Twenty of the NBA Development League’s top prospects, including seven who have already been called up to the NBA, have been chosen to join the NBA All-Stars in Los Angeles to play in the fifth annual NBA D-League All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 19, on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas. The game will air live on NBA TV at 5 p.m. ET.

Selected to the NBA D-League All-Star East Team were Chris Johnson (Dakota Wizards), Ivan Johnson and Garrett Temple (Erie BayHawks), Walker Russell Jr. (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Othyus Jeffers, Courtney Sims and Curtis Stinson (Iowa Energy), DeShawn Sims (Maine Red Claws), Patrick Ewing Jr. and Dexter Pittman (Sioux Falls Skyforce).

Chosen to the NBA D-League All-Star West Team, playing host to the East Team in Los Angeles, were Marcus Cousin (Austin Toros), Trey Johnson (Bakersfield Jam), Shane Edwards (New Mexico Thunderbirds), Jeff Adrien and Mustafa Shakur (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), Joe Alexander and Sean Williams (Texas Legends), Larry Owens and Zabian Dowdell (Tulsa 66ers) and Orien Greene (Utah Flash).

Tulsa 66ers head coach Nate Tibbetts and his assistant coach Dale Osbourne will coach the West, while Iowa Energy head coach Nick Nurse and his assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren will coach the East. Nurse and Bjorkgren are coaching their third consecutive All-Star Game, while Tibbetts and Osbourne are making their first All-Star Game appearance. Both coaching staffs were selected based on their teams having the highest winning percentage in their respective conferences through Feb. 1. Prior to the game, Tibbetts and Nurse will choose starting lineups for their own teams.

Seven of this year’s NBA D-League All-Stars are currently in the NBA after earning Call-Ups this season: Zabian Dowdell (Tulsa 66ers to Phoenix Suns); Larry Owens (Tulsa 66ers to San Antonio Spurs); Mustafa Shakur (Rio Grande Valley Vipers to Washington Wizards); Chris Johnson (Dakota Wizards to Portland Trail Blazers); Garrett Temple (Erie BayHawks to Milwaukee Bucks); Trey Johnson (Bakersfield Jam to Toronto Raptors) and Orien Greene (Utah Flash to New Jersey Nets).

Last season, 11 of the 20 NBA D-League All-Stars who played in Dallas went on to earn Call-Ups to the NBA later in the year, including Reggie Williams, who averaged 15.2 points in 24 games with the Golden State Warriors after being called up from the Sioux Falls Skyforce. At the end of last season, one in five NBA players had NBA D-League experience.

“Not only can fans see the stars of the NBA during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, but also the future of the NBA in the NBA D-League All-Star Game Presented by SonoSite,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “We’re thrilled to bring our exciting brand of basketball and fan-friendly events to NBA All-Star Weekend for the fifth consecutive year.”

On the East Team, Dakota’s Chris Johnson, out of LSU, was called up to the Portland Trail Blazers after averaging 17.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in 27 games with the Wizards. Erie’s Garrett Temple, another LSU product who earned three Call-Ups to the NBA last season, signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after averaging 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists with the BayHawks and Rio Grande Valley this year.

On the West Team, Bakersfield’s Trey Johnson, the former Jackson State star who led the league averaging 25.8 points in 26 games, was called up to the Toronto Raptors for his third career GATORADE Call-Up. Rio Grande Valley’s Mustafa Shakur, the Arizona grad who averaged 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists with the Vipers, was called up by the Washington Wizards. Tulsa’s Zabian Dowdell, out of Virginia Tech, led the 66ers in points (14.5), assists (4.6) and steals (2.4) through 18 games before being called up by the Phoenix Suns. Tulsa’s Larry Owens, the Oral Roberts product who averaged 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 23 games, was called up by the San Antonio Spurs. Utah’s Orien Greene, the Boston Celtics’ second-round pick (53rd overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette, led the Flash in scoring (18.0 ppg) through 24 games, and was called up by the New Jersey Nets to add to his 128 career NBA appearances.

