NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Utah Jazz has signed rookie guard Sundiata Gaines for the remainder of the season, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor announced on Monday.
Gaines was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Jazz on Jan. 5 before being re-signed to a second 10-day contract on Jan. 15. Gaines has appeared in seven games for the Jazz, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 assists in 7.1 minutes per game.
The Jazz is 6-2 since signing Gaines, who hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to beat Cleveland, 97-96, on Jan. 14. The former University of Georgia Bulldog also recorded a career- high nine points versus the Cavaliers.
Gaines reached career highs in minutes of 21 and assists of five in his NBA debut versus Memphis on Jan. 6.
Gaines became the fourth NBA Development League (D-League) Call- Up to the NBA this season, as well as the fourth D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003- 04) and Louis Amundson (2006-07).
The Jamaica native had averages of 23.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 14 games with the D-League's Idaho Stampede prior to being signed by the Jazz. Selected by the Stampede in the first round (15th overall pick) of the 2009 NBA D-League Draft, Gaines was named the D-League's Co-Performer of the Week for games played during the first 10 days of this season after averaging a league-leading 27.0 points while shooting 60.3 percentage from the field and handing out 8.3 assists.
The former Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament MVP was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft and spent the 2008-09 campaign in Italy with NGC Cantu.