Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Austin Toros’ 2008-09 season built on the momentum of the previous year’s Finals appearance, with the club posting a 32-18 record and finishing second in the Southwest Division under head coach Quin Snyder. Austin again established itself among the NBA D-League’s strongest teams behind the standout production of Marcus Williams, while NBA-caliber contributors including Malik Hairston, Dwayne Jones, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and Ian Mahinmi moved through the roster during the year. The Toros advanced to the playoffs and defeated the Idaho Stampede in the quarterfinals before their postseason run ended against the Colorado 14ers in the semifinals. Although the season stopped short of another trip to the championship series, the 2008-09 campaign reinforced Austin’s status as one of the D-League’s premier organizations and a regular contender in the Western Conference.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | DATE OF BIRTH | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ezra Williams | G | 6’4″ | 235 lbs | 11/02/1980 | Georgia |
| 7 | Nate Brown | G | 6’0″ | 190 lbs | 10/10/1980 | St. Peter’s |
| 7 | Robert McKiver | G | 6’3″ | 190 lbs | 12/24/1984 | Houston |
| 10 | Carldell Johnson | G | 5’10” | 180 lbs | 01/28/1983 | UAB |
| 11 | Marcus Williams | G-F | 6’7″ | 205 lbs | 11/18/1986 | Arizona |
| 12 | Tack Minor | G | 5’11” | 195 lbs | 02/08/1984 | LSU |
| 13 | Kris Collins | G | 6’2″ | 190 lbs | 06/13/1983 | New Mexico |
| 13 | Stanley Burrell | G | 6’3″ | 210 lbs | 09/16/1984 | Xavier |
| 14 | Jason Parker | G | 6’2″ | 180 lbs | 12/18/1981 | Tulsa |
| 15 | Malik Hairston | G | 6’6″ | 220 lbs | 02/23/1987 | Oregon |
| 17 | Ryan Bright | F | 6’6″ | 225 lbs | 02/03/1986 | Sam Houston State |
| 18 | Brian Morrison | G | 6’2″ | 192 lbs | 07/25/1982 | UCLA |
| 19 | Blake Ahearn | G | 6’3″ | 190 lbs | 05/27/1984 | Missouri State |
| 20 | Jahmar Thorpe | F | 6’6″ | 215 lbs | 09/02/1984 | Houston |
| 20 | Marshall Brown | G-F | 6’7″ | 225 lbs | 03/11/1985 | Missouri |
| 21 | Serge Angounou | F | 6’8″ | 236 lbs | 09/07/1983 | Arizona State |
| 23 | DeMarcus Nelson | G | 6’4″ | 200 lbs | 11/02/1985 | Duke |
| 23 | Eric Dawson | F | 6’7″ | 255 lbs | 07/07/1984 | Midwestern State |
| 23 | DerMarr Johnson | G-F | 6’9″ | 210 lbs | 05/05/1980 | Cincinnati |
| 24 | Dwayne Jones | F-C | 6’11” | 250 lbs | 06/09/1983 | St. Joseph’s |
| 25 | Pops Mensah-Bonsu | F | 6’9″ | 240 lbs | 09/07/1983 | George Washington |
| 32 | Ian Mahinmi | C | 6’11” | 230 lbs | 11/05/1986 | None |
| 33 | Mohamed Abukar | F | 6’10” | 220 lbs | 01/01/1985 | San Diego State |
| 34 | Andre Brown | F | 6’9″ | 245 lbs | 05/12/1981 | DePaul |
| 41 | Charles Gaines | F-C | 6’9″ | 225 lbs | 10/15/1981 | Southern Miss |
| 44 | Jamaal Thomas | G-F | 6’8″ | 220 lbs | 06/17/1980 | Portland State |
| 50 | Anthony Tolliver | C | 6’9″ | 240 lbs | 06/01/1985 | Creighton |
| 44 | Fred Gibson | G | 6’4″ | 185 lbs | 10/26/1981 | Georgia |
Regular Season Per Game
| PLAYER NAME | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Williams | G-F | 22 | 45 | 44 | 42.8 | 23.0 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 18.9 | 8.5 | .448 | 3.2 | 1.0 | .322 | 6.0 | 5.0 | .838 |
| Malik Hairston | G | 21 | 30 | 30 | 41.3 | 22.9 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 15.2 | 8.1 | .532 | 2.0 | 0.9 | .441 | 7.0 | 5.9 | .834 |
| Ezra Williams | G | 28 | 42 | 18 | 26.3 | 10.7 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 9.0 | 3.9 | .437 | 3.4 | 1.4 | .426 | 1.6 | 1.4 | .855 |
| Carldell Johnson | G | 26 | 46 | 36 | 32.1 | 8.9 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 7.8 | 3.3 | .419 | 3.3 | 1.2 | .370 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .797 |
| Charles Gaines | F-C | 27 | 23 | 21 | 36.4 | 15.1 | 10.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 11.3 | 6.0 | .529 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 3.1 | .696 | |
| Dwayne Jones | F-C | 25 | 20 | 19 | 36.3 | 17.0 | 13.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 10.2 | 6.2 | .608 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.9 | 4.6 | .659 | |
| Eric Dawson | F | 24 | 31 | 23 | 24.5 | 10.4 | 6.6 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 7.9 | 4.6 | .585 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | .635 | |
| Andre Brown | F | 27 | 17 | 14 | 35.2 | 14.9 | 9.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 13.5 | 6.7 | .496 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.1 | 1.5 | .362 |
