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James Thomas (basketball) facts for kids

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James Thomas
James Thomas 02.jpg
Personal information
Born (1980-11-22) November 22, 1980 (age 44)
Schenectady, New York, U.S.
High school Hargrave Military Academy
(Chatham, Virginia)
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
College Texas (2000–2004)
NBA Draft 2004 / Undrafted
Pro career 2004–2015
Career history
As player:
2004–2005 Roanoke Dazzle
2005 Portland Trail Blazers
2005 Atlanta Hawks
2005 Philadelphia 76ers
2005–2006 Albany Patroons
2006 Chicago Bulls
2006–2008 Climamio Bologna
2008–2009 Erdemirspor
2009–2010 Bancatercas Teramo
2010–2011 Erdemirspor
2011–2012 Givova Scafati
2012–2013 Maccabi Haifa
2013 Titanes del Licey
2013 Soles de Mexicali
2013–2014 Maccabi Rishon LeZion
2014 Titanes del Licey
2014–2015 Academia Montana
2015 Marinos de Anzoátegui
As coach:
2015–2016 Maine Red Claws (assistant)
2017–2019 Schenectady HS (girls)
Career highlights and awards
  • NBA D-League Rookie of the Year (2005)
  • All-NBDL Second Team (2005)
  • CBA Newcomer of the Year (2006)
  • All-CBA First Team (2006)
  • CBA All-Defensive First Team (2006)

James D. Thomas Jr. (born in Schenectady, New York, on November 22, 1980) is a former American professional basketball player. He played as a power forward, known for his strong defense and rebounding. James Thomas also worked as an assistant coach for the Maine Red Claws in the NBA Development League (now called the G League).

Early Life and College Basketball

James Thomas grew up in Schenectady, New York. He went to Hargrave Military Academy for high school. After that, he played college basketball for the University of Texas at Austin from 2000 to 2004. During his time at Texas, he became a key player for the team.

Professional Basketball Career

After college, James Thomas began his professional basketball journey. He played for several teams in different leagues.

NBA and D-League Experience

Thomas started his career in the NBA Development League (D-League). He played for the Roanoke Dazzle and was named the D-League Rookie of the Year in 2005. This award goes to the best new player in the league. He also made the All-NBDL Second Team that year.

His talent earned him a chance to play in the NBA. He played for four different NBA teams:

Playing Overseas

After his time in the NBA, James Thomas played basketball in other countries. He played for teams in:

  • Italy (like Climamio Bologna and Givova Scafati)
  • Turkey (Erdemirspor)
  • Israel (Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Rishon LeZion)
  • Dominican Republic (Titanes del Licey)
  • Mexico (Soles de Mexicali)
  • Venezuela (Marinos de Anzoátegui)

He continued to show his skills and passion for the game around the world.

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, James Thomas started coaching. From 2015 to 2016, he was an assistant coach for the Maine Red Claws. Later, from 2017 to 2019, he coached the girls' basketball team at Schenectady High School in his hometown.

Career Highlights

James Thomas achieved several important awards during his career:

  • NBA D-League Rookie of the Year (2005)
  • All-NBDL Second Team (2005)
  • CBA Newcomer of the Year (2006)
  • All-CBA First Team (2006)
  • CBA All-Defensive First Team (2006)

These awards show his strong performance as a player, especially his defensive skills.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: James Thomas para niños

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