L.A. D-Fenders players keep their NBA dream alive playing in the Development League

The Los Angeles D-Fenders’ 12-man roster is a mix of recent college players hoping to play in the NBA, and a handful of veterans who have had a taste of the big time in what they call “The League� and hope to return there.

Their journey has taken them to the NBA Development League, where they ply their craft with the Lakers’ affiliate, waiting and hoping for a call from one of the 30 NBA teams.

Vander Blue, Jamaal Franklin, Malcolm Thomas and Justin Harper are D-Fenders who have all played in NBA regular-season games, and the road back to the minor leagues has tested their perseverance.

“It’s tough making that transition after being at the top,� said Harper, who played 14 games with the Orlando Magic during the 2011-12 season. “Going down to the D-League . . . you feel like, ‘What do I have to do to get back?’ It’s just a journey, but I enjoy it. You learn a lot about yourself.�

Harper, 26, a 6-foot-10 power forward, was one of the last players cut by the Brooklyn Nets in the final week of October, just before the regular season began. It slowed his dream of getting back in the NBA. He is averaging 10.6 points on 52.3% shooting in nine games for the D-Fenders.

“Sometimes you have a bad day just because it’s the D-League. But you’ve just got to fight through it. It’s not the best and it’s obviously not where you want to be, but you’ve got to keep coming along and stay positive about it and everything will be good,� Harper said.

Blue, 23, a 6-4 guard, was called up last season by the Lakers to play in the final two regular-season games, playing all 48 minutes in the finale. He played on the Chicago Bulls’ summer league team, but couldn’t find a spot on an NBA team and is back with the D-Fenders.

“I feel like the more you think about the league and just kind of want it to happen, the longer it takes to get a call,� said Blue, the D-Fenders’ leading scorer, averaging 22.1 points through the first 11 games. “So right now, it’s just more of coming in every day and trying to get better, help the team and let those guys do their job and pick who they want.�

Franklin, 24, a 6-5 guard, was drafted in the second round by the Memphis Grizzlies and played 21 games for them during the 2013-14 season. He appeared in three games with the Denver Nuggets last season. He signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Assn. this season, but never played in a game and recently was reacquired by the D-Fenders.

“Of course you want to prove something,� said Franklin, who averaged 10.3 points on 61.1% shooting in his first three games with the D-Fenders. “But I feel like scouts know your game and you know your weaknesses. For me, I just be myself and stay patient, because if you overthink it and want a call-up every day, it will mess with your game and mess you up mentally and physically.�

Thomas, 27, a 6-9 forward, has played in 40 NBA games in the last four seasons, with San Antonio, Golden State, Chicago, Utah and Philadelphia. This is his second stint with the D-Fenders.

Thomas averaged 17.7 points and 12.0 rebounds in his first seven games this season with the D-Fenders.

Playing in the D-League, however, can be challenging on many levels.

The NBA’s average salary is about $5.5 million per season. And the minimum pay for a rookie signed to a 10-day NBA contract is $31,000.

Contrast that with the D-League, where pay is based on a three-tier level, ranging from $18,000 to $30,000 a season.

D-League players get a $40 per diem on the road, compared to the $120 per day NBA players get. Most D-Fenders have a roommate on the road, something that never happens in the NBA.

And most D-Fenders have a roommate to share the cost of a hotel suite near the team’s practice facility in El Segundo. The team does provide each player about $400 per month for living expenses.

Still, it’s hard for most players to make ends meet, especially for Thomas, who has a family. He rents an apartment to make it easier when his girlfriend and two kids visit.

“It was good that I was able to play in the league a couple of times, so that’s what’s holding us over,� said Thomas.

And yet the D-Fenders’ players remain encouraged about the opportunities to reach the NBA, in part because Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak and his staff can watch them from his window above the same court on which the Lakers practice.

With the Lakers and Clippers both playing at Staples Center, NBA scouts frequently stop by to watch the D-Fenders play games and practice.

The D-League has been the most direct path to reach the NBA, as 47 players were called up last season, with some getting repeated opportunities.

There also is the annual NBA D-League Showcase in Santa Cruz coming up in early January that will feature all 19 teams. That will give every player on the D-Fenders a chance to be seen by NBA personnel looking for talent.

It’s a critical time of the season for D-Leaguers hoping to get the call-up, because beginning Jan. 5 the NBA allows teams to sign players to 10-day contracts.

“In this league, everybody wants to get paid,� Thomas said. “It’s tough doing it here, coming here and trying to provide off of this. But I guess that’s just part of the deal.�

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Twitter: @BA_Turner