NBA D-League Update: Howell, Brown, Fells, Costner and More

Richard Howell

Last week, Gino Pilato of D-League Digest broke the news that Richard Howell bought out the rest of his contract with the Idaho Stampede. As one of the top-producing big men in the league, he is leaving to play with the Talk’n Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association

After hearing this, I reached out to Rich in order to determine the reason. After a couple of days of phone tag, Rich texted me with the reason he is leaving the Stampede—and the reason he had been too busy to chat.

“Basically, I just need to provide for my two little girls,” Howell said in a text. “In France [where he played earlier in the summer], I was making good money. I came to the D-League and, to my standards, I needed more money that what I was making.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the NBA, which is the reason I came back to the states. At the end of the day, I want to provide anything that my girls want, and I can’t do that in the D-League.”

Currently, Howell is in Raleigh, spending time with one of his daughters. He will be leaving for the Philippines on Feb. 10.

Other Players Still in the League

Brandon Costner, Los Angeles D-Fenders
(Current Stats: 12 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 34 FG%)

Though he is averaging the worst point total and shooting percentage of his D- League career, Costner is heating up as of late. The 6’9” power forward has scored over 10 points in eight of 11 games in January so far.

Lorenzo Brown, Delaware 87ers
(Current Stats: 17.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.8 apg)

Brown continues to seesaw from the 87ers and the Philidelphia 76ers, even playing for both teams in one day. But, fortunately for him, it has not affect his production. Brown has scored over 20 points in three of his last six games.

Courtney Fells, Austin Toros
(Current Stats: 15.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.8 apg)

Courtney Fells has been a constant producer for the Toros. Fells has seen an uptick in production lately, averaging 18 points over his last eight games, and scoring over 20 points three of his last six games.

Dennis Horner, Springfield Armor
(Current Stats: 15.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 apg)

After a disappointing 2012-13 season where he averaged 12 points, Horner has his career back on track. Horner was last in the NBA in March 2012 with the Nets. He has scored at least 20 points and 10 rebounds over his last two games.

C.J. Leslie, Erie BayHawks
(Current Stats: 12 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 45.7 FG%)

When we last checked in with Leslie, his play was sporatic. That hasn’t changed so far. Though he has had a couple 20-point games this season, he has yet to develop a consistent touch. In his last game against the Iowa Energy on Jan. 26, he went scoreless. This D-League experience is at least doing something positive for his career: keeping him off a terrible Knicks team.

C.J. Williams, Los Angeles D-Fenders
(Current Stats: 13.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Williams has been relatively quiet this season, but he recently exploded onto the scene. He has scored over 15 points in four of his last five games, and, in his last game on Jan. 27, he scored 36 points of 15-20 shooting from the field, going 4-7 from behind the arc.