NBA Development League (D-League) outfit Reno Bighorns on Tuesday acquired Jamaican seven-foot centre Jerome Jordan in a trade with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

The 26-year-old Jordan, the 44th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, replaced Bighorns six-foot, 10-inch centre Vernon Macklin, the 52nd overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

“We are excited to have Jerome… he is a long, athletic big man, who played in the D-League last year for Erie and averaged 18 points and nine rebounds,” said Bighorns head coach Paul Mokeski.

Jordan played 21 games with the New Yorks Knicks in the 2011-12 NBA season and averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per game.

At college, during the period 2006-2010, the Jamaican played for Tulsa and featured as Conference USA’s all-time blocks leader, as well as the only player in the conference history to have 800 rebounds and 300 blocks.

The Jamaica College past student, along with Bighorns other new acquisition, 6ft-11in rookie forward Garrett Green, will travel to Rio Grande Valley today to take on the Vipers at noon Jamaica time at the State Farm Arena, Hidalgo, Texas.

The Bighorns, based in Reno, Nevada, and affiliated to NBA teams Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz, will return to action tomorrow to face Austin Toros at Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, Texas.

Shrugging off rumours that he has secured employment in China to play basketball, Jordan has insisted that he wants to play in the NBA and his agreement with the Bighorns has confirmed that commitment.

Reno Bighorns are currently in fourth place with four points of the West Division in the NBA D-League, having won only two of their seven matches. They trail leaders Bakersfield Jam (12 points), Santa Cruz Warriors (10 points) and Los Angeles D-Fenders (eight points). Idaho Stampede are the cellar team with two points, winning just one of their eight games.

More than 150 D-League players have been called up to the NBA.