Former D-Leaguers making impact at next level

McALLEN - If anyone wonders about the impact of the NBA Development League, Toronto Raptors forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu is providing a glimpse of the positive effect it is having on the NBA.

Mensah-Bonsu, who had 22 points and 18 rebounds when the Austin Toros visited the Vipers a little over one month ago, is now in the Raptors rotation and had 21 points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes during Toronto's 110-87 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. The Vipers can take solace in the fact they're not the only team the 6-foot-10 Mensah-Bonsu has had his way with this season.

Of course, proving one belongs after being in D-League is something Mensah-Bonsu is dealing with, and he said as much after Sunday's game.

"I don't feel like a borderline NBA player, but I know that's the rep," Mensah-Bonsu told the Toronto Globe & Mail. "So I'm just playing - personally - to stay in the NBA."

Mensah-Bonsu is one of 13 D-League players who have been called up to the NBA this season (non-assignment players). He is averaging 6.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game since joining Toronto.

Vipers in the NBA

Former Vipers players C.J. Watson, Aaron Brooks and Steve Novak have seen significant minutes for their NBA teams since the start of the season. Watson, the Vipers' 2007-08 No. 1 draft choice, is the only non-assignment player the Vipers have sent to the NBA. He is averaging 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 61 games (14 starts) with the Golden State Warriors.

Novak, meanwhile, has recently seen a bump in playing time with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in L.A.'s 107-105 victory Sunday night against New Jersey to top a 21-point night. Novak, then with the Houston Rockets, was assigned to the Vipers for the first month of the 2007-08 season.

Brooks, meanwhile, is the Rockets' starting point guard and had a brief stay with the Vipers last season. Since becoming the starter following Houston's trade of Rafer Alston to Orlando last month, Brooks is averaging 13.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.

Vipers playing well

Unlike previous road trips, the Vipers (16-24) will do no worse than break even on their current sojourn away from Dodge Arena. They are 3-2 on the six-game trip that wraps up Friday in Albuquerque.

The highlight victory of the swing, and perhaps the season, was their 108-106 overtime victory against defending D-League champion Idaho on Saturday. The win completed a season sweep of the Stampede.

"Give Rio Grande Valley all of the credit; they made their shots," Idaho coach Bryan Gates was quoted as saying after the game. "It was a great game ... there were 20 guys playing their hearts out. The ball just fell for them tonight."

No time change

The Vipers return home Sunday to face Austin. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., which is not expected to change. Some of the tickets have a different time printed on them, but the tip off will be at 3:30 p.m. against the Toros at Dodge Arena.

Todd Mavreles covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.