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SALT LAKE CITY (February 7, 2008) - Utah Jazz rookie guard Morris Almond has been selected to compete in a game of H.O.R.S.E. during the inaugural NBA Development League Dream Factory Friday Night, the NBA Development League announced today.
The inaugural NBA Development League Dream Factory Friday Night, an exciting event modeled after the popular NBA All-Star Saturday Night, tips off on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. MT on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas. The action-packed evening will include perennial NBA fan favorite events such as a Three-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk competition, while introducing H.O.R.S.E. and an interactive game of Hot-Shot with fans.
Almond, a 6-6, 225-pound guard out of Rice was selected by the Jazz in the first round (25th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft. He has appeared in six games for the Jazz, totaling three points, one assist and one steal in 25 minutes of action. While on assignment with the Flash, Almond has appeared in 16 games and is averaging a league-leading 26.4 points, along with 1.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds. He set a D-League record by scoring 53 points at Bakersfield on January 30, breaking a record he had previously tied with 51 vs. Austin on December 21.
Creativity will reign on Center Court as the D-League revisits H.O.R.S.E. some 30 years after NBA players participated in the competition which aired during games on CBS. Among the top talents who participated in the matchups were former Jazz great Pete Maravich, George Gervin, and Rick Barry. The D-League's edition of H.O.R.S.E. will feature Almond, Weber State alum Lance Allred of Idaho, Jeremy Richardson of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and Sioux Falls' Kasib Powell. Two preliminary rounds of two games each will be played with the winners of the first two rounds competing in a final round for the title of H.O.R.S.E. Champion. Each round will be capped at five minutes, and will utilize a 24 second shot clock. Participants will be outfitted with a wireless microphone in order for fans to hear the player call his shot.
Almond and fellow Jazz rookie Kyrylo Fesenko will also compete in the second-annual D-League All-Star Game presented by Spalding in New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 16. The game, which begins at 1 p.m. MT, will be broadcast live on NBA TV and features 20 of the D-League's finest as selected by fans and D-League coaches.