Also on the East Team, Iowa’s Courtney Sims, the former Michigan standout who is averaging 16.4 points and 9.9 rebounds, which ranks third in the league, has appeared in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks. Sioux Falls’ Dexter Pittman, out of Texas, is currently on assignment from the Miami Heat, who selected him in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. Pittman is averaging 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 17 games with the Skyforce.

Completing the East roster are: Erie’s Ivan Johnson, out of Cal State San Bernardino, whose 19.9 points per game currently ranks second in the league; Fort Wayne’s Walker Russell Jr., out of Jacksonville State, who leads the Mad Ants with 16.6 points per game, and is fourth in the league with 7.4 assists per game; Iowa’s Othyus Jeffers, out of Robert Morris-Chicago, who is the current league leader in scoring (21.1 ppg) and is among the league leaders in rebounds (9.2 rpg, 6th) and steals (2.2 spg, 4th); Iowa’s Curtis Stinson, out of Iowa State, who is averaging 17.8 points and a league-leading 9.0 assists; Maine’s DeShawn Sims, out of Michigan, who leads the Red Claws with 18.2 points and 8.2 rebounds; and Sioux Falls’ Patrick Ewing Jr., out of Georgetown, who is averaging 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds with the Skyforce and the Reno Bighorns.

For the West, Texas’ Joe Alexander, the West Virginia product whom the Milwaukee Bucks selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, ranks third in the league with 19.8 points per game, and second in the league with 10.0 rebounds per game. His Texas teammate, Sean Williams, leads the league with 3.2 blocks per game, and is also averaging 14.5 points and 9.7 rebounds. Out of Boston College, Williams was picked by the New Jersey Nets in the first round (17th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, and played in 126 games with the Nets over three years. Rio Grande Valley’s Jeff Adrien, out of Connecticut, played in 15 games with the Golden State Warriors this season, and is the league’s leading rebounder (10.8 rpg) and 12th-leading scorer (17.4 ppg.). Austin’s Marcus Cousin, out of Houston, is leading the Toros with 15.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while New Mexico’s Shane Edwards, out of Arkansas-Little Rock, is averaging 18.7 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Thunderbirds.

Six of this year’s All-Star selections will make their second NBA D-League All-Star Game appearance: Shakur and Stinson played last season in Dallas, while Jeffers, Trey Johnson, Russell Jr. and Sims appeared in Phoenix in 2009. Every other player will make his first NBA D-League All-Star Game appearance.

The complete 2011 NBA D-League All-Star teams:

EAST D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR ROSTER

Pos. Player (Team) Ht. Wt. College
F Patrick Ewing Jr. (Sioux Falls) 6-8 235 Georgetown
G Othyus Jeffers (Iowa) 6-5 200 Robert Morris-Chicago
C Chris Johnson (Dakota) * 6-11 210 LSU
F Ivan Johnson (Erie) 6-8 230 Cal State San Bernardino
C Dexter Pittman (Sioux Falls) # (R) 6-11 300 Texas
G Walker Russell Jr. (Fort Wayne) 6-0 175 Jacksonville State
C Courtney Sims (Iowa) 6-11 245 Michigan
F DeShawn Sims (Maine) (R) 6-8 225 Michigan
G Curtis Stinson (Iowa) 6-3 215 Iowa State
G Garrett Temple (Erie) * 6-5 180 LSU

Head Coach: Nick Nurse (Iowa)
Assistant Coach: Nate Bjorkgren (Iowa)
Athletic Trainer: Jervae Odom (Iowa)

WEST D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR ROSTER

Pos. Player (Team) Ht. Wt. College
F Jeff Adrien (Rio Grande Valley) 6-7 245 Connecticut
F Joe Alexander (Texas) 6-8 220 West Virginia
C Marcus Cousin (Austin) 6-11 255 Houston
G Zabian Dowdell (Tulsa) * 6-3 190 Virginia Tech
F Shane Edwards (New Mexico) 6-7 220 Arkansas-Little Rock
G Orien Greene (Utah) * 6-4 210 Louisiana-Lafayette
G Trey Johnson (Bakersfield) * 6-5 215 Jackson State
F Larry Owens (Tulsa) * 6-7 210 Oral Roberts
G Mustafa Shakur (Rio Grande Valley) * 6-3 190 Arizona
C Sean Williams (Texas) 6-10 235 Boston College

Head Coach: Nate Tibbetts (Tulsa)
Assistant Coach: Dale Osbourne (Tulsa)
Athletic Trainer: Tony Katzenmeier (Tulsa)

* - Indicates a player currently in the NBA
# - Indicates an NBA assigned player
(R)- Indicates player is a rookie

2010 D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
February 13, 2010

Brian Butch, whose nickname is the “Polar Bear,” felt right at home in snowy Dallas this weekend, capturing MVP honors in the 2010 NBA Development League All-Star Game, played on Center Court at NBA Jam Session.

