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Most teams have at least one. Great teams usually have more than one -- see the Miami Heat, with Shane Battier and Udonis Haslem. They're called "Glue Guys" for the way they're able to hold the team together, be it with toughness, leadership and other intangibles that don't often show up in a box score, but are felt by the team as a whole. Here's a look at some of the NBA D-League's top glue guys:
Gilbert Brown, Canton Charge -- The Charge was in dire need of a floor-spacer before Brown stepped into the starting lineup on Jan. 2, and the 26-year-old has been its offensive savior ever since. Even though the 6-6 wing is known for his University of Pittsburgh-bred defense, it's his offense that leaps off the box score. Brown ranks second in the NBA D-League in Net Rating (point differential per 100 possessions) at 15.8, mainly because Canton's Offensive Rating drops from 113.5 to 99.8 when he leaves the court.
Patrick Christopher, Iowa Energy -- On a team that has stormed through opponents of late, after adding NBA assignees Shabazz Muhammad and Marquis Teague to the Jarvis Varnado-Othyus Jeffers dynamic duo, it's easy to forget the marksmen that open up the floor for the stars to shine. Christopher has emerged as a deadly long-range shooter -- a constant threat that defenses need to account for -- three years after he left Cal as a pure scorer who lacked an elite skill. Now his stroke is invaluable to the Energy's run-and-gun attack, and his 60 percent effective FG percentage ranks top 20 in the league.
Ricky Davis, Erie BayHawks -- Ricky Davis ... glue guy? As hard as it is to believe, the former gunner has turned himself into a go-to veteran leader on a team that's just picking itself up from a rough start. At the NBA D-League Showcase, he was the one finding shots within the flow of the offense, barking out defensive signals from the back line and even banging with seven-footers down low. What "Tricky Ricky" has lost in athleticism, he's gained in many of the intangible qualities he supposedly lacked in his prime.
Courtney Fells, Austin Toros -- It's difficult to find consistency on teams that shuffle NBA assignments in and out of the lineup, but Fells has been the definition of solid all season long, reaching double figures in 14 of 16 games but never topping 20. While he's getting up in age for a prospect (27) and isn't explosive athletically, everything the 6-5 two-guard does is smooth and fundamentally sound. His 48 percent shooting and stingy turnover numbers (1.6 in 31.9 minutes/game) are proof of that.
Prospect Report
P.J. Hairston, Texas Legends -- It didn't take long for Hairston to become the most talked about prospect in the NBA D-League. Much of that has to do with the fact he was dismissed from North Carolina as a result of several off-the-court issues that were already affecting his eligibility status. After the Tar Heels officially cut bait, Hairston signed with the Legends, and now becomes automatically eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft. Had he played for North Carolina this season, Hairston would have likely thrust himself into first-round consideration, and has a chance to do the same with Texas. As a sophomore at North Carolina, Hairston averaged 14.6 points in only 23.6 minutes per game, and was considered by Roy Williams to be one of the more talented players he's ever coached. A strong and physical guard with exceptional shooting range, Hairston wasted no time getting acclimated to the NBA D-League, finishing with 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting (4-for-9 from distance) in his first outing. He won't be the first player drafted straight from the NBA D-League, but he could be the first to crack the first round.
NEWS & NOTES
Tulsa's Rodney Bartholomew Named NBA D-League Performer of the Week
Rodney Bartholomew of the Tulsa 66ers was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 13 - Sunday, Jan. 19. Bartholomew, a 6-8, 235-pound forward from Indiana Tech led Tulsa to a 2-0 record last week, including back-to-back road wins over the Bakersfield Jam and Los Angeles D-Fenders. For the week, he averaged an NBA D-League best 32.0 points (on 68 percent shooting from the floor) to go with 16.0 rebounds. On Jan. 18, Bartholomew scored 32 points and grabbed 17 rebounds helping the 66ers to a 114-110 win. The next night, he finished with 32 points and 15 rebounds in a 128-112 win over the D-Fenders. With the two games, Bartholomew became the first player in 66ers history to record 30 or more points and 15 or more rebounds in back-to-back games. The honor is the first for Bartholomew, who is averaging 11.2 points and 7.9 rebounds this season.
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
The Washington Wizards have assigned Glen Rice to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Rice has appeared in 11 games, including one start, this season for Washington while averaging 2.9 points in 10.0 minutes per game. He was recently cleared to resume all basketball activities following surgery to repair a fracture in his right wrist on Dec. 17 ... The Houston Rockets have re-assigned guard Isaiah Canaan to Houston's single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Canaan averaged 21.7 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 12 games (12 starts) in his first stint with Rio Grande Valley this season. At the time of his recall on Dec. 23, Canaan stood second in the NBA D-League in assists per game (9.2) and ranked ninth in the league in scoring average (21.7 ppg). He was also named, along with Pierre Jackson of the Idaho Stampede, an NBA D-League Co-Performer of the Week for games played Dec. 2-8.
