The 2014 D-League All-Stars have been announced, but the game will be without an Austin Toros player as none were selected to participate.
Just two seasons removed from a D-League championship and having the league’s MVP, Justin Dentmon, the Toros still have a team full of talent but have been mostly overlooked due to their lackluster 11-15 record.
Eric Dawson is one of the Toros that could have made the All-Star team. When comparing his numbers to an All-Star forward such as Shawne Williams of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, Dawson averages two more rebounds, .6 more blocks and .5 more steals. Williams does average more points, 18-14, than Dawson, but Williams has only played in three D-League games this season while Dawson has appeared in 21 games with 18 starts.
The Toros leading scorer (not named Nando), Flip Murray, didn’t get an All-Star nod either, despite averaging 18.5 points. Before the season, it would have seemed Josh Howard would have been a lock to make the All-Star team but it seems the wear and tear on the former NBA All-Star’s knees have taken a few steps away from him.
If it’s any consolation, former Toros forward Malcolm Thomas made the All-Star team for the Los Angeles D-Fenders. After he was released from the Spurs, he was no longer assigned to play in Austin so he returned to his original team in Los Angeles. Recently cut San Antonio Spurs forward Othyus Jeffers also made the team for the Iowa Energy.
The game will be played on Saturday, February 15 and will be aired live on NBA TV. Here’s the full list of the 2014 D-League All-Stars:
FUTURES ALL-STAR ROSTER
Pos. Player (Team) Ht. Wt. College Birthdate
C Hilton Armstrong (Santa Cruz) 6-11 235 Connecticut 11/23/84
G Seth Curry (Santa Cruz) 6-1 180 Duke 8/23/90
C Dewayne Dedmon (Santa Cruz) 6-10 255 USC 8/12/88
G Manny Harris (Los Angeles)* 6-5 185 Michigan 9/21/89
F Justin Hamilton (Sioux Falls) 7-0 260 LSU 4/1/90
G Pierre Jackson (Idaho) 5-10 180 Baylor 8/29/91
F Kevin Jones (Canton) 6-8 251 West Virginia 8/25/89
G DeAndre Liggins (Sioux Falls) 6-6 209 Kentucky 3/31/88
F Malcolm Thomas (Los Angeles)* 6-9 224 San Diego State 11/8/88
F Chris Wright (Maine) 6-8 225 Dayton 9/30/88
Head Coach: Steve Hetzel (Canton)
Assistant Coaches: Jordi Fernandez (Canton), James Posey (Canton), Nate Reinking (Canton)
Athletic Trainer: Mike Gittinger (Canton)
PROSPECTS ALL-STAR ROSTER
Pos. Player (Team) Ht. Wt. College Birthdate
G Isaiah Canaan (Rio Grande Valley)* 6-0 188 Murry State 5/21/91
F Robert Covington (Rio Grande Valley)* 6-9 215 Tennessee State 12/14/90
G Troy Daniels (Rio Grande Valley) 6-7 200 VCU 7/15/91
F Ike Diogu (Bakersfield) 6-8 255 Arizona State 9/11/83
F Devin Ebanks (Texas) 6-9 215 West Virginia 10/28/89
F Melvin Ely (Texas) 6-10 260 Fresno State 5/2/78
G Ron Howard (Fort Wayne) 6-5 185 Valparaiso 11/14/82
F Othyus Jeffers (Iowa) 6-5 205 Robert Morris 8/5/85
G Christapher Johnson (Rio Grande Valley)* 6-6 201 Dayton 4/29/90
C Jarvis Varnado (Iowa) 6-9 210 Mississippi State 3/1/88
Head Coach: Nevada Smith (Rio Grande Valley)
Assistant Coaches: Paul Mokeski (Rio Grande Valley), Jason Young (Rio Grande Valley)
Athletic Trainer: Long Lam (Rio Grande Valley)
* – Indicates a player currently in the NBA
