Austin Croshere
Austin Nathan Croshere is a retired American professional basketball player who played for five different NBA teams throughout his career in the National Basketball Association, is now a TV broadcaster for the Indiana Pacers. Croshere went to Crossroads School in Santa Monica and played college basketball for Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. Croshere was the 12th pick of the 1997 NBA Draft, selected by the Indiana Pacers. A 6'10", hard-nosed player who can play the power forward and small forward positions, Croshere has shot 33.9% from three-point range over the course of his ten-year career. In the 1999–2000 NBA season, he had peaked at just the right time as he helped the Pacers advance to the 2000 NBA Finals, marking the Pacers' first Finals appearance since the ABA-NBA merger, he was rewarded for his performance in the regular season and the playoffs with a hefty contract, Croshere played 49 games in 2002-03, averaging a career-low 12.9 minutes per game that season as he fell out of the rotation.
Croshere became an important backup during the Rick Carlisle years, was a key contributor against the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals. On September 26, 2008, Larry Bird announced that Croshere was invited to training camp with the Pacers for an opportunity at a second stint, he was waived on October 23, 2008. On July 5, 2006, Croshere was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Marquis Daniels; this move left Jeff Foster as the last Pacer remaining from the 1999-2000 Eastern Conference championship team. Croshere scored a career-high 34 points in a Mavericks 122-102 win against the Seattle SuperSonics on January 30, 2007. On August 3, 2007, Croshere signed with the Golden State Warriors; the 2007-2008 season was the first in Croshere's career. Croshere spent the 2008-09 pre-season with the Indiana Pacers. However, he was waived by the Pacers. On October 27, he was signed off waivers by the Milwaukee Bucks, he was released January 2009 after averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
Croshere was signed to a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs on 16 January 2009. He was released on 28 January after scoring 4 points. In February 2010, Croshere joined Fox Sports Indiana as a pre and post-game analyst for Pacers games, he has served as a color commentator. NBA.com Profile - Austin Croshere NBA biography of Croshere NBA biography of Croshere
Mark Sanford (basketball)
Eumarkjah Tywan "Mark" Sanford, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the player development coach for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. Sanford was born in Texas, to Beverley and Richard Sanford, he is the second oldest of five children, Anthony and Crystal. In his early years he was a big football fan, he played and was coached by his father Richard until his untimely murder in 1990. Richard Sanford never saw his son play basketball; when he died, Mark played football. Mark told his father that he would play in the NFL, but in his heart - back - he felt he would never leave the impoverished neighborhood of South Oak Cliff, in Dallas, Texas. In the year following his father's death, Mark grew 8 inches, going from 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 6 inches, he stopped growing at 6 feet 10 inches. Sanford attended Dallas Carter High School and did not start playing basketball until he was in the tenth grade. In his first year of playing organized basketball Sanford won a share of the Sophomore of the Year award with Maceo Baston of Spruce High School.
Halfway through his junior year, he transferred to Carter's cross town rival Kimball High School. That year he led Kimball to an undefeated record the second half of the season while averaging 26ppg 14rebs and 4blk, their only loss came in the Championship game to Waco High School. Kimball finished; the summer after Sanford's junior year his mother moved him to San Diego California, where he enrolled into Lincoln High School. He led Lincoln Prep to the city of San Diego's first State Championship. Along the way he collected numerous honors from California State POY to All-American, he ranked 22nd nationally by Parade All-America in the class of 1994. Sanford was voted the MVP of the San Diego City All-Star Challenge after managing a record 10 3pts on 13 attempts and amassing 48pts. In 1996 He was inducted into the San Diego Sports Hall of fame. In his brief High School Career he scored 2,373 points, grabbed 1059 rebounds, 413 blocks. At the University of Washington, Sanford played for the Washington Huskies.