| DeMarcus Nelson | G | 23 | 11 | 10 | 41.4 | 23.0 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 15.7 | 8.5 | .538 | 3.6 | 1.6 | .450 | 5.5 | 4.5 | .803 |
| Pops Mensah-Bonsu | F | 25 | 8 | 8 | 39.8 | 26.6 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 15.6 | 9.5 | .608 | 0.3 | 0.0 | .000 | 10.9 | 7.6 | .701 |
| Mohamed Abukar | F | 24 | 16 | 0 | 18.2 | 9.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 7.2 | 3.2 | .443 | 2.6 | 1.2 | .452 | 2.0 | 1.5 | .750 |
| Stanley Burrell | G | 24 | 22 | 4 | 21.3 | 6.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 5.0 | 2.5 | .514 | 0.5 | 0.2 | .364 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .750 |
| Blake Ahearn | G | 24 | 6 | 6 | 34.3 | 18.8 | 2.3 | 6.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 12.0 | 5.3 | .444 | 5.3 | 2.8 | .531 | 5.8 | 5.3 | .914 |
| Anthony Tolliver | C | 23 | 6 | 6 | 38.3 | 17.8 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 12.0 | 6.0 | .500 | 7.2 | 3.5 | .488 | 3.0 | 2.3 | .778 |
| Ryan Bright | F | 22 | 21 | 3 | 13.4 | 4.8 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 2.0 | .553 | 1.1 | 0.5 | .458 | 0.8 | 0.3 | .353 |
| Nate Brown | G | 28 | 13 | 4 | 24.3 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2.4 | 6.8 | 2.8 | .409 | 3.1 | 0.8 | .275 | 1.5 | 1.1 | .737 |
| Serge Angounou | F | 25 | 37 | 3 | 9.6 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | .337 | 0.4 | 0.0 | .063 | 0.9 | 0.8 | .857 |
| DerMarr Johnson | G-F | 28 | 8 | 0 | 21.3 | 7.8 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 7.9 | 2.6 | .333 | 4.1 | 1.1 | .273 | 2.1 | 1.4 | .647 |
| Brian Morrison | G | 26 | 12 | 0 | 8.0 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .429 | 1.5 | 0.6 | .389 | 0.7 | 0.6 | .875 |
| Jamaal Thomas | G-F | 28 | 6 | 0 | 11.8 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 2.0 | .414 | 2.3 | 0.5 | .214 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.000 |
| Tack Minor | G | 24 | 7 | 0 | 7.6 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 1.7 | .571 | 0.9 | 0.3 | .333 | 0.6 | 0.4 | .750 |
| Jason Parker | G | 27 | 4 | 0 | 14.3 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .375 | 2.3 | 1.0 | .444 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.000 |
| Marshall Brown | G-F | 23 | 1 | 0 | 25.0 | 11.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | .556 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .500 | |
| Robert McKiver | G | 24 | 12 | 0 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.3 | .182 | 1.1 | 0.2 | .154 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .167 |
| Jahmar Thorpe | F | 24 | 2 | 0 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .500 | 1.5 | 0.5 | .333 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.000 |
| Kris Collins | G | 25 | 2 | 0 | 13.5 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .286 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | .750 | |
| Ian Mahinmi | C | 22 | 1 | 1 | 21.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | .200 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.000 | |
| Fred Gibson | G | 27 | 2 | 0 | 11.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Playoff Per Game
| PLAYER NAME | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Hairston | G | 21 | 2 | 2 | 50.5 | 35.5 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 23.0 | 13.5 | .587 | 5.5 | 3.5 | .636 | 5.5 | 5.0 | .909 |
| Marcus Williams | G-F | 22 | 2 | 2 | 50.5 | 33.0 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 27.5 | 12.5 | .455 | 5.0 | 3.5 | .700 | 7.0 | 4.5 | .643 |
| Dwayne Jones | F-C | 25 | 2 | 2 | 46.0 | 20.0 | 11.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 13.0 | 9.0 | .692 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | .500 | |
| Eric Dawson | F | 24 | 2 | 2 | 33.5 | 11.5 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 7.5 | 4.5 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | .833 | |
| Carldell Johnson | G | 25 | 2 | 2 | 29.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 9.0 | 2.5 | .278 | 5.0 | 1.0 | .200 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.000 |
| Justin Bowen | F | 25 | 2 | 0 | 22.5 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 3.0 | .667 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Stanley Burrell | G | 24 | 2 | 0 | 18.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .286 | 1.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ryan Bright | F | 22 | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||
