Warriors in the History Books... AGAIN!

by Atma Brother ONE on Jan 9, 2008 11:04 AM PST in News Comment 13 comments

Last season when the Warriors sent #9 overall 2006 Draft pick Patrick O'Bryant down to the D-League they made history by making him the first ever lottery pick to get sent to the place where NBA dreams are supposed to start. With their signing of C.J. Watson they've made NDBL history once again- and this time it's a good thing!

KBLX brings smooth R&B on the hardwood.

See how 102.9 and the Warriors have made history again after the jump!

Guillermo Diaz and C.J. Watson Make D-League History [NBA Development League]:

NEW YORK, Jan 9, 2008 - The Los Angeles Clippers yesterday signed free agent Guillermo Diaz of the Anaheim Arsenal while the Golden State Warriors signed Rio Grande Valley Vipers guard C.J. Watson. Diaz and Watson are the ninth and tenth GATORADE Call-Ups this season, respectively. Watson's becomes the 100th call-up in the NBA Development League's seven-year history.

The 100th call-up reinforces the D-League's importance in the growth of players looking to be noticed by NBA teams. Since the D-League began play in November 2001, 68 players have made the jump to the NBA and every player promoted to the NBA since the beginning of the 2006-07 season has come directly from the D-League including 10 Call-Ups this season.

"The 100th Call-Up is an exciting milestone for the NBA D-League," said League President Dan Reed. "Every time an NBA team calls up one of our players, it is a referendum on the elite level of basketball talent in our league, as well as our commitment and dedication to help develop these players into strong contributors at the NBA level. More broadly, it's symbolic of the tremendous growth we've seen across the D-League over the last three years."

Shout out to Mr. 100th Call-Up for giving us so many great nicknames before even playing a single game!

More good news from practice (yeah, we're talking about practice man!) [SFGate]:

Same goes for new point guard CJ Watson, who practiced with the Warriors for the first time and got some good reviews. Nellie said Watson was solid, playing within himself and not trying anything spectacular in passing to his teammates. "Our new Azubuike," Harrington added.

Also see: Warriors Look to the D-League Once Again [Warriors.com]

Any predictions for CJ's first line? How much playing time do you think 102.9 will get against the Blazers?

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The Quiet Storm

Will get Troy Hudson minutes at best...

by Dubs fan in Boston on Jan 9, 2008 11:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

yea

probably so.

In what, 10 minutes at most? He'll get two dimes, four points... not bad I guess

Thunder!!!

by PHUT! on Jan 9, 2008 12:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Was POB sent down as a rookie?

Cause Martell Webster, the Blazers 6th pick from the 2005 draft, was sent down to the D-league for a few weeks his rookie year as well. I'm pretty sure he's the highest pick to ever be sent down yet.

Bynum was a lottery pick the same year as Webby and POB, and was a D-leaguer his rookie year also.

I wouldn't say Martell's D-league experience has directly affected his current good play, but it's never a bad thing to keep a young guy humble and hungry. The D-league is at least good for that.

O'Bryant hasn't impressed in summer leagues or in the NBA league, but who knows with those big men. He's young. Do most Warriors fans dislike him heartily?

Brandon Wright should D-league it if Nelly won't play him... but I think Wright will be a good player, if he has a decent work ethic.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jan 9, 2008 11:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

I could've sworn I read last year that POB was the first in some article. I'll have to dig this one up. Maybe Webster was the first like you note. Let's get to researching!

by Atma Brother ONE on Jan 9, 2008 11:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

sfgate.com

In baseball, there's no stigma to being sent to the minors for more seasoning. But in the NBA, it's a new concept, and not yet wildly popular with the demotees. And O'Bryant is the first NBA lottery pick ever "assigned" to the D-League

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/09/SPG79NF23O1.DTL

by Psion on Jan 9, 2008 11:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

washingtonpost.com

About six months after the Portland Trail Blazers chose Webster with the sixth pick in the NBA draft, however, they decided to send Webster to their NBA Development League team in Fort Worth, believing the young talent needed more seasoning. Initially, Webster wasn't pleased at the demotion, so he called Walker seeking sympathy. She gave him the truth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/18/AR2006041801847.html

I guess Scott Ostler was wrong in what he wrote in the sfgate.com

by Psion on Jan 9, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs