With just two games remaining in their 2013-2014 season, and despite their elimination from postseason consideration, the Texas Legends are poised to go out with a bang.
W Texas Legends (22-25) Vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (29-19)—146-131
The NBA’s D-League provides a style of basketball that emphasizes offense over defense. However, even with that considered, the Texas Legends and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers engaged in what can only be described as a nuclear-level scoring fest.
Without question, those sitting in the front few rows of Hidalgo’s State Farm Arena left the game with singed eyebrows and a dose of vertigo.
277 combined points were scored. It bears repeating—277 combined points were scored. What the what? By comparison, my high school basketball team scored 276 points over an entire season. Just kidding, but still—it takes one mammoth bucket to hold all those duckets.
Ricky Ledo, posted another double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds; while also dishing out 9 assists. Mickey McConnell garnered a double-double with 19 pts and 12 rebounds. Damion James knocked 21 points, and P.J. Hairston led the foray with 31 points.
W Texas Legends (23-25) Vs. Austin Toros (19-29)—93-92
As far as scoring goes, the Legends went from the penthouse to the basement, as they put up 53 fewer points against the Toros than they did in their previous game against the Vipers. But all that really matters is that they scored one more than the Toros opposition, for their second-straight win.
Marcus Hubbard notched a double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds, and P.J. Hairston put down 13. Ricky Ledo contributed 18 points coming in off the bench.
Damion James Signed by the San Antonio Spurs
Former University of Texas standout, Damion James, started the 2013-2014 season as a member of the Bakersfield Jam. But fans of Frisco Hoops know James by his dominant tenure with the Legends. Although his time here was short, James certainly made his presence felt. Acquired on March 1, he averaged 16.4 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game.
The 6’7″ Forward was dominant enough to warrant the attention of several NBA teams. Ultimately, it was the red-hot San Antonio Spurs that coveted his unique skill-set the most, as they just inked him to a 10-day NBA contract.
Out of UT, James was a first round NBA Draft pick in 2010, taken 24th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, before being flipped on draft night to the Brooklyn—then New Jersey—Nets. James was part of a three team D-League trade that centered around former Legends’ star Devin Ebanks.
Upcoming Texas Legends Games
The Legends hit the road for the final time this season, as they travel to South Dakota for a one-game stand with the Sioux Falls SkyForce (29-19) this Friday. Then it’s a quick turnaround, as the Legends return home to the Dr. Pepper Arena for the season finale against the Idaho Stampede (24-24).
Tickets are available at the Dr. Pepper Arena box office, or can be purchased online. And as always, if you can’t make it to either game, you don’t have to miss out on the action as you can watch the Texas Legends via their Official YouTube channel.