| Fred Gibson | G | 27 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Regular Season Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | Min | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Williams | G-F | 22 | 45 | 44 | 1924 | 1037 | 313 | 240 | 77 | 27 | 182 | 852 | 382 | .448 | 143 | 46 | .322 | 271 | 227 | .838 |
| Malik Hairston | G | 21 | 30 | 30 | 1239 | 686 | 164 | 112 | 41 | 32 | 86 | 455 | 242 | .532 | 59 | 26 | .441 | 211 | 176 | .834 |
| Ezra Williams | G | 28 | 42 | 18 | 1105 | 449 | 162 | 69 | 51 | 19 | 66 | 378 | 165 | .437 | 141 | 60 | .426 | 69 | 59 | .855 |
| Carldell Johnson | G | 26 | 46 | 36 | 1475 | 408 | 141 | 237 | 79 | 3 | 91 | 358 | 150 | .419 | 154 | 57 | .370 | 64 | 51 | .797 |
| Charles Gaines | F/C | 27 | 23 | 21 | 838 | 347 | 240 | 17 | 24 | 15 | 50 | 261 | 138 | .529 | 0 | 0 | — | 102 | 71 | .696 |
| Dwayne Jones | F-C | 25 | 20 | 19 | 725 | 339 | 273 | 25 | 12 | 24 | 46 | 204 | 124 | .608 | 0 | 0 | — | 138 | 91 | .659 |
| Eric Dawson | F | 24 | 31 | 23 | 758 | 321 | 204 | 47 | 35 | 32 | 36 | 246 | 144 | .585 | 0 | 0 | — | 52 | 33 | .635 |
| Andre Brown | F | 27 | 17 | 14 | 598 | 253 | 166 | 16 | 6 | 11 | 42 | 230 | 114 | .496 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 69 | 25 | .362 |
| DeMarcus Nelson | G | 23 | 11 | 10 | 455 | 253 | 65 | 46 | 13 | 5 | 31 | 173 | 93 | .538 | 40 | 18 | .450 | 61 | 49 | .803 |
| Pops Mensah-Bonsu | F | 25 | 8 | 8 | 318 | 213 | 104 | 19 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 125 | 76 | .608 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 87 | 61 | .701 |
| Mohamed Abukar | F | 24 | 16 | 0 | 291 | 145 | 45 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 115 | 51 | .443 | 42 | 19 | .452 | 32 | 24 | .750 |
| Stanley Burrell | G | 24 | 22 | 4 | 469 | 137 | 35 | 45 | 11 | 2 | 30 | 109 | 56 | .514 | 11 | 4 | .364 | 28 | 21 | .750 |
| Blake Ahearn | G | 24 | 6 | 6 | 206 | 113 | 14 | 36 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 72 | 32 | .444 | 32 | 17 | .531 | 35 | 32 | .914 |
| Anthony Tolliver | C | 23 | 6 | 6 | 230 | 107 | 47 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 72 | 36 | .500 | 43 | 21 | .488 | 18 | 14 | .778 |
| Ryan Bright | F | 22 | 21 | 3 | 281 | 101 | 59 | 28 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 76 | 42 | .553 | 24 | 11 | .458 | 17 | 6 | .353 |
| Nate Brown | G | 28 | 13 | 4 | 316 | 97 | 37 | 62 | 10 | 0 | 31 | 88 | 36 | .409 | 40 | 11 | .275 | 19 | 14 | .737 |
| Serge Angounou | F | 25 | 37 | 3 | 356 | 87 | 106 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 83 | 28 | .337 | 16 | 1 | .063 | 35 | 30 | .857 |
| DerMarr Johnson | G-F | 28 | 8 | 0 | 170 | 62 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 63 | 21 | .333 | 33 | 9 | .273 | 17 | 11 | .647 |
| Brian Morrison | G | 26 | 12 | 0 | 96 | 44 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 35 | 15 | .429 | 18 | 7 | .389 | 8 | 7 | .875 |
| Jamaal Thomas | G/F | 28 | 6 | 0 | 71 | 31 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 29 | 12 | .414 | 14 | 3 | .214 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 |
| Tack Minor | G | 24 | 7 | 0 | 53 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 21 | 12 | .571 | 6 | 2 | .333 | 4 | 3 | .750 |
| Jason Parker | G | 27 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 6 | .375 | 9 | 4 | .444 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Robert McKiver | G | 24 | 12 | 0 | 62 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 22 | 4 | .182 | 13 | 2 | .154 | 6 | 1 | .167 |
| Marshall Brown | G/F | 23 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 5 | .556 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | .500 |
| Kris Collins | G | 25 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | .286 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 3 | .750 |
| Jahmar Thorpe | F | 24 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | .500 | 3 | 1 | .333 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Ian Mahinmi | C | 22 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | .200 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Fred Gibson | G | 27 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .000 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | — |
Playoff Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Hairston | — | — | 2 | 2 | 101 | 71 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 46 | 27 | .587 | 11 | 7 | .636 | 11 | 10 | .909 |
