Ridiculous-osity
Rod Benson Releases Boom Tho Smash From Korea
Remember Rod Benson? Me too!
2011 NBA Draft Prospects from NCAA Preseason Top 25 Part Three
The final part of the three part series going through the prospects of the top 25 preseason rankings for the NBA Draft. Tons of splendid freshmen here.
The D-League (Pre)Season Starts Today!
The defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers will host the Halcones Universidad Veracruzana en Xalapa, the four-time defending champions of Mexico's LNBP league, at the University of Texas-Pan American tonight.
2011 NBA Draft Prospects from NCAA Preseason Top 25 Part Two
More freshmen highlight teams ranked from 16 to 9 in the NCAA preseason rankings. Jereme Richmond, Fab Melo, and Brandon Knight are the most exciting.
Ridiculous Upside Is Looking For Writers
You may or may not have noticed, but the formerly frequent posting hasn't been quite as frequent lately due to a myriad of happenings: my writing also appearing more and more often at AOL FanHouse, Jon L going to graduate school, Mike Gansey moving to Spain and Michael Levin moving to the Left Coast among other, crazy things.
2011 NBA Draft Prospects from NCAA Preseason Top 25 Part One
Taking a look at what prospects from the top ranked teams have a shot at the NBA draft this summer.
NBA Development League Allocation List
As most that frequent Ridiculous Upside know, the returning/allocated players list is probably more important than which players are in the actual draft. Thanks to Aol FanHouse (via me), after the jump I have included a list of players that are either returning, allocated or participated in local tryouts and have ended up on D-League training camp rosters.
Playing Professional Basketball Is Not As Easy As It Sounds
Quite a few NBA players were cut yesterday, but since I'm still working on some things regarding that, I thought I'd showcase something from my man Jordan Schultz, a colleague over at AOL FanHouse.
VERSUS Apparently Plans To Air A D-League Preseason Game
The NBA Development League's regular season doesn't begin until November 20, but VERSUS will apparently be airing a yet-to-be-announced preseason game between the Texas Legends and Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Thursday, November 18.
Kane Fitzgerald, Former D-League Official, Is Prolific At Calling Technical Fouls
Chris Sheridan included former NBA Development League official Kane Fitzgerald in the headline of one his ESPN TrueHoop articles Wednesday, noting that his quick whistle when it came to his calling a pair of technical fouls had "a bigger impact on the outcome of a game than someone such as Kevin Garnett."
Steve Gansey Officially Named Fort Wayne Mad Ants' Assistant Coach
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants announced Monday that Steve Gansey, brother of Mike Gansey, has been named assistant coach for the 2010-2011 season. This will be Gansey's second year with the team, as he served as a volunteer assistant under head coach Joey Meyer during the 2009-2010 season.
Chinese Businessman To Co-Own Texas Legends
The Texas Legends, this season's newest expansion team in the NBA Development League, aren't averse to being a bit innovative - I mean, just look at the scouting skills of J.R. Slagendorff. You could also add the hiring of Nancy Lieberman to the "innovative list" as well as now being the first multi-nationally owned team in the D-League.
Yaroslav Korolev Takes Second In Spanish Dunk Contest, First In Best-Looking Significant Other
Yaroslav Korolev - yes, the former Los Angeles Clippers lottery pick - competed in the ACB Dunk Contest along with Fede Van Lacke and Tomas Satoransky. Satoransky took first, but Korolev received the loudest cheers of the night when it was time for his "prop dunk."
Reno Bighorns To Pick First In November's D-League Draft
The Reno Bighorns won the 2010 NBA Development League's Draft lottery and will have the first overall selection in the 2010 NBA D-League draft. The lottery took place in Dallas today at the League's annual coaches meetings. The Draft will be held via teleconference Nov. 1, at the League's headquarters in New York.
Former NBA Player Michael Ruffin Is Now Coaching in the ABA
About a year and a half ago, Michael Ruffin an NBA player expecting "big things" for his Portland Trail Blazers. Now? Ruffin has been named the first ever head coach for the ABA's Colorado Kings, an expansion team based in Denver, Colorado.
