plenty of minutes with the Toros, and ultimately improved parts of their game that scouts and detractors have noted as needed areas of improvement. Joseph, the youngest of the two, has tremendous upside and the Spurs have shown an affinity for the former Texas Longhorn investing time and resources assisting in Joseph's development as a player.

The relationship between San Antonio and Austin remains one of the strongest in the D-League, the talent and commitment to player development provides a model for the rest of the league to try and replicate. Joseph and Dentmon are two examples of players that can succeed with either club, the Spurs or Toros, and that is the most telling sign that the two organizations have a found a formula for success.