Jim Thomas (basketball) facts for kids
| Atlanta Hawks | ||||||||||||||
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| Assistant coach | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | October 19, 1960 Lakeland, Florida, U.S. |
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| High school | Nova (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Indiana (1979–1983) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1983 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Indiana Pacers | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1983–1994 | |||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||
| 1983–1985 | Indiana Pacers | |||||||||||||
| 1985 | Evansville Thunder | |||||||||||||
| 1985 | Los Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||
| 1985–1986 | Kansas City Sizzlers | |||||||||||||
| 1987–1988 | Calgary 88's | |||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | Rapid City Thrillers | |||||||||||||
| 1989 | Ferro Carril Oeste | |||||||||||||
| 1989 | Temuco | |||||||||||||
| 1989–1990 | Rapid City Thrillers | |||||||||||||
| 1990 | Minnesota Timberwolves | |||||||||||||
| 1990–1992 | Omaha Racers | |||||||||||||
| 1992 | Calgary 88's | |||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Omaha Racers | |||||||||||||
| 1993–1994 | Baloncesto Murcia | |||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | Toronto Raptors (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Indiana (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| 2013–present | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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James Edward Thomas, born on October 19, 1960, is an American who used to play professional basketball. He was a shooting guard, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds. Jim Thomas has had a long career both playing and coaching basketball.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Jim Thomas grew up in Florida. He played basketball during his high school years. He was a competitive player at Nova High School. This school is located in Davie, Florida.
College Basketball Career
Thomas played college basketball for Indiana University. He was part of their team from 1979 to 1983. During his time there, he played for famous coach Bobby Knight.
Winning a National Championship
In 1981, Jim Thomas was a key player on the team that won the national championship. He was often the "sixth man," meaning he was the first player to come off the bench. In the championship game against North Carolina, he played a big role. He grabbed nine rebounds, helping his team win 63–50. His performance earned him a spot on the 1981 Final Four All Tournament Team.
Professional Basketball Journey
After college, Jim Thomas became a professional basketball player. He played in the NBA, which is the top basketball league in the United States.
Playing in the NBA
From 1983 to 1990, Thomas played for several NBA teams. These included the Indiana Pacers, the L.A. Clippers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Success in Other Leagues
Besides the NBA, Thomas also played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). This was another professional league. He played for teams like the Omaha Racers. In 1993, his team, the Omaha Racers, won the CBA Championship. Jim Thomas was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Playoff/Finals that year. He was also recognized for his defense, being named to the CBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1986.
Representing the United States
Jim Thomas also had the honor of playing for the U.S. national team. He competed in the 1982 FIBA World Championship. At this international tournament, his team won the silver medal.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Jim Thomas moved into coaching. He has worked as an assistant coach or a scout for different NBA teams. In 2013, he joined the coaching staff of the Atlanta Hawks. He continues to be an assistant coach for the Hawks.
See also
In Spanish: Jim Thomas (baloncestista) para niños
