BATON ROUGE – LSUsports.net has caught up with a number of former Tigers playing in the NBA over the previous two months courtesy of Eric Lopez, who covers the Orlando Magic for AM 1420 WAOC ESPN Radio. The fifth edition features Tyrus Thomas in his fourth NBA season after recently being traded to the Charlotte Bobcats.
In his only season with the Tigers, Thomas put together an electric 2005-06 campaign where he was named SEC Freshman of the Year after being a unanimous selection to the league’s All-Freshman team. He also earned NCAA Atlanta Region MVP accolades and Freshman All-America Honors from CollegeInsider.com as the Tigers earned a trip to the Final Four.
Thomas averaged 12.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, while connecting for 60.8 percent from the field to tie for seventh place over a single season in the LSU record book. His 99 blocked shots for the year also were fourth best all-time only behind Shaquille O’Neal’s three seasons.
Thomas moved into the starting lineup prior to the Cincinnati game on December 23rd and never looked back after picking up a trio of SEC Player of the Week awards. The Baton Rouge native poured in 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds for his 14th double-double during the Tigers overtime triumph over Texas in the regional final.
Thomas was the fourth overall pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2006 NBA Draft. He was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls along with Viktor Khryapa for LaMarcus Aldridge.
In three and a half seasons with the Bulls, Thomas played in over 70 games each season and made 61 starts during the 2008-09 campaign. He posted 10.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in addition to setting a franchise mark by recording a blocked shot in 29 straight games.
The Bulls made the playoffs and bowed out in a memorable seven-game series against the Boston Celtics that featured four overtime games. He tallied 16 points, including six of Chicago’s eight points in a game one overtime victory.
Thomas was moved to the Charlotte Bobcats on February 18 where he has posted 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 13 appearances.