He played three seasons with the team. Sanford had intended to declare for the 1996 NBA Draft, but he withdrew his name from consideration, he played a total of 82 games for the Huskies scoring 1319 career point. It did not take Sanford long to get into the Husky record books by scoring 15 points as a true Freshman in the 1st game/start of his career. In doing so he amassed the most points by a player in their 1st game, he was the fastest Husky to score 500 points doing so in just 32 games. He amassed 27 career 20+ point games and scored his career high of 35 points twice against USC and Jackson State, both during his sophomore year. Sanford led the huskies in both rebounding in his Sophomore and Junior seasons. In his true Freshman year, he led all Pac-10 Freshman in scoring and rebounding with 14.5ppg, 5.7rpg. After his Freshman year he was invited to try out for the Under 19 Junior World Games in Athens, Greece. At the trials amongst other notable player such as Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Kerry Kittles, Vince Carter, Stephon Marbury, Tim Duncan, Marcus Camby, Sanford finished in the top 3 in 5 statistical categories becoming the first player to rank as high since Charles Barkley who finished number 1 in the same five categories.
He is the first player to leave the University of Washington early for the NBA draft. He was ranked 13th on Washington's all-time scoring list after 82 games played, he was Washington's most recognizable Husky since Detlef Schrempf. He was the Huskies' Shawn Kemp - a crowd-pleasing, high-flying dunker capable of bringing fans out of their homes on a rainy December evening and into Edmundson Pavilion. During Sanford's tenure at Washington, season-ticket sales increased nearly 11.8 percent. Prior to his sophomore season, Washington sold 3,261 men's season tickets, his junior season, 3,701 were sold. Twelve Washington games appeared on cable television, while two aired on network TV; the Huskies sold out home crowds against top-ranked Cincinnati, No. 11 Arizona and No. 13 UCLA. When asked about the support and exposure for the program Sanford stated, "We've got the exposure this year after years when nobody cared too much about Washington basketball." He went on to say, "Now that we got the exposure and expectations, we need to win."
For his career he was first-team All-Freshman. He was an All-American selection following his Junior year. He's scored 1,000 points faster than any other Washington player, but his place in UW history is unknown; when his career ended, he became remembered for his role in reviving Husky men's basketball. With one step he was known to have a 41-inch leap, able to reach as high as 12 feet 4 inches. In 1999, during the strike-shortened NBA lockout season, Sanford opted to join the Harlem Globetrotters. For his jumping ability, he earned the nickname "Airplane". Sanford was projected to be drafted as high as #11 to the Sacramento Kings in the 1997 NBA draft. Former Sacramento Kings Head Coach Eddie Jordan said that he thought that Sanford was the best defender in college basketball and compared him offensively to Billy Owens. After putting Sanford through a workout, former Indiana Pacers Head Coach Larry Bird stated that he thought that "Mark Sanford was the most athletic and skilled player that he had seen enter the draft in the last 5 years".
Bird declared that, had Sanford stayed in school for his senior season, he would have been project
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
Villanova University's men's basketball team represents Villanova University and competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I College basketball. Their first season was the 1920–21 season. Named the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Philadelphia Big Five, five Philadelphia college basketball teams who share a passionate rivalry; the Wildcats have won the National Championship three times: 1985, 2016, 2018. Their 1985 NCAA championship as an 8 seed still stands as the lowest seed to win the title; the game is referred to as "The Perfect Game". Their 2016 NCAA Championship, is referred to as "The Perfect Ending" and is the only NCAA Men's Championship game to be won on a buzzer beater, as Kris Jenkins drained a shot as time expired, they made the Final Four in 1939, 1971, 1985, 2009, 2016, 2018. As of 2019, they have an NCAA Tournament record of 65–37. Villanova has defeated six No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, sixth most all-time. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 39 times, the eighth highest total in NCAA history.
