Tyrus Thomas

Tyrus Thomas

Thomas with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2012.
Free Agent
Forward
Personal information
Born	(1986-08-17) August 17, 1986 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (208 cm)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school	McKinley (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
College	LSU (2005–2006)
NBA draft	2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Pro playing career	2006–present
Career history
2006–2010	Chicago Bulls
2010–2013	Charlotte Bobcats
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2007)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Tyrus Wayne Thomas (born August 17, 1986) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA.

High school career

In high school, Thomas was only 5'10" as a freshman. Thomas then tried out for his varsity basketball team but was cut. He only played organized basketball in his junior and senior years at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, but never really built up enough recruiting hype to be considered a top 100 prospect. As a junior he was a mere 6-6 and 190 pounds, and when he officially committed to LSU, they did not initially have a scholarship for him. One later opened up when a JUCO recruit was kicked off his team and his scholarship offer was rescinded. Thomas grew to 6-7 ½, 200 pounds as a high school senior, and averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks per game, good enough for the all-second team in Louisiana.

College career

In the 2005–06 season, Thomas was a redshirt freshman and moved into the starting lineup as a power forward. Because of his leaping ability, Thomas developed a reputation as an outstanding shot blocker, rebounder, and dunker during his time at LSU. Thomas was named SEC Freshman of the Year following a 2005–06 campaign in which he took the Tigers by storm by when he averaged 12.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in 26 minutes per game on over 60% shooting from the field. Thomas was also recognized as the NCAA Atlanta Region MVP in the NCAA Tournament after combining for 30 points against the likes of Duke and Texas.^[1]

2006 NCAA Tournament

Thomas entered the 2006 NCAA Tournament still recovering from a sprained ankle suffered in the February 26 game against Kentucky that caused him to miss the last two regular-season games and the SEC Tournament. However, the injury did not hamper him as he continued the pattern of the regular season, his performances in the 2006 NCAA Tournament improved with every passing game as #4 seed LSU advanced to their first Final Four since 1986. His minutes were somewhat limited by the injury in the 1st round game against No. 13 seed Iona and the 2nd round game against No. 12 seed Texas A&M but he was back to form by LSU's Atlanta Regional Semifinal (Sweet 16) matchup against perennial power and overall top seed Duke. In the Duke game, Thomas scored 9 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 5 shots despite being limited to 25 minutes due to early foul trouble as LSU held Duke to a 27.7 percent field goal percentage and only 54 points, the school's lowest output since 1996. Thomas was even more dominant in the Regional Final (Elite Eight) win against No. 2 seed Texas, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking three shots. These performances earned Thomas the Atlanta Regional's Most Valuable Player award.

NBA career

Chicago Bulls

On April 17, 2006, Thomas announced his intention to enter the NBA Draft, and signed with an agent, removing his college eligibility. On June 28, 2006, Thomas was drafted fourth overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Thomas was then traded along with forward Viktor Khryapa to the Chicago Bulls for forward-center LaMarcus Aldridge, the second overall pick in that same draft.

2006–2007

Thomas appeared in 72 games his rookie year, with four starts, and averaged 5.2 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 1.06 blocks per game, 13.4 minutes per game, .475 field goal percentage, and a .606 free throw percentage. Thomas tied a season-high with 11 boards, including the game-winning tip-in with :00.2 seconds to play against Denver Nuggets on March 22. He then posted 10 games of 10 points and had two double-doubles. He posted a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds versus Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31.^[2] It was announced on Feb. 5, 2007, that Thomas would participate in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest. He would be the first Chicago Bulls representative since Scottie Pippen entered the contest in 1990.^[3]

2007–2008

Thomas appeared in 74 games his sophomore year, starting in 27 of them, and averaged 6.8 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, 0.97 blocks per game, 18.0 minutes per game, 42.3 field goal percentage and a 74.1 free throw percentage. Thomas posted 21 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks in the second game of the season versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Tyrus finished the season very strong in April with a 24 point performance versus the Boston Celtics, a 20 point, 14 rebound, 3 block performance versus Cleveland, and a 26 point performance in the season finale versus Toronto Raptors.^[4]

2009–2010

Thomas with the Chicago Bulls.

Thomas played in 4 games to start the 2009 season; however he fractured his forearm during workouts on November 6, putting him out for 4–6 weeks. Thomas was replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Taj Gibson. On February 18, 2010, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats for Ronald "Flip" Murray, Acie Law, and a future first round draft pick.^[5]

Charlotte Bobcats

2010–2011

In the off-season, he became a restricted free agent as he was extended a qualifying offer. On July 12, 2010, he was re-signed by the Bobcats to a deal worth $ 40 million for 5 years.^[6]

2011–2012

On January 25, 2012, in a loss to the Washington Wizards, Thomas set a career high by blocking 9 shots, one shy of the franchise record.

Release

On July 10, 2013, it was announced that Thomas was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats via the one-time amnesty clause.^[7]

Personal information

Thomas is known for his extensive tattoo work. He was introduced to tattoos by his mother who brought him to a tattoo artist while he was in tenth grade. His first tattoo displays his name. Although he was a minor when he got his first tattoo and he is self-described as "very pro-tattoos," as an adult he has modified his stance to be "anti- kids and tattoos".^[8]

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Career highs

• Points: 27 vs. Cleveland 03/31/07
• Rebounds: 16 vs. L.A. Lakers 03/21/09
• Assists: 5 4 times
• Steals: 6 vs. Detroit 01/11/10
• Blocks: 9 vs. Washington 01/25/12

Career accomplishments

• 2006–07 NBA All-Rookie Second Team^[9]
• NBA Sprite Slam Dunk Participant
• 2006 NCAA Atlanta Region Most Outstanding Player
• 2006 Freshman All-America Team
• 2006 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the year
• 2006 SEC Freshman of the Year
• NABC All Freshman 8 Second Team
• 2006 All-SEC Freshman Team^[10]

Notes

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com
• Tyrus Thomas at Basketball-Reference.com
• Official LSU profile
• ESPN profile
• Tyrus' Official Website
• Tyrus' Non-Profit Organization/Foundation
• Tyrus Thomas Draft Profile