6-5 combo guard

Fort Wayne Mad Ants Forward Tony Mitchell Named NBA D-League Rookie of the Year

Mitchell, out of the University of Alabama, turned himself into one of the league's most consistent offensive forces

Official Release

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NEW YORK, April 15, 2013 – Fort Wayne Mad Ants rookie Tony Mitchell today was named the 2013 NBA Development League Rookie of the year as voted on by the League’s 16 head coaches. The award recognizes a first-year professional who most significantly contributed to his team’s success during the course of the season.

Mitchell (6-6, 216, Alabama) played in 48 regular season games, 45 as a starter, for the Mad Ants, averaging a team-high 21.9 points to go with 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 35.3 minutes while shooting 42 percent from the floor and 32 percent from behind the three-point line. His 21.9 points per game was good for second in the NBA D-League.

He led the team in scoring 21 times and was the leading rebounder in five contests. A 2013 NBA D-League All-Star, Mitchell was the only player in the NBA D-League to record two 40-plus point games during the regular season when he scored 47 against the Austin Toros on March 22 and 49 against the Sioux Falls Skyforce on April 5.

“Tony is a talented player and he had a standout first season in Fort Wayne,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “His impressive ability to score, as well as his selection to the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game, solidified his position as a top young prospect in our league. I congratulate him on a terrific start to his professional career and look forward to watching him to continue to develop into an NBA-caliber player.”

A two-time NBA D-League Performer of the Week selection and March’s NBA D-League Co-Player of the Month, Mitchell helped the Mad Ants to the team’s first postseason appearance, where he played in two games, averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 39.5 minutes before the team fell to the Santa Cruz Warriors.

All-Time NBA D-League Rookie of the Year winners:
2011-12: Edwin Ubiles, Dakota Wizards
2010-11: DeShawn Sims, Maine Red Claws
2009-10: Alonzo Gee,* Austin Toros
2008-09: Othyus Jeffers, Iowa Energy
2007-08: Blake Ahearn, Dakota Wizards
2006-07: Louis Amundson,* Colorado 14ers
2005-06: Will Bynum,* Roanoke Dazzle
2004-05: James Thomas, Roanoke Dazzle
2003-04: Desmond Penigar, Asheville Altitude
2002-03: Devin Brown, Fayetteville Patriots
2001-02: Fred House, Charleston Lowgators

* Indicates currently on an NBA roster

Wichita State notes: Toure Murry hoping for NBA chance in fall
By Paul Suellentrop

Published Sunday, May 5, 2013, at 8:16 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Toure Murry picked Wichita State to win the NCAA title in the Rio Grande Valley Vipers office pool. He finished second and won $20.

Murry got his championship when the Vipers won the NBA Development League title with a best-of-three sweep over the Santa Cruz Warriors in late April. Murry recorded a triple-double in the first game and averaged 14 points, five rebounds and 4.8 assists in six playoff games.

“He had a really great year for a rookie in this league,” Vipers coach Nick Nurse said. “With about 20 games to go, we needed him to start. He never let go of that starting job.”

Murry, a 6-foot-5 guard who played from 2008-12 for WSU, should be set up for a good summer after his D-League accomplishments with the Houston Rockets affiliate located in McAllen, Texas. He made the All-Rookie third team and the All-Defensive second team. His performance in the playoffs, taking over for league MVP Andrew Goudelock, raised his profile. He should play in the NBA Summer League, likely with the Rockets. He played for the Lakers last summer and expects to play a larger role no matter which team picks him up. Nurse expects him to get invited to an NBA training camp in the fall.

“Then it’s finding the right situation,” Nurse said. “He’s on the verge.”

If so, Murry will get to the NBA by building on the skills that made him one of WSU’s most versatile players. He played both guard spots for most of the season and took over at point when the Lakers called up Goudelock.

“That was my time,” Murry said. “I had the ball in my hands more.”

He started 30 regular-season games and all six in the playoffs, averaging 8.3 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds for the season. He opened the series against the Warriors with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

“To have a triple-double in a finals game, that was big-time for me,” he said. “It was a great feeling, rookie year, being a part of that team.”

Nurse loves his length and tenacity on defense and used him to pressure full court. Murry worked tirelessly on his outside shooting and made 36.9 percent of his three-pointers. He improved his pick-and-roll skills, the play on which many NBA teams base their offense.

“(Nurse) really had confidence in me running the team,” Murry said.

Murry, WSU’s career assists leader, briefly played in Turkey and Israel before landing in the D-League and the situation initially bothered him. Playing overseas pays better. It is not unusual for players to make six figures in Europe. While the D-League won’t confirm its salary structure, published reports indicate players average between $15,000-$25,000.

The D-League advantage, in addition to the comforts of the United States, is its growing relationship with the NBA. It is moving closer to the baseball model of a true minor league and NBA scouts keep a close eye on D-League games.

The D-League life, however, is not stable. Murry, for example, lost playing time when the Rockets assigned Patrick Beverly to the Vipers for three games.

The Shockers traveled on charter flights. The Vipers bus and fly commercial to places such as Portland, Maine and Fort Wayne, Ind.

“It’s very cut-throat,” Murry said. “The pay is not great. It’s just about being patient and going through the grind. Once you establish yourself, it’s great.”

Murry did that in his rookie season. He earned a running start for the NBA summer leagues and, if the NBA declines, should find a good situation overseas in the fall. First, however, he is proud to walk in WSU’s graduation ceremony on May 17.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/05/05/2790253/wsu-notes-toure-murry-hoping-for.html#storylink=cpy

nixluva wrote:I'm actually pretty excited to see our SL team this year. We've got some pretty exciting kids playing. I would love to have a young group of high energy kids on the bench, but I worry that with Woody as the Coach he'll never really play these guys. Hopefully Woody learned from last year that it probably makes sense to use the kids to burn some minutes during the season and keep the older guys fresh.

earthmansurfer wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:I'm actually pretty excited to see our SL team this year. We've got some pretty exciting kids playing. I would love to have a young group of high energy kids on the bench, but I worry that with Woody as the Coach he'll never really play these guys. Hopefully Woody learned from last year that it probably makes sense to use the kids to burn some minutes during the season and keep the older guys fresh.

I think grunwald is putting the roster together differently. I think the Knicks will have two guys under contract playing for Erie most or all of the season. L

That is great news if it happens. Instead of seeing guys get no minutes, or garbage minutes it is more fun for fans (this is about fun don't forget) to watch how these guys do in the "minor leagues".
I really am looking forward to summer league starting. Coming up soon... And brining the D ;-)

His playoff stats - http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/toure_murry/index.html?nav=page

I get the feeling you don't want to mess with this dude. No wonder he loves D.

CrushAlot wrote:Murry was a second team all d-l defensive player and a third team all rookie.