They have won the Big East regular season championship eight times, most winning four straight from 2014 to 2017. They won the Big East Tournament in 1995, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019. Villanova entered the 2016–2017 season with an all-time winning percentage of, placing the Wildcats tied for 13th among all NCAA Division I basketball programs. Through 2018, Villanova has 1,779 wins, 23rd among Division I men's basketball teams. Villanova has won the Philadelphia Big Five 26 times, the second most of any team, including five straight from 2014 to 2018; the Wildcats have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 17 times, winning in 1994. NCAA National Championships – 3 NCAA Championship Game appearances - 4 NCAA Final Four – 6 NCAA Elite Eight – 14 NCAA Sweet Sixteen – 18 NCAA Tournament Appearances – 39 National Coach of the Year – 2 Conference Regular Season Championships – 12 All-Americans – 20 Weeks Ranked as AP #1 Team – 19 30-Win Seasons – 5 Philadelphia Big 5 Championships – 25 Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year – 20 Winning Seasons – 78 Villanova began its varsity basketball program in 1920.
Michael Saxe coached from 1920 to 1926, compiling a 64 -- 30 record. John Cashman coached three seasons, from 1926 to 1929. George "Doc" Jacobs coached seven seasons, from 1929 to 1936, had a 62–56 record; the team played its first game in 1920 in Alumni Hall on Villanova's campus, beating Catholic University 43–40. In the early years, Villanova's home courts were West Catholic High School. In 1932, The Wildcats moved into the Villanova Field House—now known as the Jake Nevin Field House, named after Villanova's long-time trainer. Villanova played many home games at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania beginning in 1929; the Wildcats played home games in both the Villanova Field House and the Palestra until 1986. Al Severance coached Villanova for 25 seasons, from 1936 to 1961, it was under Severance's leadership. Severance compiled a 413–201 record; the 1938–39 team won the first-ever NCAA Tournament game, which put them in the inaugural Final Four. Severance led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament again in 1949, 1951, 1955.
Villanova earned NIT bids in 1959 and 1960. The most storied player in Villanova history, Paul Arizin, played during this era. Severance discovered Arizin a Villanova student, playing basketball in the Villanova Fieldhouse. Arizin holds the Villanova record for most points in a game, is credited with inventing the jump shot and was the 1949 College Player of the Year. Other notable players from the Severance era include Joe Lord, Larry Hennessy, Bob Schafer and George Raveling. Coincidentally, Severance died on April 1, 1985, the same day that Villanova upset Georgetown University and Patrick Ewing to take the NCAA basketball championship; the inaugural NCAA Tournament featured eight teams from throughout the country. Villanova, representing the Middle Atlantic States, beat Brown, representative of the New England States, 43–40 before a crowd of 3,500 at the Palestra; the following night, the Wildcats lost to Ohio State 53–36 in the Eastern Division Championship. Jack Kraft coached Villanova for 12 years, from 1961 through 1973.
He compiled a 238–95 record. Kraft led Villanova to the NCAA Tournament six times, five times to the NIT. Only once did. Notable players during the Jack Kraft era include: Chris Ford, Tom Ingelsby, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Howard Porter, Jim Washington, Hubie White. On March 27, 1971, Villanova made its first appearance in an NCAA basketball tournament championship game; the unheralded Wildcats took on his mighty UCLA Bruins. The 28–1 UCLA squad featured Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Henry Bibby, Steve Patterson. Going into the title game, the Bruins had won six of the previous seven NCAA championships, including the previous four. Jack Kraft's Villanova squad, nicknamed the "Iron Men", was made up of just nine players. Led by Howard Porter, Clarence Smith, Hank Siemiontkowski, Chris Ford, Tom Ingelsby, Bob Gohl, Mike Daley, John Fox and Joe McDowell. Villanova amassed a 27–6 record, including a shocking 90–47 victory over a undefeated powerhouse Penn squad. Villanova fought from behind for most of the game
Brevin Knight
Brevin Adon Knight is an American retired professional basketball point guard who played with nine teams in the NBA from 1997 to 2009. Knight played college basketball at Stanford University and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1997, he is the brother of Brandin Knight. He is a color commentator for the Memphis Grizzlies on Fox Sports Tennessee. Knight attended Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, New Jersey, leading its basketball team to New Jersey state championships his sophomore and senior years, he was named to the Newark Star-Ledger's All-State First Team. Recruited out of high school, Knight was a late signee for Stanford University. Knight had a successful college career at Stanford, where he is the all-time leader in assists and steals and third all-time in scoring, he was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 16th pick in the 1997 NBA draft. Knight was drafted with the 16th pick of the first round in the 1997 NBA draft. In his rookie season, Knight led the NBA in steals per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