| Marcus Williams | — | — | 2 | 2 | 101 | 66 | 21 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 55 | 25 | .455 | 10 | 7 | .700 | 14 | 9 | .643 |
| Dwayne Jones | — | — | 2 | 2 | 92 | 40 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 18 | .692 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 4 | .500 |
| Eric Dawson | — | — | 2 | 2 | 67 | 23 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 9 | .600 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 5 | .833 |
| Carldell Johnson | — | — | 2 | 2 | 58 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 5 | .278 | 10 | 2 | .200 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Justin Bowen | — | — | 2 | 0 | 45 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | .667 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Stanley Burrell | — | — | 2 | 0 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | .286 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ryan Bright | — | — | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Fred Gibson | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pops Mensah-Bonsu | Rim-Running Frontcourt Focal Point (1.1) | 39.8 | High | 26.6 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 121.44 | Explosive interior finisher and rebounder who became a major Austin weapon after recovering from shoulder surgery; contemporary reporting highlighted his league-leading 26.6 points and 13 rebounds and his ability to attack the rim with exceptional athleticism. The Guardian — Mensah-Bonsu closes in on deal with San Antonio Spurs | Gatorade Call-Up to NBA (2009) |
| Marcus Williams | Primary Wing Creator (1.1) | 42.8 | High | 23.0 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 99.26 | Williams functioned as a high-volume scoring wing who also handled substantial creation duties; reporting noted his combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking while his D-League production earned repeated NBA attention. OurSports Central — Marcus Williams Returns To Toros | NBA D-League All-Star (2009); All-NBA D-League First Team (2009); Gatorade Call-Up to NBA (2009) |
| Dwayne Jones | Defensive Rebounding Anchor (1.05) | 36.3 | Medium | 17.0 | 13.7 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 78.08 | Jones supplied the classic D-League interior foundation: relentless rebounding, efficient paint scoring and rim protection. A later league report identified him as a league leader in rebounding and field-goal percentage, while his 2009 season earned All-D-League honorable mention. OurSports Central — Fourth Annual NBA Development League All-Stars Unveiled | NBA D-League All-Star (2009); All-NBA D-League Honorable Mention (2009) |
| DeMarcus Nelson | Two-Way Wing Initiator (1.1) | 41.4 | High | 23.0 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 91.87 | Nelson arrived with a defensive reputation from Duke but expanded into a much larger offensive role in the D-League, combining downhill scoring with secondary playmaking before receiving an NBA call-up. Chicago Bulls — Bulls sign rookie guard DeMarcus Nelson | Gatorade Call-Up to NBA (2009) |
| Malik Hairston | Primary Wing Scorer (1.1) | 41.3 | High | 22.9 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 91.34 | Hairston operated as a versatile scoring wing with enough passing responsibility to keep defenses from simply loading up on his drives. His 43-point Toros performance and subsequent NBA call-up reflected how much offensive responsibility he carried. OurSports Central — NBA D-League Daily Developments | All-NBA D-League Honorable Mention (2009); Gatorade Call-Up to NBA (2009) |
| Anthony Tolliver | Stretch Frontcourt Creator (1.05) | 38.3 | Medium | 17.8 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 69.07 | Tolliver brought unusual perimeter range to a big-man role and was already viewed as a player capable of stretching defenses before his NBA opportunities. His previous Iowa stint and summer-league shooting helped establish that developmental profile. San Antonio Spurs — Spurs sign Anthony Tolliver | NBA Call-Up to NBA (2009) |
| Blake Ahearn | Lead Pick-and-Roll Guard (1.05) | 34.3 | Medium | 18.8 | 2.3 | 6.0 | 0.8 | 64.45 | Ahearn was a scoring point guard whose value extended beyond shooting; his D-League role required him to organize offense while threatening defenses from deep and at the foul line. His play earned a major-league opportunity during the season. ESPN — Haslem to have season-ending surgery on left ankle | NBA D-League All-Star (2009); NBA D-League All-Star Game MVP (2009); All-NBA D-League First Team (2009); Three-Point Shootout Champion (2009); Gatorade Call-Up to NBA (2009) |
