From college hoops to the D-League
— -- CEDAR PARK, Texas -- On a cool January night, players still chasing NBA dreams -- and contracts -- have gathered.
Within the sparse collection of fans in attendance this evening are a group of teenage girls and boys who arrive on a yellow school bus. The "VIP" section is just a bunch of cafeteria tables draped with green cloths. The entertainment during timeouts is a high school band that huddles in the corner.
Here, in this arena in the middle of Texas, where the NBA Development League's Austin Spurs and Texas Legends will play, is where dreams supposedly materialize for the lucky few.
And vanish for the rest.
"For all these guys, the ideal goal is to be in the NBA," said Brian Pauga, general manager and director of scouting for the Austin Spurs, one of the NBA's minor league affiliates. "The reality is it's tough for that to happen. There aren't enough spots."
Some fans cheer, while others mingle. There are 2,048 in attendance officially, although it looks like 1,000 or so. But who's counting?
"Here," said Austin Spurs wing Orlando Johnson, UC Santa Barbara's career scoring leader and a former NBA guard who has played in 96 games for the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings, "you gotta find your own energy."
Added Vander Blue, the former Marquette guard who went undrafted in 2013: "You definitely play in some empty arenas. That would never happen in college."
These are former collegiate stars who once played in Rupp Arena, the Phog, Pauley Pavilion and Cameron Indoor. Now, they're here -- making between $12,000 and $24,000 per season if they're not sent to the D-League by an NBA franchise -- in a building north of Austin, Texas.
Some could make a lot of cash overseas. They're not ready to end this NBA quest, though.
"It's been a tough transition," said Kyle Anderson, the former UCLA star who was recently sent to the D-League by the same San Antonio Spurs organization that selected him with the 30th pick in the 2014 NBA draft after his sophomore season with the Bruins. "Everything's different about it. There are better players up there. Not taking anything away from players down here, everybody's good down here, but you know, it's a much different league up there. I can't really explain it."
Former collegiate standouts who've earned a cup of coffee in the NBA but still yearn for the full mocha believe the run-and-gun ball of the D-League will help them grab or regain a slot in the pros. Many left eligibility on the table when they decided to leave college early and enter the NBA draft.
They weren't aware that the "next level" would involve trips to gyms in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Reno, Nevada; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Portland, Maine.
Tonight, purgatory is in a suburb just north of Austin.
They had access to premier resources at the Division I level. Today, whenever former Florida star and Austin Spurs forward Erik Murphy needs ice for his bruises and scrapes, he hustles to a nearby gas station to buy it. Former first-round picks live three-deep in small apartments. They once made millions -- or anticipated they would -- and now they're signing deals for five-figure salaries in a league that airs every game on YouTube.
"I felt like I was ready to be a pro," said Blue, who left Marquette after his junior season and now plays with the Los Angeles D-Fenders. "I've always been a humble individual. I feel like whenever it's meant for me to be there, I'll be there."
This is a sad, 48-minute episode of "Where are they now?"
Is that former Ohio State star William Buford (Big Ten freshman of the year in 2009, undrafted in 2012) shooting jump shots next to Mike James (signed a $26 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2006)? That can't be. No way.
Is that Renaldo Balkman, the 20th pick in the 2006 NBA draft? Doron Lamb, who turned pro after his sophomore season, won a national title with Kentucky in 2012 -- he's here, too?
This wasn't the plan. For any of them. Many could compete across the ocean in European or Asian professional leagues. But they're all convinced that the exposure in the United States -- NBA TV also broadcasts NBDL games -- will help them secure a contract in pro basketball's version of "The Bachelor."
The numbers don't favor those ambitions. According to the NBADL's website, 25players have been called up this season.
In 2013-14, 37 players were called up to compete for NBA franchises. But there are 18 D-League teams and 10 or more players on each squad. And the league does not maintain information on how many guys actually get long-term or guaranteed contracts in the NBA. Per the NBADL website, more than 30 percent of the NBA's performers boast some NBADL experience. That doesn't spell out the specifics (or reveal how many 10-day contracts that includes) of whether the D-League has accomplished its mission to develop basketball talent that is "being groomed to make an impact at the next level."
The NBADL's mission statement often applies to the athletes who've been drafted by NBA franchises that would rather see them compete in the D-League's 50-game season than sit on the bench as rookies or second-year players. Few, however, enjoy the luxury of being attached to a team and a multimillion-dollar contract. Many are here solo, dreaming.
They believe they're close to the NBA. One great effort. One strong performance. And they'll get there.
"I just feel like I'm an NBA player and I feel like if this is the path I gotta take to get back to where I want to be, then that's what I have to do," Johnson said.
The crapshoot pays off for some. Former Xavier star Semaj Christon left Chris Mack's program after his sophomore season. The Charlotte Hornets selected him with the 55th pick in the 2014 NBA draft and then traded his rights to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Christon represented the Oklahoma City Blue D-League squad in this year's NBADL All-Star Game. He's averaging 18.5 PPG and 5.6 APG for the Oklahoma City Blue. And he doesn't have any regrets about his choice to leave Xavier early.
"It's been a great experience, just learning to be a professional," Christon said. "I just feel like it all was a learning experience. I had to learn one way or another."
Anderson agrees. He said he's not discouraged by his assignment to Austin. He needs reps and the D-League has an abundance of minutes for him.
"You can do all the skill work and player development that you want, but if you're not playing in games, that's not going to get you any better," Anderson said. "So [I'm] just coming down here to get the exposure. I trust they know what to do with me. I'm not going to go against anything they say."
Khem Birch, a former McDonald's All American, left UNLV after his junior season. At the time, he thought a pro team would pick him in the 2014 NBA draft. That didn't happen.
So he now plays for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He doesn't have a car in South Dakota, so coaches pick him up for practices. When he's not playing basketball, he's playing NBA2K on his Xbox One.
"At UNLV, there were more things to do," Birch said. "Out here, it's nothing to do. I questioned [my decision] when I didn't get picked."
Birch remains confident he'll continue to develop and grow. This is not a five-year plan for him. European teams are dangling deals in front of him, and he might be forced to consider them if he can't latch onto an NBA team soon.
But soon, at this level, is relative.
"There are a lot of scorers in the NBA," Birch said. "The NBA is set with options for scorers. They're just looking for role players."
Balkman made $1.6 million per year as a role player with the Denver Nuggets during a six-year stint in the NBA. But he admits he had a sour attitude that probably reduced his stay in the league. He reportedly choked a teammate in the Philippines a few years ago, too. But he's done with the recklessness, he says.
He wants one more shot.
"I still feel like I can play in the NBA," said Balkman, a forward with the Texas Legends who shares an apartment with two of his teammates. "I still feel like there's a chance. Playing overseas, sometimes you're out of sight, out of mind. For the most part, I've been doing great overseas, especially playing with the Puerto Rican national team. I still haven't gotten a call yet or even a chance or even a training camp. I just said I'm going to take my talents to the D-League and try my best."
Throughout the Texas Legends' 113-110 win over the Austin Spurs, an energetic kid in the front row was the most boisterous fan in the building. He yelled and hollered whenever his Austin Spurs scored.
His father threatened to take him home if he didn't stop. But he couldn't help it.
"Yeah!" he continued after another Austin Spurs bucket. "That's easy money!"
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