Basketball: Membership has its privileges

Two special men, Bob Thronton and Ralph Lewis, have descended on Huntsville, Alabama, former NBA players who hope to bring excitement to the NBDL's Huntsville Flight.

Being part of the National Basketball Development League will be a privilege for young basketball players awaiting their chance at the NBA. Players in this league will learn first hand, the mental and physical game of the NBA from veterans.

Coach Thornton played in the NBA for eight years and has played in Europe. Coach Lewis played in the CBA, played two seasons in the NBA and also played in Europe.

"I want a ball player who wants to be part of what we are doing here with the Flight," Thornton said.

Thorton also said that work ethic, along with talent is what it will take to get a 10-day contract with the NBA. Many sports critics think that if a basketball player wants a shot at the NBA, the NBDL is an excellent start.

"I won't hold a guy back if he's ready," said Thornton. "I'll be the first one on the phone letting a NBA coach know I've got a talented guy down here."

The rules of the game will mirror that of the NBA, with exception of four 10-minute quarters, instead of the NBA's four 12-minute quarters.

"The game will be fast paced like the NBA," said Thornton.

The league will get together in late October for the draft. According to Thornton and Lewis, if players are interested in the NBDL they must go through the league's office in New York.

The league will assemble the pool of players that the NBDL coaches will draft from. A second draft will be held once the NBA completes their final cuts. The NBDL will not operate the way minor league baseball works with major league baseball.

"A NBA player will not be sent down to this league to work on his game or recuperate from injury," said Lewis.

Players will have to be cut from the NBA before being eligible to play in the NBDL.

Why must a basketball player be 20 to play in the NBDL?

Thornton answered the question by saying that only a few guys are ready to play at the NBA level straight out of high school.

Then what happens to the 18-year-old that makes himself eligible for the draft? What if he doesn't get drafted?

"We want to encourage kids to stay in school and pursue education first," said Thornton and Lewis.

They both agree it's a hard choice. They say it is vital to have a good support system in place to help a kid make the decision to turn professional or go on to college. "It's a lot to think about," said Thornton.

One rumor that can be dispelled is that the NBDL only wants players 25 years or younger.

"That's not true," says Coach Thornton. The league will welcome players who are slightly older than 25, especially those with experience. The NBA also has other goals in place for the NBDL. The league will offer their players the opportunity to take online college courses.

"Basketball has a short lifetime," says Coach Thornton. "We want to give our guys something to fall back on."

In the past, some minor leagues have found it hard to survive. What are the chances of the Flight and the NBDL surviving?

The Flight is assured they have a good chance. The league itself has the backing of the NBA, which will help its staying power. And, the Flight plan not only to play good basketball, but also be very visible in the community.

"This is a close knit community and we want to be an integral part of it," said Thornton. "When a member of the Flight leaves and goes on (to) the NBA, the fans will have the reward of saying they knew him, they watched his progress, and they watched him grow."