Al Thornton facts for kids
Thornton with the Wizards in January 2011
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| No. 1 – Peñarol Mar del Plata | |
|---|---|
| Small forward / Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 7, 1983 Perry, Georgia, U.S. |
| High school | Perry (Perry, Georgia) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Florida State (2003–2007) |
| NBA Draft | 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Pro career | 2007–present |
| League | LNB |
| Career history | |
| 2007–2010 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2010–2011 | Washington Wizards |
| 2011 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2012 | Brujos de Guayama |
| 2012 | Zhejiang Lions |
| 2014 | Brujos de Guayama |
| 2015–2016 | NLEX Road Warriors |
| 2017 | Gaiteros del Zulia |
| 2017 | Brujos de Guayama |
| 2018 | Shimane Susanoo Magic |
| 2019–2020 | Suwon KT Sonicboom |
| 2020–2021 | Club Atlético Aguada |
| 2021–2022 | Peñarol Mar del Plata |
| 2022 | Trotamundos B.B.C. |
| 2022–2023 | Peñarol Mar del Plata |
| 2023 | Club Atlético Olimpia |
| 2023–present | Peñarol Mar del Plata |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Willie Alford Thornton (born December 7, 1983) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for Peñarol Mar del Plata in Argentina. He also played for famous teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, and Golden State Warriors in the NBA. Before turning professional, he played college basketball at Florida State University.
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College Career: A Star at Florida State
Al Thornton had a fantastic four years playing basketball at Florida State University. In his final year, he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. He was named to the All-American third team by the Associated Press.
He was also chosen for the first-team All-ACC, which means he was one of the top players in his college conference. He was almost named the ACC Player of the Year. Thornton led his conference in scoring and grabbed over 7 rebounds per game. Even with his great performance, his team did not make it to the main NCAA tournament. Instead, they played in the NIT.
Professional Career: Playing Around the World
Starting in the NBA: Los Angeles Clippers
On June 28, 2007, Al Thornton was picked 14th overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. This was a big step for him into professional basketball.
He quickly showed his skills during his first summer league game, scoring 24 points. In just his third preseason game, he led the Clippers to a win with 24 points. As a rookie, he got more playing time when other players were injured. He played as a power forward and small forward.
On January 30, 2008, Thornton scored a season-high 33 points against the Atlanta Hawks. He also got his first double-double (scoring double digits in two different stats, like points and rebounds) on February 9. On March 29, 2008, he scored an amazing 39 points, which was a record for a rookie on the Clippers.
Because of his great first year, Al Thornton was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team on May 13, 2008. This means he was one of the top five rookies in the entire NBA.
Moving to Washington and Golden State
On February 17, 2010, Thornton was traded to the Washington Wizards. He played there for a while before signing with the Golden State Warriors on March 3, 2011. On March 14, 2011, he scored 23 points against the Sacramento Kings, his highest score as a Warrior.
Playing in Puerto Rico and China
After his time in the NBA, Al Thornton started playing basketball in other countries. In February 2012, he joined the Guayama Wizards in Puerto Rico. He averaged 18.7 points per game there.
Later that year, in September 2012, he signed with the Zhejiang Lions in China. He played in the Chinese Basketball Association. He returned to the Guayama Wizards in Puerto Rico in March 2014.
Success in the Philippines
In January 2015, Thornton signed with the NLEX Road Warriors in the Philippines. He quickly became a star player. In one game, he scored 50 points, helping his team win.
In January 2016, he returned to play for NLEX again. He scored 50 points in an overtime win. In another game, he scored an incredible 69 points, which was the most points scored by any player in the league in over two decades!
Thornton also represented the Philippines in the 2016 William Jones Cup tournament. He led his team, Mighty Sports PH, to win the gold medal with a perfect record of 8 wins and 0 losses. He had many great games, including one with 30 points and another with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Playing in Japan, The BIG 3, and Uruguay
In February 2018, Thornton signed with the Shimane Susanoo Magic in Japan's B.League. He also played in "The BIG 3," a professional 3-on-3 basketball league in the United States. He was known as the league's first "4th Man," meaning he was a key player coming off the bench.
On August 7, 2020, Thornton signed with Club Atlético Aguada in Uruguay. He has continued to play for various teams in South America, including Peñarol Mar del Plata in Argentina.
Personal
Al Thornton is related to another NBA player, Marcus Thornton, who is his cousin. His parents are Alford and Philomenia Thornton.
See also
In Spanish: Al Thornton para niños
Images for kids
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Thornton with the Clippers in March 2009.
