While Jonny Flynn, who unbeknownst to us is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, begins the next stage of his career in Melbourne, Australia, some other former Syracuse Orange will be toiling in the NBA Developmental League in the coming weeks as they hope to find their way back to the NBA sooner than later.
Let's check in and see who's playing where and if we're all going to meet up in Reno, Nevada at some point to see them all. (H/T to L LA D-Fenders play-by-play guy and Cuse grad Eric Rothman for the scoops):
Rick Jackson
RickJack heads to Northern California to become a Warrior. Unfortunately it's not the Golden State kind, but the Santa Cruz kind. The team formerly known as the Dakota Wizards begin their first season at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The team is obviously affiliated with the Golden State Warriors and Vitaly Potapenko is an assistant coach. Remember him?!?
Arinze Onuaku
AO heard his name called in the 2012 NBDL Draft by the our old favorites, the Reno Bighorns. Onuaku is the latest in a long line of former Orange to take their big talents to the biggest little city in the world. G-Mac, Devo, Damone Brown and Donte Greene, to be specific. The Bighorns are affiliated with the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. The team still has Eric Devendorf listed on their roster but I think that's out-dated from last season.
Andy Rautins
The Oklahoma City Thunder let Andy go at the end of preseason camp but he decided to stick around the state and play for the Tulsa 66ers. They're affiliated with the Thunder, making it easy for Rautins to jump up is the opportunity presents itself. He's joined by Georgetown's Hollis Thompson, who was also cut by OKC.
Demetris Nichols
D-Nic! Remember when we used to keep track of all the teams Nichols played for? That would take all day if we did it now. The former Orange is now a training camp invitee of the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Nichols is listed specifically as a Minnesota Timberwolves affiliate, so I suppose they assigned them there. The team is also affiliated with the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers
---------
The D-League schedule kicks off Friday, November 23rd. We'll see if all four of these guys are still on the rosters by then and if they'll be joined by any other former Orange. Assuming these guys are all still there, some notable games include a Santa Cruz-Reno doubler on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 as well as Sioux Falls vs. Tulsa on Dec. 5.
A good place to stay up to speed on the NBDL in the meantime is Ridiculous Upside.