Press release from the NBA Development League
Gilbert Brown, Canton Charge -- The Charge was in dire need of a floor-spacer before Brown stepped into the starting lineup on Jan. 2, and the 26-year-old has been its offensive savior ever since. Even though the 6-6 wing is known for his University of Pittsburgh-bred defense, it's his offense that leaps off the box score. Brown ranks second in the NBA D-League in Net Rating (point differential per 100 possessions) at 15.8, mainly because Canton's Offensive Rating drops from 113.5 to 99.8 when he leaves the court.
Patrick Christopher, Iowa Energy -- On a team that has stormed through opponents of late, after adding NBA assignees Shabazz Muhammad and Marquis Teague to the Jarvis Varnado-Othyus Jeffers dynamic duo, it's easy to forget the marksmen that open up the floor for the stars to shine. Christopher has emerged as a deadly long-range shooter -- a constant threat that defenses need to account for -- three years after he left Cal as a pure scorer who lacked an elite skill. Now his stroke is invaluable to the Energy's run-and-gun attack, and his 60 percent effective FG percentage ranks top 20 in the league.
Ricky Davis, Erie BayHawks -- Ricky Davis ... glue guy? As hard as it is to believe, the former gunner has turned himself into a go-to veteran leader on a team that's just picking itself up from a rough start. At the NBA D-League Showcase, he was the one finding shots within the flow of the offense, barking out defensive signals from the back line and even banging with seven-footers down low. What "Tricky Ricky" has lost in athleticism, he's gained in many of the intangible qualities he supposedly lacked in his prime.
Courtney Fells, Austin Toros -- It's difficult to find consistency on teams that shuffle NBA assignments in and out of the lineup, but Fells has been the definition of solid all season long, reaching double figures in 14 of 16 games but never topping 20. While he's getting up in age for a prospect (27) and isn't explosive athletically, everything the 6-5 two-guard does is smooth and fundamentally sound. His 48 percent shooting and stingy turnover numbers (1.6 in 31.9 minutes/game) are proof of that.
Prospect Report
P.J. Hairston, Texas Legends -- It didn't take long for Hairston to become the most talked about prospect in the NBA D-League. Much of that has to do with the fact he was dismissed from North Carolina as a result of several off-the-court issues that were already affecting his eligibility status. After the Tar Heels officially cut bait, Hairston signed with the Legends, and now becomes automatically eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft. Had he played for North Carolina this season, Hairston would have likely thrust himself into first-round consideration, and has a chance to do the same with Texas. As a sophomore at North Carolina, Hairston averaged 14.6 points in only 23.6 minutes per game, and was considered by Roy Williams to be one of the more talented players he's ever coached. A strong and physical guard with exceptional shooting range, Hairston wasted no time getting acclimated to the NBA D-League, finishing with 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting (4-for-9 from distance) in his first outing. He won't be the first player drafted straight from the NBA D-League, but he could be the first to crack the first round.
NEWS & NOTES
Tulsa's Rodney Bartholomew Named NBA D-League Performer of the Week
Rodney Bartholomew of the Tulsa 66ers was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 13 - Sunday, Jan. 19. Bartholomew, a 6-8, 235-pound forward from Indiana Tech led Tulsa to a 2-0 record last week, including back-to-back road wins over the Bakersfield Jam and Los Angeles D-Fenders. For the week, he averaged an NBA D-League best 32.0 points (on 68 percent shooting from the floor) to go with 16.0 rebounds. On Jan. 18, Bartholomew scored 32 points and grabbed 17 rebounds helping the 66ers to a 114-110 win. The next night, he finished with 32 points and 15 rebounds in a 128-112 win over the D-Fenders. With the two games, Bartholomew became the first player in 66ers history to record 30 or more points and 15 or more rebounds in back-to-back games. The honor is the first for Bartholomew, who is averaging 11.2 points and 7.9 rebounds this season.
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
The Washington Wizards have assigned Glen Rice to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Rice has appeared in 11 games, including one start, this season for Washington while averaging 2.9 points in 10.0 minutes per game. He was recently cleared to resume all basketball activities following surgery to repair a fracture in his right wrist on Dec. 17 ... The Houston Rockets have re-assigned guard Isaiah Canaan to Houston's single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Canaan averaged 21.7 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 12 games (12 starts) in his first stint with Rio Grande Valley this season. At the time of his recall on Dec. 23, Canaan stood second in the NBA D-League in assists per game (9.2) and ranked ninth in the league in scoring average (21.7 ppg). He was also named, along with Pierre Jackson of the Idaho Stampede, an NBA D-League Co-Performer of the Week for games played Dec. 2-8.
Press release from the NBA Development League