| Charles Gaines | Interior Scoring Specialist (1.05) | 36.4 | Medium | 15.1 | 10.4 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 64.45 | Gaines filled a physical interior role, relying on strength, rebounding and paint finishing rather than perimeter creation. Contemporary roster coverage identified him as an allocated Austin forward and he quickly became part of the Toros’ frontcourt rotation. OurSports Central — Toros Announce Returning and Allocated Players | None |
| Andre Brown | Offensive Glass Power Forward (1.05) | 35.2 | Medium | 14.9 | 9.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 61.45 | Brown’s value came largely from physical interior work and second-chance opportunities. His professional path had already included an NBA stint, giving Austin a veteran frontcourt presence rather than a developmental-only big. (Wikipedia) | None |
| Marshall Brown | Short-Term Scoring Wing (1.0) | 25.0 | Medium | 11.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 41.80 | Brown was a short-term Austin piece rather than a settled rotation cornerstone; the Toros waived him in November, after which he continued his season overseas with Sheffield. (Wikipedia) | None |
| Eric Dawson | Pick-and-Pop Interior Connector (1.05) | 24.5 | Medium | 10.4 | 6.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 47.59 | Dawson developed into a trusted frontcourt option under Quin Snyder, with reporting noting the coach’s faith in him and a 39-point outburst that showed his offensive ceiling. KCC Egis — Eric Dawson Comes into Own Despite To.. | None |
| Carldell Johnson | Floor-General Defensive Guard (1.05) | 32.1 | Medium | 8.9 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 43.89 | Johnson was more organizer than scorer, directing the offense and applying point-of-attack pressure. His 2009 role was significant enough that later Austin coverage continued to identify him as one of the Toros’ returning veteran pieces. Austin Chronicle — Austin Toros season coverage | None |
| Ezra Williams | High-Volume Reserve Shooter (1.05) | 26.3 | Medium | 10.7 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 41.35 | Williams supplied perimeter scoring and was capable of taking on substantial minutes when the backcourt needed another shot-maker; a January Toros report shows him playing more than 41 minutes while launching nine threes. (NBA.com) | None |
| Nate Brown | Secondary Ball-Handling Guard (1.0) | 24.3 | Medium | 7.5 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 31.80 | Brown’s clearest role was connective playmaking rather than primary scoring. In a January road win he logged 13 assists, illustrating the passing responsibility he could assume when Austin’s main creators drew defensive attention. (NBA.com) | None |
| Mohamed Abukar | Stretch Wing Reserve (1.0) | 18.2 | Low | 9.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 25.00 | Abukar offered Austin a mobile forward who could operate both inside and outside the paint, but injuries disrupted his season and eventually forced the Toros to waive him before he returned to the D-League elsewhere. OurSports Central — Toros Waive Five | None |
| DerMarr Johnson | Veteran Perimeter Scoring Reserve (1.0) | 21.3 | Low | 7.8 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 24.60 | Johnson’s veteran résumé gave Austin a proven perimeter scorer who could still explode offensively; an earlier Toros game showed him taking 17 shots and making six threes, illustrating the shooting volume he could provide. (NBA.com) | None |
| Stanley Burrell | Defensive Point Guard Reserve (1.0) | 21.3 | Low | 6.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 20.80 | Burrell arrived as a young professional guard after an accomplished Xavier career, and Austin used him primarily as a defensive-minded reserve organizer rather than a high-volume scorer. ShamSports — Stanley Burrell Player Profile | None |
| Ryan Bright | Energy Forward Reserve (1.0) | 13.4 | Low | 4.8 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 20.60 | Bright was valued as a returning veteran who could provide energy and positional flexibility without needing many possessions. Austin’s independent preseason coverage specifically identified him among the club’s returning pieces. Pounding The Rock — Austin Toros Draft Day | None |
