Thursday, March 20, 2008

Erie on the benefits of the D-League

Minor league hoops worth effort

By Duane Rankin
duane.rankin@timesnews.com

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20080320&Category=BASKETBALL04&ArtNo=803200454&SectionCat=SPORTS&Template=printart

CLEVELAND -- Devin Brown is a long way from Fayetteville, N.C.

After shooting jumpers before Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons, the Cleveland Cavaliers forward signed numerous autographs with sweat pouring down his face.

Not bypassing any kid with a basketball, banner or program, Brown signed away with a smile. Having played in the NBA Development League, Brown still has a grateful glow to him even though he's a five-year NBA veteran.

"The D-League was good for me," said Brown, who was not drafted in the NBA out of Texas-San Antonio, where he's the all-time leading scorer with 1,922 points.

"I worked on a couple of things. I went down there and played some games. It was definitely good to go down there and focus on what you want to do."
When Erie plays its first year in the D-League next season, area fans will see players like Brown and Detroit forward Amir Johnson, who both played in the league before landing in the NBA.

"I just gained confidence," said Johnson about his D-League experience. "Knowing I can play in the league. Playing hard every game."

For those players, it's about doing whatever it takes in the D-League to prove they can play in the NBA.

"When you spend some time down there, you really start appreciating the game so when you get back to the NBA level, you want to do anything and everything you can to stay up here," Brown said. "That's what I've done."

Brown was one of the D-League's best players.
He won the league's 2003 most valuable player and rookie of the year awards and was a first-team D-League pick for the Fayetteville Patriots, who are no longer in the league.

"I worked on my 3-point shot, play making and rebounding," said Brown, a 6-foot 5-inch forward. In 44 games with Fayetteville, Brown averaged 16.9 points.

Brown since has played for San Antonio, where he won a 2005 NBA title, Utah and New Orleans before signing with the Cavaliers as a free agent before this season. He's started 13 games for Cleveland.

As for Johnson, the Pistons drafted him in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft out of Westchester High in Los Angeles. Like Brown, Johnson also played for Fayetteville and averaged 17.3 points in 17 games.

The next season, Johnson played in only eight games with the Pistons, but found playing time in the D-League with the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce.
"It only made me better," Johnson said. "All I looked for was an opportunity to make me better and learn more. I looked at it like it was a chance to get more playing time.

"A lot of people go to college first. I was coming fresh out of high school so it was a good opportunity to go down there to play against college players."

Making two stops at Sioux Falls, Johnson played 22 games and averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.13 blocks in 35.2 minutes. When Detroit wanted to call him back up, Johnson asked to stay in the D-League.

"He was really starting to improve his game so (the Pistons) let him stay," said Skyforce owner/president, Mike Heineman.

Those D-League experiences have helped Johnson stick with the Pistons this season. He's played in 48 games for Detroit in a reserve role.
A McDonald's All-American, Johnson scored a career-high 20 points against Boston, which has the league's best record.

"We still follow Amir Johnson today just cause he was so good for us," Heineman said. "It's exciting to see him doing well in the NBA."

DUANE RANKIN can be reached at 878-2210 or by e-mail.

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