He has played for the Cavaliers, the Atlanta Hawks, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Phoenix Suns, the Washington Wizards, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Bobcats, averaging 7.6 points and 6.5 assists per game in his career. The Bobcats received Knight through their 2004 expansion draft, he was one of the best players on the team during the 2004–05 NBA season, averaging 10.1 points, 9 assists, 1.98 steals per game as the Bobcats went 18–64. Knight finished second behind MVP Steve Nash, he was waived by the Bobcats on June 2007 after spending the last three seasons with them. On August 13, 2007, he signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, he was traded to the Utah Jazz on July 2008 for Jason Hart. Knight joined the Memphis Grizzlies broadcast team as a color commentator on Fox Sports Tennessee in 2010. Knight and his wife Deena have a son. List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game NBA.com Profile – Brevin Knight Career statistics and player information from Basketball-Reference.com Assist by Knight Foundation
Kelvin Cato
Kelvin T. Cato is an American retired professional basketball player. Cato was an obscure player averaging six points and six rebounds at the University of South Alabama in 1992-93. At that time, he struck up a relationship with University of New Orleans coach Tim Floyd, who recognized Cato's potential. In 1994, Floyd took over as head coach at Iowa State University and convinced Cato to transfer to Iowa State. Cato averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocks per game for an Iowa State team that reached the Sweet Sixteen of the 1997 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Drafted 15th overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Cato's draft rights were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights to Chris Anstey and cash considerations. Cato averaged 3.8 and 3.5 points per game in his two seasons in Portland before being bundled in a six-for-one deal with the Houston Rockets that sent Scottie Pippen to the Blazers. He spent five years in Houston, averaging a career-high 8.7 points per game in 1999-2000, started all but two of the games he played in both the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons.
On October 28, 1999, Cato signed a six-year, $42,000,000 contract extension that increased in controversy as his playing statistics cooled. With Yao Ming as the Rockets' new starting center, the Rockets traded Cato in a seven-player deal that sent Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Cato to the Orlando Magic for Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, Reece Gaines. While he started 50 games in the 2004-05 season for the Magic, his playing minutes went down the following season as he battled shoulder injuries. On February 15, 2006, along with the Magic's first-round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, was traded to the Detroit Pistons for center Darko Miličić and point guard Carlos Arroyo. Cato finished out the season with the Pistons, he signed with the New York Knicks for the 2006-07 season. NBA.com Profile - Kelvin Cato Career statistics and player information from Basketball-Reference.com
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore Duncan is an American former professional basketball player. He spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. Duncan started out as a swimmer, did not begin playing basketball until ninth grade, he played basketball for St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School. In college, Duncan played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, winning the Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA College Player of the Year, John Wooden awards in his senior year. After graduating from college, Duncan earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors after being selected by San Antonio with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. Regarded as the greatest power forward of all time as well as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, he is a five-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, a 15-time NBA All-Star, the only player to be selected to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons. Off the court, Duncan is known for his active philanthropy.
He holds a degree in psychology and created the Tim Duncan Foundation to raise general health awareness and fund education and youth sports in various parts of the United States. Tim Duncan is the son of Ione, a midwife, William Duncan, a mason, he has two older sisters and Tricia, one older brother, Scott, a film director and cinematographer. He was born and raised on Saint Croix, one of the main islands composing the U. S. Virgin Islands. In school, Duncan was a bright pupil and dreamt of becoming an Olympic-level swimmer like his sister Tricia, his parents were supportive and Duncan excelled at swimming, becoming a teenage standout in the 50, 100 and 400 meters freestyle and aiming to make the 1992 Olympic Games as a member of the United States Team. When Hurricane Hugo destroyed the island's only Olympic-sized swimming pool in 1989, Duncan was forced to swim in the ocean and he lost his enthusiasm for swimming because of his fear of sharks. Duncan was dealt another emotional blow when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and died one day before his 14th birthday.
