Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned guard Courtney Fortson to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Fortson, who was signed by the Rockets for the remainder of the season Mar. 27, marks his first official assignment to the D-League. Fortson was originally signed by Houston to a 10-day contract on Mar. 17, which was his second D-League Call-Up of the season. He also played four games with the L.A. Clippers this season.
Fortson (5-11, 185, Arkansas) has averaged 2.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 7.2 minutes per game over five outings since joining the Rockets. He also owns career averages of 14.3 points, 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 35 D-League games (15 starts) with the Reno Bighorns (2010-11) and L.A. D-Fenders (2011-12). In 29 games (14 starts) this season with the D-Fenders, Fortson holds averages of 17.0 points, 5.9 assists, 4.3 boards and 2.14 steals. At the time of his Call-Up, Fortson was ranked tied for 14th in the league in scoring, sixth in assists and second in steals.
A Call-Up by the Clippers on Jan. 16, 2012, Fortson scored an NBA career-high 13 points (5-10 FG) at Utah (1/17/12). He was waived by the Clippers on Jan. 27. In addition to the NBA, Fortson played internationally with Romanian First Division team Steaua Turabo. In college, Fortson averaged 17.9 points, 5.7 assists and 5.2 rebounds as a sophomore at Arkansas. He was also named to the All-SEC Freshman Team.
