Amazing what playing time will do for a pro basketball player.
Cory Joseph, a guard on assignment to the Austin Toros from the San Antonio Spurs, was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played March 19-25. The honor is the first for Joseph of his career.
Joseph, who is in the middle of his third assignment from the Spurs to the Toros, averaged 19.0 points, 9.3 assists and 9.0 rebounds last week as Austin went 3-0. He shot 57 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point land, scoring an NBA D-League season-high 25 points in a 113-103 win over the Iowa Energy on March 21. He became the ninth NBA D-League player this season to record a triple-double when he tallied 15 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists in a 112-82 win over the Maine Red Claws on March 23.
A 6-3, 185-pound guard out of Texas, Joseph is averaging 13.6 points, 5.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 32.0 minutes in nine games with the Toros this season. In 27 games with the Spurs this year, Joseph, who was the 29th overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, is averaging 1.7 points, 1.1 assists and 7.6 minutes.
Joseph may find himself in Austin for some time barring any serious injury to Tony Parker. With Gary Neal, and Patty Mills in the fold, the point guard spots on the roster are filled.
However, playing in Austin is preferred for Cory. There he will get playing time, work on his game and get a better feel for the Spurs’ system since the Toros run the same plays as the Spurs. It also shows he does have what it takes to make it in the NBA.