In her last days, she made Duncan and his sisters promise to finish college with a degree, which would explain Duncan's refusal to leave college early. Duncan was inspired by his brother-in-law to turn to basketball. Duncan had difficulties adapting to the game he thought would help relieve his pain and frustration. Nancy Pomroy, the athletic director of the St. Croix Country Day School was quoted: " was so huge. So big and tall, but he was awfully awkward at the time." He overcame this to become a standout for the St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School, averaging 25 points per game as a senior, his play attracted the attention of several universities, despite having only picked up the game in ninth grade. Wake Forest University basketball coach Dave Odom in particular grew interested in Duncan after the 16-year-old played NBA star Alonzo Mourning to a draw in a 5-on-5 pick-up game. Odom was searching for a physical player to play near the basket. Given the weak level of basketball in the Virgin Islands, Odom was wary about Duncan at first after first meeting him and thinking him to be inattentive.
However, after the first talk, Odom understood that this was just Duncan's way of paying attention, discovered that he was not only athletically talented, but a quick learner. Despite scholarship offers by the University of Hartford, the University of Delaware and Providence College, Duncan joined Odom's Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In the year before Duncan's arrival at Wake Forest University, the Demon Deacons reached the Sweet 16, but lost main scorer Rodney Rogers, who entered the 1993 NBA draft. In the 1993–94 NCAA season, Coach Dave Odom was considering redshirting Duncan, but was forced to play him after fellow freshman big man Makhtar N'Diaye was ruled out due to NCAA rules violations and transferred to Michigan. Duncan struggled with early transition problems and was held scoreless in his first college game, but as the year progressed, he and teammate Randolph Childress led the Deacons to a 20–11 win-loss record. Duncan's style of play was simple but effective, combining an array of low-post moves, mid-range bank shots and tough defense.
He was chosen to represent the U. S. in the 1994 Goodwill Games. Meanwhile, Duncan worked towards a degree in psychology and took classes in anthropology and Chinese literature. Despite focusing on basketball, Wake Forest psychology department chairperson Deborah Best was quoted: "Tim was one of my more intellectual students. Other than his height, I couldn't tell him from any other student at Wake Forest." Duncan established his reputation as a stoic player, to the extent that opposing fans taunted him as "Mr. Spock", the prototypical logical, detached character from Star Trek. In the 1994–95 NCAA season, the sophomore was soon called one of the best eligible NBA prospects, along with his peers Joe Smith, Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse. Los Angeles Lakers general manager Jerry West suggested that Duncan might become the top pick in the 1995 NBA draft if he went early, but Duncan assured everyone he had no intention of going pro until he graduated though the NBA was planning to add a rookie salary cap in 1996.
He was determined to stay in school. In that season, he led the Demon Deacons into the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against a Rasheed Wall
Tim Thomas (basketball)
Timothy Mark Thomas is a retired American professional basketball player. A versatile 6'10" forward with a soft shooting touch, Thomas was tabbed as a future NBA star when he was still in high school, was selected to the McDonald's All-American team after averaging 25.3 points and 14.5 rebounds per game as a senior at Paterson Catholic High School. Following his freshman year at Villanova University, he was drafted seventh overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 1997 NBA Draft and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the Sixers' draft pick. Thomas enjoyed a solid rookie season, averaging 11.0 points per game, was named to the NBA's All-Rookie 2nd Team. The Sixers would grow impatient with a sophomore slump from Thomas, in 1999 he and Scott Williams were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Jerald Honeycutt and Tyrone Hill. Milwaukee was enamored with Thomas's raw talent and versatility, hoped he could blossom into a star with more seasoning, it looked like things were coming together for Thomas during the 2000–01 season, when he averaged a career-high 13.4 ppg for the Bucks.