| Ian Mahinmi | Rim-Protecting Developmental Center (1.0) | 21.0 | Low | 4.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 16.00 | Mahinmi’s D-League role was centered on physical interior play and rim protection. The Austin Chronicle described him as an imposing NBA-assignment center, while earlier Toros coverage highlighted his ability to dominate defensively around the basket. Austin Chronicle — Mahinmi Challenges Augustin for Best Baller in Town | NBA D-League All-Star (2008); All-NBA D-League First Team (2008) |
| Jamaal Thomas | Situational Wing Scorer (1.0) | 11.8 | Low | 5.2 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 17.00 | Thomas was a limited-minute perimeter reserve whose clearest opportunities came when Austin needed another wing body. His season was brief, with only six appearances in the Toros rotation. | None |
| Jason Parker | Veteran Spot-Up Guard (1.0) | 14.3 | Low | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 15.20 | Parker served as experienced backcourt depth, with his value coming from occasional perimeter shooting and ball security rather than sustained offensive creation. Austin’s preseason roster coverage listed him among the team’s returning veterans. (Pounding The Rock) | None |
| Serge Angounou | Physical Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) | 9.6 | Low | 2.4 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 12.40 | Angounou’s role was primarily physical frontcourt depth. Earlier Austin coverage showed that he could handle meaningful minutes in a reserve role, while the following season he remained with the organization as a returning player. (OurSports Central) | None |
| Brian Morrison | Wing Depth Shooter (1.0) | 8.0 | Low | 3.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 11.80 | Morrison was a perimeter depth piece whose season was shaped by movement between professional opportunities; later reporting noted his Austin stint came after an unexpected Spurs training-camp contract. ShamSports — Where Are They Now, 2010; Part 46 | None |
| Tack Minor | Local-Tryout Guard (1.0) | 7.6 | Low | 4.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 11.60 | Minor entered the organization through a local tryout rather than a conventional high-profile acquisition, making his roster opportunity itself notable. He was specifically identified as a player who earned a Toros roster chance through those tryouts. (OurSports Central) | None |
| Jahmar Thorpe | Emergency Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) | 5.5 | Low | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 10.00 | Thorpe’s Austin opportunity was extremely brief, leaving little contemporary independent reporting beyond his short roster stint. His role was essentially situational frontcourt depth rather than a regular rotation assignment. | None |
| Kris Collins | Deep-Bench Guard (1.0) | 13.5 | Low | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 9.00 | Limited contemporary independent coverage was available for Collins, whose two-game Austin sample points to a deep reserve role rather than a stable rotation position. | None |
| Fred Gibson | Developmental Guard Reserve (1.0) | 11.5 | Low | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 7.00 | Gibson was a returning veteran roster piece entering the following Toros season, but his 2008-09 role remained limited and primarily developmental. Austin coverage listed him among the returning players. (Pounding The Rock) | None |
| Robert McKiver | Deep Rotation Shooting Guard (1.0) | 5.2 | Low | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 4.00 | McKiver saw only short stretches of action, functioning mainly as perimeter depth. Contemporary Austin reporting is sparse, so the available season context supports a limited reserve role rather than a larger offensive assignment. | None |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Williams | Playoff Offensive Conductor (1.1) | 50.5 | High | 33.0 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 1.5 | 145.20 | As Austin’s newly assigned lead creator, Williams immediately became the offensive conductor, pairing downhill scoring with high-level passing in a 53-minute overtime win over Idaho; contemporary reporting highlighted his 33 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in that game, while his regular-season role had already been established as an all-starting forward. NBA D-League Daily Developments (OurSports Central) | All-NBA D-League First Team (2009); NBA D-League All-Star (2009) |
