By Larry Arreguin | LPL News Wire| March 27, 2026

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (3-27-26) — The Grand Rapids Gold gave their home crowd plenty to cheer about, closing out the season with a commanding 123-102 victory over the Birmingham Squadron on Fan Appreciation Night.

With over 8,200 fans in attendance, the energy inside the arena matched the performance on the floor. The Gold delivered a complete team effort, highlighted by all five starters scoring in double figures and an offense that never let up.

Leading the way was David Roddy (#50), who recorded a team-high 23 points while adding 10 rebounds for a double-double performance. Coleman Hawkins (#33) was equally impactful, finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the paint on both ends.

The balanced scoring attack continued with Ben Coupet Jr. (#15) adding 11 points, KJ Simpson (#25) contributing 15 points and 6 assists, and Dane Goodwin (#23) chipping in 19 points. The Gold shot 44% from the field and dominated the glass with 59 total rebounds compared to Birmingham’s 50.

Off the bench, contributions remained steady, including 13 points from Javante McCoy (#13) and 12 from Terrence Hargrove Jr. (#2), helping maintain separation throughout the game.

Birmingham was led by Christian Shumate (#24) with 24 points and Johnny O’Neil (#2) with 21, but the Squadron struggled to match the Gold’s depth and efficiency.

Beyond the action on the court, fans were treated to giveaways throughout the night, followed by a postgame autograph session as players connected with supporters—capping off a true Fan Appreciation Night experience.

The Gold, the NBA G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, continue to play a key role in player development within the NBA G League. The league serves as the NBA’s primary pipeline, with more than half of current NBA players having spent time developing at the G League level.

During the 2025-26 season, several players moved between Grand Rapids and Denver, including DaRon Holmes II, Jalen Pickett, and Julian Strawther. In March 2026, Roddy (#50) also signed a two-way contract with the Nuggets and Gold, further highlighting the organization’s role in developing NBA-ready talent.

For the Gold, the season finale was more than just a win—it was a celebration of growth, opportunity, and a strong connection with a fan base that showed up until the very end.