On January 5, 2001, Thomas connected on eight three-point field goals in the second half of Milwaukee's 119–115 loss to Portland. During his time with the Bucks, then-teammate Ray Allen was quoted as saying, "If he wanted to, Tim Thomas could be the best player in the league." After a strong playoff performance that year, Thomas signed a new deal with the Bucks worth $66 million over six years, despite being offered more money by Chicago. On February 16, 2004, Thomas was traded to the New York Knicks in a three team trade that included the Atlanta Hawks; the trade sent Keith Van Horn, whom Thomas was traded for during the 1997 draft, from the Knicks to the Bucks, Nazr Mohammed from the Hawks to the Knicks, Joel Pryzbilla from the Bucks to the Hawks, Michael Doleac from the Knicks to the Hawks. During game 1 of the Knicks' first round playoff series against the Nets, Thomas suffered an injury that kept him out of the remainder of the playoffs, when he was fouled by Jason Collins and taken out of the game on a stretcher.
The incident started a long feud with Nets forward Kenyon Martin, who Thomas called a fake tough guy, that continued past both players' playing careers. In 2017, Thomas rehashed their feud on an episode of the Scoop B Radio Podcast. Thomas told Brandon Scoop B Robinson that he'd like to settle his feud with Kenyon Martin once and for all with a boxing match; the proceeds would go to the charity of their choice. Martin declined. Prior to the 2005–06 season, Thomas was traded to the Chicago Bulls, along with Jermaine Jackson, Mike Sweetney, a 2006 1st round draft pick, a 2007 1st round draft pick, a 2007 2nd round draft pick and a 2009 2nd round draft pick, in exchange for Eddy Curry, Antonio Davis and a 2007 1st round draft pick. Playing in the final year of his contract, Thomas was given minimal minutes from the rebuilding Bulls. After playing just three games for Chicago, Thomas was deactivated while dealing with ankle and back injuries. After not playing for nearly four months, Thomas was granted his release from the Bulls.
On March 1, 2006, Thomas agreed to terms with the Phoenix Suns to a contract for the remainder of the season. He made his debut with the Suns two days scoring 20 points off the bench in a 123-118 win over Orlando. Playing alongside reigning NBA MVP Steve Nash, Thomas rejuvenated his career in Phoenix. In the playoffs, Thomas played a crucial role in the Suns run to the Western Conference Finals. Starting in place of injured All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire, Thomas scored a game-high 22 points with 15 rebounds in a game 1 victory in the first round over the Lakers. In game 6, Thomas hit the game-tying three at the end of regulation and an important three-pointer late in overtime to seal the Suns win; the Suns won game 7. In the Suns' second round series against the Clippers, Thomas was credited for his defense on Elton Brand, helping the team to another seven game series win. In the Western Conference Finals, Phoenix fell to the Dallas Mavericks in six games. In game five of that series, Thomas "blew a kiss" to Maverick Dirk Nowitzki, who proceeded to score a total of 50 pts for the game.
Thomas expressed an interest in re-signing with Phoenix, though the Suns were over the salary cap and expected Stoudemire to return as their starter. On July 13, 2006, Thomas signed a four -- $24 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, he started in place of Elton Brand and Chris Kaman, though Thomas himself battled injuries. On November 21, 2008, Thomas and Cuttino Mobley were traded to the New York Knicks, in exchange for Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins. In his return to the Knicks, Thomas was reuinted with Mike D'Antoni, his coach in Phoenix. On February 19, 2009, Tim was traded again to the Bulls along with center Jerome James and guard Anthony Roberson in exchange for guard Larry Hughes just before the trade deadline, his second stint in Chicago was more successful than his first, as he provided veteran leadership to the young team, helping the Bulls make a late season push to qualify for the playoffs. Though entering the playoffs as the seventh seed, they were able to push their first round series against the defending–champion Boston Celtics to a full seven games.
On July 14, 2009, the Bulls negotiated a buyout of Thomas's $6.5 million contract. On July 28, 2009, the Dallas Mavericks signed free agent Thomas. In late January, however, he left the team temporarily to take care of his wife, who had an undisclosed illness. In August 2010 Thomas agreed to a one-year deal with the Mavericks worth the veteran
