2012 NBA D-League Showcase - Images by David Calvert
Last week, the Reno Bighorns hosted the NBA's eighth annual D-League Showcase, downtown at the Reno Events Center. For four days—four games a day—fans and scouts (mostly scouts) watched the (second) best basketball the NBA has to offer.
It's not quite the PCL, but the Development League is the closest thing David Stern has to Triple-A. Although many of the 16 teams have assigned NBA players (like Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Honeycutt of the Sacramento Kings playing with the Reno Bighorns) the majority are unaffiliated and seeking NBA call-ups (and contracts).
Although not the NBA, the basketball is fast, high scoring and better than anything played at 15000 N. Virginia St.
Headlined by players like Antoine Walker and Luke Babbitt of the Idaho Stampede, Gerald Green of the Los Angeles Defenders, and Curtis Stinson of the Iowa Energy, the league is composed of many well known college and former pro players—some on their way up, others coming down.
Alongside the NBA's Jack Arent, team photographer with the Golden State Warriors, I shot all but one of the 16 games for NBA Entertainment. I missed the noon-tip Tuesday to cover a visit by some of the Idaho players to Billinghurst Middle School.
Although I enjoyed shooting with Jack and meeting league staff, I have to say, I was excited to leave the arena Thursday night. Fifteen games is a lot of basketball.
I've included some of my favorites in the above slideshow. The rest are online at Getty Images.
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