Butch, the NBA D-League’s 16th leading scorer (16.1 ppg), scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, as the West raced past the East, 98-81 in front of a packed house at Center Court. Diamon Simpson of the Los Angeles D-Fenders added 15 points, while Rio Grande Valley’s Mike Harris had 14 points for the West Squad.

“It’s just a great honor. You come out there – it is just one game – but I just went out there and tried to play as hard as I possibly could, and show everyone what I could do,” said Butch, who went undrafted in 2008 and played in the 2008 NBA Summer League with the Memphis Grizzlies. “I think the thing that I do the best – what my skill set would be – is a big man who can shoot the ball. I think there are some other things I can do. I’m trying to improve my rebounding, as well as some other things that can lead to a call-up, and hopefully I’ll sink in somewhere.”

The Iowa Energy’s Earl Barron, who spent parts of three seasons with the Miami Heat from 2005 through 2008, paced the East team with 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting. Sioux Falls’ Reggie Williams, the NBA D-League’s third-leading scorer (25.8 ppg), added 17 points for the East, while Iowa’s Curtis Stinson dished out a game-high 11 assists.

“It was a great opportunity to play here in Dallas for All-Star,” said Barron, the NBA D-League’s sixth-leading rebounder. “I've got my family here and a few friends and all the people I know are watching this on NBA TV.”

Chris Finch of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, who coached the West squad, was happy with his team’s balanced effort.

“It’s simply about trying to even-out minutes and get guys in there at the right time so that they get a chance to play well,” said Finch, whose Vipers lead the Western Conference at 23-8. “We told our guys that we were going to split the minutes into blocks. We told them we were going to be fair and that it was a chance for these guys to showcase their skills.”


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D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME INTRO

Dakota’s Romel Beck, Bakersfield’s Brian Butch, Los Angeles’ Joe Crawford, Reno’s Desmon Farmer, Austin’s Curtis Jerrells, and Los Angeles’ Diamon Simpson were today selected to replace Maine’s Alexis Ajinca (injured), Idaho’s Anthony Tolliver (Call-Up to the Golden State Warriors), Utah’s Dontell Jefferson (injured), Rio Grande Valley’s Antonio Anderson (injured), Idaho’s Sundiata Gaines (Call-Up to the Utah Jazz), and Rio Grande Valley’s Joey Dorsey (recalled to the Houston Rockets) in the 2010 NBA D-League All-Star Game.

Beck, who will also participate in the 2010 NBA D-League Dream Factory Friday Night in the NBA D-League Haier Shooting Stars competition, is averaging a Wizards-best 19.7 points (10th in the NBA D-League) while Crawford leads the D-Fenders with 18.9 points per game (12th in the NBA D-League.) Farmer, another NBA D-League Haier Shooting Stars participant, leads the Bighorns with 24.1 points (4th in the NBA D-League). Jerrells joins Austin teammates Alonzo Gee and Dwayne Jones in Dallas, and is averaging 20.5 points (8th in the NBA D-League) for the Toros. Simpson, also participating in the NBA D-League Haier Shooting Stars competition, is averaging 16.0 points to go with 9.6 rebounds (5th in the NBA D-League) for Los Angeles.

Beck will play for the East team, while Butch, Crawford, Farmer, Jerrells and Simpson will play for the West team.

The fourth annual NBA D-League All-Star Game will take place on Saturday, Feb. 13 on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session and will be televised live on NBA TV at 3 p.m. ET.

