Albuquerque, N.M., January 7, 2008 – D.J. Strawberry, of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, on assignment from the Phoenix Suns, was today named D-League.com Performer of the Week for games played during the week of Dec. 31. In two games, Strawberry averaged 34.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists, while shooting 24-of-41 (.585) from the field and 8-of-14 (.571) from three-point range.

Strawberry finished the week with a 39-point, seven-rebound, six-assist, and two-steal performance in an 89-87 win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Saturday, Jan. 5. The night before, Strawberry netted a game-high 29 points in a two-point loss to the Anaheim Arsenal.

This is the second time this season that a Albuquerque Thunderbirds player had been honored as a D-League.com Performer of the week. Alando Tucker, on assignment from the Phoenix Suns, was named with the honor the week of December 17, when Tucker for the week, averaged 36.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while leading the Thunderbirds to two victories. He shot .519 (27-52) from the field, including 6-10 from three-point range.

Meanwhile, the Albuquerque Thunderbirds have acquired forward / center Cory Underwood and waived center James Smith.

“Cory is a long and athletic player who we are looking at to incorporate into the rotation and give him some minutes,” Head Coach Ruland said.

Underwood, 6-10, 230, played collegiately at Southern University and averaged 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while earning NAIA All-American Honorable Mention in 2003. He most recently played for the Pittsburgh Explosion of the CBA, averaging 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Smith played in 11 games for the Thunderbirds, averaging 16.7 minutes, 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Underwood is expected to be in uniform wearing No. 21 when Albuquerque (6-7) travels to Austin (12-4) on Thursday at Austin Convention Center.

The Thunderbirds hit the road for their next four games starting Thursday, January 10th against the Austin Toros, before returning home to take on the Tulsa 66ers, Wednesday, January 23rd for a 10:30 am “School House Jam” game. The game on January 23 will be the first of two “School House Jam” games for the Thunderbirds this season.

Thunderbirds 2007–08 single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com, any Ticketmaster location or at the Thunderbirds front office at 111 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 240, Albuquerque, NM 87102. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK.

The Thunderbirds stay focused on the community by participating in community events such as the Read to Achieve Program as well as D-League Cares. In the past two seasons the Thunderbirds have worked over 3,000 hours in the community, staying dedicated to Albuquerque and New Mexico.

The NBA Development League is the NBA's official minor league, and the first-ever basketball league with direct affiliations to NBA teams. Now in its seventh season the D-League’s goals are to provide affordable, NBA-caliber entertainment to fans of its 14 teams, as well as continue to develop players, coaches, referees and front-office personnel for the NBA. As the single source for in-season player "call-ups" to the NBA, fans of the D-League enjoy the highest caliber of basketball played outside the NBA. In fact, former D-League players represented 10 percent of NBA players on 2007-08 opening day rosters, numbering 44 in total. In addition, the D-League has produced 25 percent of current NBA referees and 16 current NBA coaches, including head coach Sam Vincent with the Charlotte Bobcats. The D-League is an innovative and rapidly growing sports property that also serves as an experimental testing ground for new initiatives of the NBA and its teams, provides continuing education and professional development resources for its players, and is committed to serving its local communities through D-LEAGUE CARES and grassroots efforts.

Individually, the Thunderbirds have had two player call-ups, two front office call-ups, two training staff call-ups and three call-ups from the Storm Chasers Dance and Cheer squad.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the D-League offers NBA-quality basketball and fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com