alamo50
03-31-2005, 04:30 PM
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Roanoke Dazzle forward James Thomas has been selected by a unanimous vote of the league's head coaches as the National Basketball Development League's 2004-05 Rookie of the Year.
http://www.texassports.com/image_lib/mbb_thomas_033005_200.jpg
James Thomas (courtesy of NBAE/Getty Images)
A second-round selection (8th overall) in the 2004 NBDL Draft, the University of Texas ('04) product leads the NBA Development League in rebounds per game (13.0) and defensive rebounds per game (8.3).
Thomas not only leads the league with 20 double-doubles, but is also the only player in the NBDL to average a double-double. His 12.3 points per game is 15th in the league, while he is fourth in the NBDL in minutes played (34.9) and field goal percentage at .542 (149-275).
“From the first day James came to Roanoke and into the NBDL he had his mind made up that he was going to be the best rebounder in this league,” Dazzle head coach Kent Davison said. “With that kind of attitude and his approach to playing the game, he distinguished himself as one of the top players in the league and also earned a chance to be called up to the NBA.”
Thomas was signed to consecutive 10-day contracts by the Portland Trail Blazers in January and to another 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in February. He played in nine games (two starts) for the Trail Blazers, averaging 12.4 minutes, 2.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He grabbed 15 rebounds against Cleveland on January 19.
“With so many great young players in our league it is difficult to single out just one for Rookie of the Year, but James is a deserving winner,” NBDL director of basketball operations Chris Alpert said. “He has worked extremely hard, is a great ambassador for our league and has really developed into a leadership role for his team even though he is a rookie.”
Thomas joins Desmond Penigar (Asheville, '04), Devin Brown (Fayetteville, '03) and Fred House (Charleston, '02) as winners of the NBDL Rookie of the Year Award.
http://www.texassports.com/image_lib/mbb_thomas_033005_200.jpg
James Thomas (courtesy of NBAE/Getty Images)
A second-round selection (8th overall) in the 2004 NBDL Draft, the University of Texas ('04) product leads the NBA Development League in rebounds per game (13.0) and defensive rebounds per game (8.3).
Thomas not only leads the league with 20 double-doubles, but is also the only player in the NBDL to average a double-double. His 12.3 points per game is 15th in the league, while he is fourth in the NBDL in minutes played (34.9) and field goal percentage at .542 (149-275).
“From the first day James came to Roanoke and into the NBDL he had his mind made up that he was going to be the best rebounder in this league,” Dazzle head coach Kent Davison said. “With that kind of attitude and his approach to playing the game, he distinguished himself as one of the top players in the league and also earned a chance to be called up to the NBA.”
Thomas was signed to consecutive 10-day contracts by the Portland Trail Blazers in January and to another 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in February. He played in nine games (two starts) for the Trail Blazers, averaging 12.4 minutes, 2.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He grabbed 15 rebounds against Cleveland on January 19.
“With so many great young players in our league it is difficult to single out just one for Rookie of the Year, but James is a deserving winner,” NBDL director of basketball operations Chris Alpert said. “He has worked extremely hard, is a great ambassador for our league and has really developed into a leadership role for his team even though he is a rookie.”
Thomas joins Desmond Penigar (Asheville, '04), Devin Brown (Fayetteville, '03) and Fred House (Charleston, '02) as winners of the NBDL Rookie of the Year Award.