J.R. Giddens, Former U of New Mexico Standout, Likely to Play for Thunderbirds

Filed under: NBA D-League, New Mexico Thunderbirds

It's been three and a half seasons since J.R. Giddens last played for the New Mexico Lobos after transferring there following two rather tumultuous seasons as a Kansas Jayhawk, but he'll likely be donning a 'New Mexico' jersey again sometime soon.

No, Giddens isn't going back to college but rather will be joining the state's professional basketball team.

Giddens, a 6-foot-5 wing and the first-round pick of Boston in the 2008 NBA Draft, signed an NBA Development League contract on Tuesday and is expected to be officially claimed by the D-League's New Mexico Thunderbirds sometime Thursday afternoon according to a source close to the situation. Giddens arrived in New Mexico on Sunday, but was unable to sign with the D-League until the league could get FIBA clearance.

It's unclear what exactly caused the holdup, but Giddens told a fan on Twitter "[E]urope was nice but if [you] don't pay me for my services [I] can't play, still waiting on money from teams over there no bueno," presumably meaning that the issue stemmed from Giddens probably still being under contract -- despite not being paid -- from one of the European teams he's played for in the past.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/10/j-r-giddens-former-u-of-new-mexico-standout-likely-to-play-fo/

Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson