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**truebluefan** · 10-28-2007, 11:45 AM

D-League Announces 2007 Preseason Schedule

NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2007 - The NBA Development League today released its seven-game preseason schedule which tips off Thursday, November 15 with the Colorado 14ers hosting the Austin Toros at the Broomfield Events Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The preseason features five preseason games played at out-of-market venues.
"Our preseason games provide us a nice opportunity to bring quality entertainment to some venues other than where our regular season games are played." said Chris Alpert, the D-League's Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel.
Each of the 14 D-League teams will play one preseason game before the regular season schedule tips off on Nov. 23.
The preseason schedule is highlighted by a game on Nov. 19 between the Los Angeles D-Fenders and Anaheim Arsenal in Paige Fieldhouse at Camp Pendelton, a marine training base in California. Players, coaches and dance team members will tour the base, visit wounded soldiers and will eat with the Marines in their cafeteria. The first 700 soldiers and their families will be admitted free of charge.
The entire 2007 D-League Preseason Schedule is below:
2007 D-LEAGUE PRESEASON SCHEDULE (All Times Local)
Date Game Location Time
Nov. 15 Austin Toros @ Colorado 14ers Broomfield, CO 7 p.m.
Nov. 16 Sioux Falls @ Dakota Dickinson, ND 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 17 Albuquerque @ Tulsa Bartlesville, OK 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 19 Fort Wayne @ Iowa West Burlington, IA 7 p.m.
Nov. 19 Utah @ Idaho Burley, ID 7 p.m.
Nov. 19 Los Angeles @ Anaheim Camp Pendleton, CA 6 p.m.
Nov. 20 Rio Grande Valley @ Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA 7 p.m.

**truebluefan** · 10-28-2007, 11:47 AM

DENVER, October 25 - The Colorado 14ers basketball club today announced that all single game tickets for the 2007-2008 season will go on sale Saturday, November 3 at 10 am. Tickets will be available at the Broomfield Event Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster Charge by Phone, and www.Ticketmaster.com.
"14ers basketball represents a tremendous family event at affordable prices," said Broomfield Sports and Entertainment Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Nichols. "Our team on the court and our game production is full of fun and entertaining elements for fans of all ages."

The Colorado 14ers 24 game home schedule tips off on the NBA Development League opening night of Friday, November 23 at the Broomfield Event Center against the Anaheim Arsenal at 7:05 p.m.

For more information on the 2007-2008 14ers schedule and team, log on to www.14ershoops.com.

**truebluefan** · 10-28-2007, 11:47 AM

BISMARCK N.D., October 24, 2007 - NBA Development League Champion Dakota Wizards announced today that they will play their 2007 preseason/exhibition game vs. rival Sioux Falls Skyforce at the Dickinson High School Gym in Dickinson, North Dakota on Friday November 16th at 6:30 pm MDT.
"We have had such a great rivalry with Sioux Falls over the years" said General Manager Tom Wagganer. "It is only fitting that we once again match up two great teams in a preseason game to get ready for our regular season."

The Wizards will team up with the Dickinson Public Schools Foundation for another Wizards game in Dickinson, with all of the proceeds going to the Foundation to help enhance education in the Dickinson Public Schools.

"This is more than a basketball game, it's an event!" said Jay Bleth President of the Dickinson Public Schools Foundation. "We are excited to be a part of this great opportunity to bring the highest quality of entertainment in North Dakota to the city of Dickinson."

The Wizards are able to play one exhibition game each season prior to the regular season. Last year the Wizards traveled to Watertown, SD to also play the Skyforce that helped benefit a local charity.

"This is the fun portion of the job,"said Public Relations Director Mike Offerdahl "This gives us a chance to get out in the area communities where the fans are at, while helping a great cause at the same time."

The Dakota Wizards begin defense of their D-League Championship on Friday, November 23rd at 7:00pm CT against the Iowa Energy. 2007-08 Season Tickets for the Wizards start at only $99. For more information, please visit www.dakotawizards.com or call 701-258-BALL.

**truebluefan** · 10-28-2007, 11:52 AM

Sioux Falls, S.D. (October 25, 2007) - The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that they will play a preseason game against the archrival Dakota Wizards in Dickinson, N.D. on Friday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. MT. It will be the third straight season that the border rivals have faced off in preseason action.
"We are looking forward to bringing NBA caliber basketball to the city of Dickinson," said head coach Nate Tibbetts. "We expect the game to be very intense as players on both sides will be battling for spots on each teams' opening day roster."

All of the proceeds from the game will benefit the Dickinson Public Schools Foundation. The foundation plans on using the money to help enhance education in the Dickinson Public Schools.

"This is more than a basketball game, it's an event," said Jay Bleth, President of the Dickinson Public Schools Foundation. "We are excited to be a part of this great opportunity to bring the highest quality of entertainment in North Dakota to the city of Dickinson."

Season tickets are now on sale for the 2007-08 season. Discounts and benefits are also available for groups of 10 or more. The home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 24 against the Tulsa 66ers. Single game tickets will go on sale on Friday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. For information please contact a Skyforce representative at (605) 332-0605.

