Cisco to WebEx NBA D-League Draft Live

For the very first time, the NBA Development League will be conducting the entire draft with the help of Cisco’s WebEx technology, allowing all D-League team representatives to connect via video conference and interact with one another in real-time.

Cisco will also be featured throughout the Draft coverage on the NBA D-League website, NBA.com/dleague, allowing fans to:

• Listen to a live audio stream by visiting the league’s official website
• View a live draft board
• Receive updates in real time
• Participate in a live interactive chat

Here is the official press release via www.text100.com.

CISCO TO POWER 2011 NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE DRAFT

– 2011 NBA Development League Draft Powered by Cisco to be conducted
with teams participating through Cisco WebEx’s online meeting platform –

NEW YORK, November 3, 2011 – Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and the NBA Development League today announced that Cisco will power the 2011 NBA Development League Draft by providing its networking services to enhance interactivity between the teams. The 2011 NBA Development League Draft Powered by Cisco is scheduled to be held today.

As part of the partnership, the NBA D-League will conduct its draft entirely through Cisco WebEx online collaboration software for the first time. All the teams from across the league will be able to participate remotely from their computers within their home markets. Using WebEx, each team will be linked to all other teams via video conference, allowing team representatives to interact with one another and track draft picks in real-time. Cisco will also be featured throughout the Draft coverage on the NBA D-League website, NBA.com/dleague.

NBA D-League fans will be able to listen to a live audio stream of the Draft by visiting the league’s official website. Fans will also be able to go there to view a live draft board, updated in real time, and can participate in a live interactive chat with other fans.

“By choosing WebEx for its annual draft, the NBA Development League enables all of the participants to communicate and collaborate with voice and video to improve the draft experience,” said Raj Gossain, Vice President of Product Management at Cisco WebEx. “This use of WebEx shows how organizations of all sizes can improve productivity and enable new ways of working together with an easy to use cloud-based meeting service.”

“Cisco is the perfect partner to help take our draft to the next level in terms of interactivity,” said Dan Reed, President of the NBA Development League. “Cisco’s expertise in delivering high quality video conferencing via WebEx will significantly enhance the operations of this year’s draft and improve the draft day experience for our teams.”

The NBA D-League Draft utilizes a “serpentine” format, meaning the order will alternate in each of the eight rounds. For example, the team picking last in the first round will select first in the second round, giving them the 16th and 17th overall choices.

The order of the first round will be:
Los Angeles D-Fenders
Austin Toros
Maine Red Claws
Sioux Falls Skyforce
Texas Legends
Bakersfield Jam (from Iowa)
Erie BayHawks
Bakersfield Jam
Erie Bayhawks (from Idaho)
Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Tulsa 66ers
Dakota Wizards
Bakersfield Jam (from Reno)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Canton Charge
Tulsa 66ers (from Springfield)
About the NBA Development League

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league. Featuring 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA franchises, the NBA D-League is a proven developer of talent: 23 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season boasted NBA D-League experience, and the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front-office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the league’s 10th season, fans could watch all NBA D-League games on NBA FUTURECAST, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

Read more about Cisco sports technology in this Sports Techie blog: https://n5y.1cd.myftpupload.com/staples-center-solutions-cisco-verizon/

Even though the 2011-12 NBA season is at risk of not happening, it is good to know that Cisco and the NBA D-League are still working hard for Sports Techie fans. Enjoy the D-League draft via the Internet in real-time powered by Cisco.

I will see ya when I see ya, Sports Techie

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