InsideHoops.com definitely recommends you catch the 2010 D-league All-Star game. A lot of these players have been in the NBA, and plenty more will make the jump in this current or future seasons. Many just land 10-day contracts and wind up heading back to the D-League. Some stick around in the pros. And various other guys wind up heading overseas, where you may not hear from them again.

But these guys are pretty much the best players in the United States who aren't NBA players.

NBA D-League All-Stars must be on an active NBA D-League roster in order to participate in the game.

The complete 2010 NBA D-League All-Star teams are listed below.

EAST D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME ROSTER

Pos. Player (Team) Ht. Wt. Birthdate College
G Morris Almond (Springfield) 6-5 210 2/2/1985 Rice
G Ron Howard (Fort Wayne) 6-5 200 11/14/1982 Valparaiso
G Curtis Stinson (Iowa) 6-3 215 2/15/1983 Iowa State
G Reggie Williams (Sioux Falls) 6-6 210 9/14/1986 VMI
F Alade Aminu (Erie) 6-10 235 9/14/1987 Georgia Tech.
F Romel Beck (Dakota) 6-8 195 5/29/1982 UNLV
F Trey Gilder (Maine) 6-9 185 1/24/1985 Northwestern State
F Rob Kurz (Fort Wayne) 6-9 230 3/5/1985 Notre Dame
F Cartier Martin (Iowa) 6-7 220 11/20/1984 Kansas State
C Earl Barron (Iowa) 6-11 230 8/14/1981 Memphis

Head Coach: Nick Nurse (Iowa)
Assistant Coach: Nate Bjorkgren (Iowa)
Athletic Trainer: Tim Moran (Iowa)

WEST D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME ROSTER

Pos. Player (Team) Ht. Wt. Birthdate College
G Mustafa Shakur (Tulsa) 6-3 190 8/18/1984 Arizona
G Joe Crawford (Los Angeles) 6-5 210 6/17/1986 Kentucky
G Desmon Farmer (Reno) 6-5 210 10/7/1981 USC
G Curtis Jerrells (Austin) 6-1 195 2/5/1987 Baylor
F Alonzo Gee (Austin) 6-6 220 5/29/1987 Alabama
F Mike Harris (Rio Grande Valley) 6-6 235 6/15/1983 Rice
F Carlos Powell (Albuquerque) 6-7 225 8/29/1983 South Carolina
F Diamon Simpson (Los Angeles) 6-7 230 9/8/1987 St. Mary’s (CA)
C Brian Butch (Bakersfield) 6-11 240 12/22/1984 Wisconsin
C Dwayne Jones (Austin) 6-11 250 6/9/1983 Saint Joseph’s

Head Coach: Chris Finch (Rio Grande Valley)
Assistant Coach: Paul Mokeski (Rio Grande Valley)
Athletic Trainer: Joe Resendez (Rio Grande Valley)

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2009 D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
February 14, 2009

Courtney Sims, who signed a second 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns Friday, and Blake Ahearn, a three-time NBA-to-D-League Call-Up, shared MVP honors as the Red Team defeated the Blue Team, 113-103 in the 2009 NBA D-League All-Star Game which was played this afternoon.

Sims, a center on assignment from Phoenix with the Iowa Energy, tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks for the Red squad, which trailed 51-43 at the half.

Ahearn, the third-leading scorer in the NBA D-League playing for the Dakota Wizards, scored 13 points and dished out 13 assists, while only committing two turnovers.

Both players went undrafted in 2007 before catching on briefly with NBA teams during the 2007-08 season. Sims appeared in three games with the Indiana Pacers while Ahearn signed two 10-day contracts with the Miami Heat. Ahearn also earned a Call-Up to the Spurs earlier this season.

“My dream, since I was a little kid, has been to play in the NBA and I’m going to follow it right now,” said Sims. “I think I’m pretty close, and I just need to stick with it and hopefully I’ll stay there a long time.”

Ahearn, who is averaging 6.0 assists this season, took home the NBA D-League’s Three-Point Shoot-Out Championship last night at the NBA D-League’s second annual D-League All-Star Dream Factory events skills competition.

“The way I play is if somebody is open, I am going to pass them the ball,” said Ahearn. “At the All-Star game there are a lot of people trying to score and all that. I think we moved the ball pretty well and I think it shows that we were able to put up good points today and everybody got shots, so it went well.”

Bakersfield’s Derrick Byars added 18 points for the Red Team, while his teammate Trey Johnson, who just earned a GATORADE Call-Up to the Cleveland Cavaliers, finished with 15 points, four assists and four rebounds in the win.

Reno’s Antonio Meeking paced the Blue Team with 17 points, while Fort Wayne’s Walker Russell added 14 points and eight assists. Former NBA player Ronald Dupree of the Utah Flash finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.


2008 D-League All-Star game
Feb. 16, 2008

Fort Wayne’s Jeremy Richardson, a two-time D-League-to-NBA Call-Up this season, led six players in double figures with 22 points, as the Blue Team defeated the Red Team 117-99 in the second annual D-League All-Star Game, which took place on Center Court at NBA Jam Session, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Richardson, who was waived by the Miami Heat during training camp, and has spent time this season with the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs, shot 9-for-15 from the field and added four rebounds on his way to capturing MVP honors.

“It feels good to win something like this, coming from where I come from,” said Richardson. “If it wasn't for the D-League, I probably would have never gotten a chance from an NBA team. I have to give a lot of credit to the D-League. It helped me out and that is the case for a lot of players out here. Everybody out here is talented and has a chance to make it to the NBA. There's a lot of competition out here.”

Morris Almond of the Utah Flash, currently on assignment from the Utah Jazz, added 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting for the Blue Team. Almond, who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round (25th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, set the D-League regular season record with 53 points on Jan. 30 against the Bakersfield Jam.

Kyrylo Fesenko of the Utah Flash, also on assignment from the Utah Jazz, and Sean Banks of the Los Angeles D-Fenders each scored 14 points for the Blue Team, which shot 51 percent from the field, as compared to 40 percent for the Red Team. Fesenko, the 38th overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, was grateful for the opportunity to soak up the experience in New Orleans this weekend.

“After this game, we’re all going to a hospital to talk to kids, and for me it’s not part of my job it’s something I always do, and I’m in a good mood, because if we don’t have children, why are we here?” Fesenko said. “We are stars because of them, and we need to help them and show them that we care about them.”

Colorado’s Elton Brown, a 2006-07 All-D-League First Team selection, paced the Red Team with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Iowa’s Dwayne Mitchell added 17 points for the Red Team, which was without Tulsa’s Nick Fazekas, who was recently summoned back to the NBA by the Dallas Mavericks, who made Fazekas the 34th overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft.

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PREVIEW: D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
Feb. 14, 2008

Thirteen players with NBA experience highlight the rosters for the second annual D-League All-Star Game presented by Spalding. The game will be held Feb. 16, on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and will tip off at 2 p.m. CST and will be shown live on NBA TV.

The two 10-man rosters were selected by a combination of fan balloting on D-LEAGUE.com and voting of the league’s 14 head coaches. The Red Team will be the home team, while the Blue Team will be the visitors.

D-League-to-NBA Call-Ups Eddie Gill and Billy Thomas highlight the Red Team roster. Gill, selected first in the 2007 D-League draft by the Colorado 14ers, earned the season’s first call-up Nov. 15, when he signed with the New Jersey Nets. He ranks among D-League leaders with 7.9 assists per game and 2.5 steals per game. Thomas, Gill’s teammate in Colorado, earned a Dec. 24 call-up by the Nets and is among league leaders with 2.5 steals per game.

Reigning D-League Most Valuable Player Randy Livingston joins the Red Team, as does Dallas Mavericks assignee Nick Fazekas. Fazekas is averaging 18.9 points for the Tulsa 66ers while Livingston sits atop the league’s leader board with 11.3 assists per game for the Idaho Stampede.

NBA-assigned players Morris Almond, Kyrylo Fesenko and Ian Mahinmi headline the Blue Team. Almond and Fesenko, teammates on the Utah Jazz and their D-League affiliate Utah Flash, have both seen multiple assignments during the season. Almond most recently joined the squad on Jan. 25, while Fesenko headed to Orem on Dec. 13. Mahinmi is in his second stint with the Austin Toros from the Spurs. Almond is second in the league with 26.4 points per game, while Fesenko is averaging 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Mahinmi ranks among the league’s best, shooting .639 (163-255).