**truebluefan** · 10-28-2007, 11:53 AM

Albuquerque, N.M., October 25, 2007- The Albuquerque Thunderbirds invite you to attend their third annual draft party on Thursday, November 1 at Coaches Sports Grill. Coaches is located at 1414 Central Ave. SE.
The draft will air live on NBA TV beginning with pre-draft coverage from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Marty Blake, the NBA's Director of Scouting and his son Ryan, NBA Assistant Director of Scouting, will serve as analysts for the D-League draft.

The draft is "serpentine" or "snaked" which means the order will be reversed in each of the ten rounds. For example, after picking third, Albuquerque's next selections will be the 26th and 31st overall.

"It's the best way to evenly distribute the talent in the draft," said Chris Alpert the D-League's Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel.

Head Coach Jeff Ruland and his assistant, Sam Worthen will be on hand to discuss the new Thunderbirds and sign autographs. The draft is conducted via conference call from the D-League draft headquarters and at locations in each of the 14 D-League cities. Each team will select one player in each of the 10 rounds. No trades will be permitted during the draft and only players signed to an NBA Development League Standard Player Contract are eligible to be selected.

The draft party is also a great opportunity for parents to find out more about their children between the ages of 9 and 17 becoming "Ball Kids" for the team. Season ticket holders can also stop by and pick up their tickets.

For directions to Coaches Sports Grill for the Thunderbirds Draft party, or to book a party, call 242-7111.

The Thunderbirds season tips off at home on November 23 against the Idaho Stampede at 7 p.m. Thunderbirds 2007-08 season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com or at the Thunderbirds front office at 111 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 240, Albuquerque, NM 87102. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK.

The Thunderbirds continually stay focused on the community by participating in community events such as the Read to Achieve Program as well as D-League Cares. In the past two seasons the Thunderbirds have worked almost 3,000 hours in the community, staying dedicated to Albuquerque and New Mexico.

Entering its seventh season, the NBA Development League, the NBA's minor league established to develop talent across all disciplines for the NBA, has relocated its headquarters from Greenville, S.C. to New York City. The move provides the D-League with direct access to the support and resources of the NBA and WNBA. During the 2006-07 season 19 NBA teams assigned 24 players to D-League rosters and 14 NBA teams called-up 16 players ('Gatorade Call-ups'). In addition to players, the D-League has also provided the training ground for every referee hired by the NBA since 2002, and this season the first former D-League coach will lead an NBA team as Sam Vincent takes over the reigns with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Individually, the Thunderbirds have had two player call-ups, two front office call-ups, two training staff call-ups and three call-ups from the Storm Chasers Dance and Cheer squad.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the D-League offers NBA-quality basketball and fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com.

**truebluefan** · 10-28-2007, 11:54 AM

BOISE, Idaho, October 25, 2007 - Your Idaho Stampede have announced that local favorite Cory Violette will be on the training camp roster to start the 2007-08 season. A Gonzaga University and Bishop Kelly high school graduate, Violette has signed a contract to play in the NBA Development League this season, and the Stampede will claim him as an allocated player.
He will be officially on the roster on November 2, per league rules.

Violette averaged 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior with the Bulldogs in 2003-04. He was selected as an All West Coast Conference performer during three seasons while at Gonzaga.

Originally picked by the Stampede in the 2004 draft (4th round, 31st pick), the 6'8" 265 lbs. forward elected to play overseas following two stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks during NBA Summer League play.

During the 2004-05 season in Italy, Violette played in 34 games, averaging 10.6 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting over 55% from the field. In the summer of 2005, he played for the Chicago Bulls, Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz.

Violette played in Turkey during the 2005-06 season, then played for the Jazz during the Rocky Mountain Revue in the summer of 2006 before traveling to play in Italy this past season.

**truebluefan** · 10-28-2007, 11:56 AM

BOISE, Idaho, October 25, 2007 - Your Idaho Stampede have announced that Assistant Coach Ray Lopes will return to the team bench for the 2007-08 season as Associate Head Coach. Lopes was instrumental in helping build one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, as he helped to lead Idaho to a 33-17 regular season record and a Western Division title.
"Coach Lopes was a key part of our success last season," said Stampede Head Coach Bryan Gates. "We are looking forward to building upon that achievement this year."

"I'm very excited to be back with a great organization like the Stampede," said Lopes. "It's going to be an exciting season. The draft is coming up next week and we will be working really hard to continue the success that we had last season."

Prior to him coaching with the Stampede, Lopes spent the previous season as a Personnel Scout for the San Antonio Spurs. Prior to his NBA experience, the 1987 graduate of the College of Idaho in Caldwell was head coach at Fresno State University, compiling a cumulative 50-37 record over three seasons. In addition to his 2003 WAC Coach of the Year award, he was also named CBS Sportsline Rookie Coach of the Year in 2003 and guided the Bulldogs to the WAC regular season title.

Lopes and his wife, Pierrette, have two daughters, Alaina and Teylor, and a son, Trey. He resides in Boise.

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