The Lakers presence will be felt in the NBA D-League All-Star Game with a handful of D-Fenders earning the honor
Los Angeles D-Fenders star shooting guard Vander Blue and power forward Justin Harper found out about a week ago that they were going to take a trip without their teammates as they both earned spots on the NBA D-League All-Star team.
A couple of days later, D-Fenders shooting guard Andre Ingram found out he was taking the trip too. Ingram was selected to participate in the D-League’s 3-Point Contest. He ranks No. 2 in the league in three-point shooting completion, making 50.7 percent of the attempts he’s taken.
Eight NBA players are included on the list of 24 All-star players, six on the East and two on the West, and none of them are Lakers. Of the 16 players left, eight have NBA experience and eight do not. The D-Fenders Harper and Blue are two that have tasted what it feels like to play in the big leagues.
The difference between the D-League All-Star Game and the NBA All-Star team is simple: The NBA All-Star starters are determined by popularity and the reserves by merit whereas the D-League All-Stars are all based on performance. These three D-Fenders players should be proud.
We had a chance to talk to all three D-Fenders stars to get their reaction to Saturday’s win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, earning D-League All-Star honors, and being acknowledged for their effort by the league, their coach, and their teammates.
Next: Center Justin Harper
Justin Harper – D-League All-Star Game
Justin Harper is a 26-year-old center who played his college ball for the Richmond Spiders. The 6-10 big man is averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Lakers D-League affiliates. Moreover, Harper was a bit shocked, but grateful, about being selected as an All-Star.
“Going to the All-Stars, yeah…it was not expected. I know that I had been working hard and I had started playing better as of late, but I was still surprised when my coach announced it to me,” he said. “We came into practice one morning and the coach brought it into the team and announced me and Vander [Blue] had got selected. I was, like, in shock.”
Harper earned this accolade big-time; he plays hard on offense and defense, effortlessly shoots three-pointers, and floats elegant lay-ups into the hoop when his team needs it most. As far as his All-Star experience goes, Harper is ready to soak it all in and looking forward to it all. “I am very excited, very excited. Just being involved,” Harper said. “You know, just being recognized is obviously a blessing—just working hard, and staying humble, and enjoying the whole experience is what I am looking forward to!”
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He continued, “It’s one of those things where you feed off of it, but you always have to be confident in yourself, especially as a professional athlete. Or else, you never really reach your full potential. I felt better about what I was doing, like ‘keep working and just keep doing what I do and I’m just trying to help my team.’ Like you said, if it’s rebounding or threes, I try to do everything I can while I’m out there.”
Harper had a message for Lakers fans when we asked him what fans can expect from watching a D-Fenders game on TV or in person. “Just be ready for a show,” Harper said. “I think the way we play is good basketball. We have a lot of great guys on our team that can really fill it up. We are a dangerous team for opposing teams because we have so many different guys that can, on any given night, have 20 or 30 points.”
Harper was also complimentary of teammate Andre Ingram, who will also be making the trip to Toronto. “You know Andre can come off the bench and have 30. It will be nothing to us because we move the ball and that’s how we play. I think it’s exciting, so if anybody wants just to come by and check out a game I would encourage them to, ’cause it’s a lot of fun.”
Harper will have the chance to show just how much fun it is along with his teammate in the D-League All-Star Game.
Next: D-Fenders high scoring point guard Vander Blue
Vander Blue – D-League All-Star Game
Vander Blue is a name familiar to Lakers fans as he’s spent time with the team previously in between stints with the D-Fenders. However, he’s embracing his opportunity to shine in the D-League after being selected to play in the All-Star Game.
“It’s a blessing, I am just grateful and thankful at the same time just to be in the conversation,” Blue said, “I am really looking forward to it. I’m blessed to have the chance to go to the show two years in a row. I think it’s good for the organization. I’m just really looking forward to the whole weekend just having fun and enjoying the whole experience.”
Blue scored 39 points against the Vipers on Saturday, scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone. He followed that performance up with a 37-point game for the D-Fenders in a loss against the Idaho Stampede on Monday. Here are Blue’s highlights from his huge game against the Vipers:
Blue will certainly look to put those skills and talents on display come Saturday in the D-League All-Star Game.
Next: Guard Andre Ingram
Andre Ingram – D-League 3-Point Contest
Andre Ingram is one of the most humble basketball players out there. When the 30-year-old, 6-3 guard talked about himself and his accomplishments from beyond the arc, i wasn’t easy for him. He tends to put his teammates first. Ingram drilled four three-pointers in the contest against the Vipers to total 52 made threes in 28 games.
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The first thoughts that came to Ingram’s mind when he heard the news that he’d be in the D-League 3-Point Contest only further showed his humility. “I was just, honestly, I felt blessed. It’s just been a wonderful season and I was glad the league took notice of it,” he said. “I was excited when they called me, and I was just thankful. It wasn’t my goal coming into the season to get into the 3-Point Contest, but I wanted it.”
Ingram isn’t going into the contest cold. On his training, Ingram said, “My teammates and coaches, they help me out a little bit. We use the racks we got here, which aren’t the same racks we will be using, but we did a little practice right out here I enjoyed it.” Would he get practice at the All-star facility? “I am assuming they’ll give you a 30-minute period to use the racks and kind of get a feel for it.”
The consummate teammate, Ingram is not only looking forward to competing, but he is also looking forward to being courtside for his fellow D-Fenders. “I’m really excited to see Harper and Blue, my teammates, in the All-Star Game because I know how hard they are going to cheer for me in the 3-Point Contest,” said Ingram.
About the game against the Vipers and how their team kept their cool throughout the matchup, “We’ve been jelling. We’re coming together pretty good here. We just want to keep that energy. Our coach uses the term ‘bottle it’ about our energy, so that works.”
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There you are Lakers fans! Three D-Fenders are going to to the D-Leagues NBA All-stars because they earned their way in. They are being recognized for their perseverance and attention to getting better each day at their craft. Maybe a strong showing will put them one step closer to a run with the Lakers.