Los Angeles D-Fenders center Jelani McCoy, Austin Toros guard Keith Langford and Fort Wayne Mad Ants guard Jeremy Richardson, all Call-Ups this season, round out the Blue Team’s roster. McCoy, who earned a call-up from the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 29, is averaging 2.2 blocks, ranking him among the league’s best defenders, while Langford, who earned a call-up from the Spurs on Dec. 28, is averaging 24.1 points, ranking him among the league’s top five scorers. Richardson has twice been called up this season, first by the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 20, and then by the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 10. Richardson is averaging a league-high 28.2 points to go with 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 40.8 minutes in nine games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

C.J. Watson, the 100th Call-Up in league history, and member of the Golden State Warriors, was selected to the Blue Team by the fans and coaches. Since he is with the Warriors, he will be replaced on the D-League All-Star roster by NBA veteran and Bakersfield Jam guard Andre Barrett.

Watson, who played 16 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before earning a call-up from the Warriors on Jan. 8, had his NBA contract renewed through the end of the 2007-08 season.

Nine additional D-League standouts will compete in the All-Star Game, including three D-League Player of the Month and D-League.com Performer of the Week honorees. The Red Team will include Lance Allred (Idaho), Elton Brown (Colorado), Kaniel Dickens (Colorado), Dwayne Mitchell (Iowa), Kasib Powell (Sioux Falls), and Cory Violette (Idaho). The Blue Team will include Sean Banks (Los Angeles), Rod Benson (Dakota) and Carlos Powell (Dakota).

The Red Team will be coached by Idaho Stampede (22-5, .814) head coach Bryan Gates and his assistant Ray Lopes, while the Blue Team will be helmed by Los Angeles D-Fenders (18-8, .692) head coach Dan Panaggio and his assistant Chucky Brown. Both coaches were selected based on their teams having the highest winning percentage by Jan. 31. Prior to the game, Gates and Panaggio will choose starting lineups for their respective teams.

NBA Legends Rick Barry and Lenny Wilkens will serve as honorary captains and will share basketball knowledge with the 20 D-League All-Stars. As honorary captains, and former players and coaches, Barry and Wilkens will be on hand to offer their hardwood wisdom throughout the game.

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2007 D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME RECAP

On assignment from the Dallas Mavericks, Fort Worth Flyers forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu made the inaugural Gillette D-League All-Star Game in association with 24 Hour Fitness his personal showcase Saturday, leading the East to a 114-100 victory on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

The rookie from George Washington scored 30 points and collected seven rebounds on his way to being named Most Valuable Player. Mensah-Bonsu converted 11-of-13 field goal attempts as the East shot a blistering 55-percent from the floor.

"I tried to play as hard as I could, which is the only way I know how to play," said Mensah-Bonsu, who was the only player assigned from an NBA team in the game. "When they said I made the team, I was back with the Mavericks and I told them that I really wanted to play in this game. It wasn't about winning the MVP, it was about getting to be with these great players."

Mensah-Bonsu’s Fort Worth teammate Luke Schenscher came off the East bench to make 6-of-8 field goal attempts, score 15 points and grab six rebounds. Renaldo Major of Dakota had 14, Arkansas’ Clay Tucker 13 and Tulsa’s Alan Anderson scored 10 for the East.

Colorado center Elton Brown, one of four 14ers in the game, scored 16 and had six rebounds to lead the West. Los Angeles point guard Brian Chase contributed 15 points. Albuquerque’s Dijon Thompson and Pooh Jeter of Colorado each scored 14, while Rick Rickert of Colorado had 13 and Anaheim’s Jawad Williams 11 to round out double-figure scoring.

“It was a fun experience. As far as basketball, we just wanted to come out here and have fun,” Tulsa and East point guard Will Conroy said. “You don't get to prove much with the substitution patterns, you just want to keep the game sharp and make sure you sell some tickets for next year so the fans want to come back again.”

The D-League continues to develop talent from across all disciplines for the NBA’s 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the D-League also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices.

Fans discussed the game in this forum thread.