Is The NBA D-League Perfect?
Kevin Owens, a 6-foot-10 center who played 136 games in the D-League for the Roanoke Dazzle from 2003-2006, recently chronicled his (mostly) positive NBA Development League experience in his latest blog entry for SLAM.
Texas Legends Complete D-League Expansion Draft; Now Have Mookie Wright's Rights
The Texas Legends, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks, completed their expansion "draft" Monday with the results being announced this afternoon.
The Texas Legends Will Draft The Los Angeles D-Fenders Next Week. Excited?!
The NBA Development League's new team, the Texas Legends, will take the first step towards formulating their roster for the upcoming 2010-11 season with the 2010 NBA D-League Expansion Draft.
Texas Legends Roster Beginning To Take Shape For Inaugural D-League Season
When I woke up while trying to recover from strep throat Monday morning, my prognosis for the Texas Legends roster included Moussa Seck, Eric Tramiel, Mouhammad Faye and whichever Los Angeles D-Fenders don't head overseas next season. Before going to bed Monday night, however, I learned more about the Legends' ace in the hole, their playground... Legend (if you will): Draino.
Skyforce, 66ers To Meet In Game I'm Looking Forward To Most
The NBA Development League announced its schedule for the upcoming 2010-2011 season Monday afternoon, beginning with eight teams tipping off on Friday, November 19. While it's difficult to get too excited about the schedule being released, knowing that the teams won't have any players until the D-League's Draft is conducted in late October, the rosters in the Development League are fluid year-round.
So Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Richie Frahm And Benjie Paras Walk Into A Bar...
Gary Payton, the pride of the Seattle Supersonics and recent focus of my friend's Facebook picture after a sighting in Vegas during the NBA Summer League, will join fellow former NBA All-Stars Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond and Glen Rice later this month in the Philippines
Darvin Ham T-Shirts! Get Your Darvin Ham Commemorative T-Shirts!
The first 5 fans who buy a New Mexico Thunderbirds season ticket will received a FREE "Ham Makes Us Stronger" commemorative t-shirt.
Korean Basketball League Draft Results!
The Korean Basketball League's import player draft took place Thursday night in the Monte Carlo Hotel's ballroom down in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada following two and a half days of tryouts - and I have the results.
The National D-League Tryout Is Next Weekend In Chantilly, Virginia
In less than a week, 200 potential D-Leaguers will be flocking to Chantilly, Virginia (apparently it's quite close to Washington, D.C.) with their $600 certified checks to showcase their skills in front of the NBA Development League's decision makers for the annual National Tryout Camp.
Hey, Remember D-League Bullets?
A round-up of recent stories about the D-League and its players.
Los Angeles D-Fenders, Lakers' minor league affiliate, to take hiatus
The Lakers' minor league affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, will take a one-year hiatus and will no longer use Staples Center as its home base, The Times has learned. Lakers owner Jerry Buss will retain ownership of the D-Fenders, who are expected to reemerge at a different Southern California venue for the 2011-12 season.
2011 D-League Showcase: Coming Soon to an Island Near...Me
Commentary on the news that the 2011 D-League Showcase will be held on South Padre Island, Texas.
What the New Jersey Nets Buying the D-League's Springfield Armor Could Mean
Looking at several questions raised by incoming Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's reported interest in the D-League's Springfield Armor.
Repurposing Ridiculous Upside
The D-League season is officially over and therefore, Ridiculous Upside was about to get pretty boring. We'll still cover the D-League when it's important, but things are just too slow for the D-League before Summer League stuff starts to roll in. Have no fear, however, because it's one of the most wonderful times of the year - NBA Draft time.
Kurt Looby Vs Greg Stiemsma In Battle Of The D-League's Defensive Player Of The Year
We named the Maine Red Claws Kurt Looby our defensive player of the year, though Sioux Falls Skyforce big man Greg Stiemsma was just one ranking point behind. Today, the D-League named Stiemsma their defensive player of the year, though I assume it was a rather close battle.