| Malik Hairston | Playoff Scoring Engine (1.1) | 50.5 | High | 35.5 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 129.36 | As the Toros’ primary scoring engine, Hairston attacked the defense from multiple levels and handled a huge share of the late-game offense; independent D-League coverage noted his 34-point playoff performance against Idaho, including four made threes, six rebounds and seven assists, while also pointing to his earlier 43-point explosion and occasional turnover and foul issues. Ridiculous Upside — D-League Profiles: Malik Hairston | All-NBA D-League Honorable Mention (2009); NBA D-League All-Star (2009) |
| Dwayne Jones | Interior Defensive Anchor (1.05) | 46.0 | Medium | 20.0 | 11.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 79.70 | As Austin’s interior anchor, Jones supplied the physical presence that balanced its perimeter creators; the Austin Chronicle’s playoff preview specifically featured him as a shot blocker entering the postseason, and the opening-round report credited him with a double-double while Austin survived Idaho in overtime. Austin Chronicle — Toros Playoff Run Begins | All-NBA D-League Honorable Mention (2009) |
| Eric Dawson | Interior Scoring Connector (1.05) | 33.5 | Medium | 11.5 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 49.67 | As a versatile interior connector, Dawson had already earned Quin Snyder’s trust during the season, with contemporary reporting describing him as a player searching for floor space before he erupted for 39 points on 17-of-21 shooting against Albuquerque. That background made him a useful secondary frontcourt option during the playoff run. KCC Egis — Eric Dawson Comes into Own Despite Tough Circumstances | None |
| Carldell Johnson | Pick-and-Roll Organizer (1.05) | 29.0 | Medium | 7.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 32.34 | As the pick-and-roll organizer, Johnson’s job was to keep Austin’s attack functioning around its higher-usage scorers; later reporting on the Snyder-era Toros specifically identified pick-and-roll mastery as an area he had to develop, while his veteran status made him an important stabilizing presence. The Washington Post — How Quin Snyder set aside a broken NCAA career to become an NBA coach of the year candidate | None |
| Justin Bowen | Slashing Forward Reserve (1.0) | 22.5 | Low | 6.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 28.00 | As an athletic slashing forward, Bowen supplied energy and finishing rather than serving as a primary creator; a contemporary profile of the Toros described him as a productive slasher, and his late return to Austin came after playing professionally in Australia and Korea. Hearst Journalism Awards — One Game Down, Another Game Ahead | None |
| Stanley Burrell | Defensive Point Guard Reserve (1.0) | 18.5 | Low | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 9.00 | As a defensive-minded point guard reserve, Burrell had a sharply reduced role after joining Austin late in the season; retrospective basketball reporting describes his Austin stint as a reserve assignment following his departure from Bosnia, where financial problems ended his first professional season prematurely. German Hoops — Stanley Burrell: People See Me as a Scorer, But I Love to Pass the Ball | None |
| Ryan Bright | Stretch Forward Reserve (1.0) | 3.0 | Low | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.00 | As a stretch-capable forward reserve, Bright’s value came from spacing and energy rather than a large postseason workload; local reporting described him as a former Sam Houston State standout who had developed into a reliable three-point shooter and rebounder before joining the Toros. Houston Chronicle — Bright continues to shine on the court | None |
| Fred Gibson | Situational Guard Reserve (1.0) | 1.0 | Low | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.00 | As a situational guard reserve, Gibson’s playoff opportunity was extremely brief; retrospective reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that he had returned to basketball after his NFL career, played for Albuquerque before joining Austin, and ultimately retired from basketball soon afterward. Atlanta Journal-Constitution — Whatever Happened to Fred Gibson | None |
| Team Totals | — | 254.5 | — | 115.0 | 44.0 | 26.5 | 9.0 | 477.26 | — | — |