From reading a few of his comments, I picked up on some of Thomas' attitude before the draft. The Bulls made a mistake.
Twenty year olds can also be smart. If he really made these comments he is just not smart. Also most 20 year olds are not disrespectfull. I just think Thomas does not have a good attitude, i do not think it is because of his age.
A rookie contract that pays him 3.2 million this year and 3.5 million next (with a team option of 3.7 million and 4.7 million in years 3 and 4). Poor guy....
I think this is as much a reflection of the dunk contest as it is on Thomas. I wonder how many players turned down a dunk contest invitation? The dunk contest used to be the highlight of all star weekend, even more popular than the game itself, because the competitors actually cared about it. Guys now see it as a way to kill an hour or two. Ironically, though, the best way to fix the dunk contest is to offer MORE money. The four prizes add up to $89,750. If the NBA offered a 100K winner take all jackpot for the dunk contest, they would have a waiting list of guys wanting to enter. When it comes down to 100K or nothing, that's the kind of situation that would bring out the competitive spirit in the contestants, instead of these half asses attempts that they put on now...
That's probably why when it's all said and done Stromile will have been the better NBA player. I know it's early to say that. Thomas is knucklehead that will be a bust. At least Stromile seems like a nice, quiet guy.
My problem is with this article is that he brings up the old argument that there is something wrong with players if they don't love the game. Why is it that these people have to love what they do? If they're professional and work hard, that should be enough, because it certainly is in every other profession in the world. Thomas still sounds like a total ass based on this article.
This guy should not be allowed to compete in the slam dunk contest, his job is to sell it, regardless of how it is perceived, he’s not supposed to degrade it further.
The real question is...when he competes in the dunk contest (assuming he's allowed to) will anyone be watching??? The dunk contest just sucks now. Wake me up when the 3-pt shooting contests starts...
Thomas backpedles link Check that: Thomas changes tune Bulls rookie says his comments didn't come out right, dunk contest not just about money Published February 8, 2007 SACRAMENTO -- No, Tyrus Thomas didn't hit me, though the way he has been shooting this season I probably would have been safe. But Bulls players and coaches were watching intently when reporters walked over to talk to Thomas after practice Wednesday. They probably were equally curious and hopeful that maybe, just maybe, this little media shock Thomas instigated this week would jolt him enough that the team could cram years of maturation and understanding into a short period so it can get the player they saw on draft day a little quicker. "He has to mature more," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "These are the kinds of episodes we all can mature from. We've all said things we've regretted as soon as they came out of our mouth. You can be honest with the media and not guarded all the time … if you have something bright to say." Thomas has taken some tough hits the last few days in the media for saying he didn't care much about trying hard in the NBA slam-dunk contest during All-Star Game weekend and that he was just going for the money. The Bulls fined him $10,000 and Thomas admitted NBA officials were so angry they had considered rescinding his invitation. Thomas was contrite Wednesday and will compete. It all reminds me of the Bob Arum news conference where he contradicted something he said the previous day. "Yesterday I was lying, today I'm telling the truth," the boxing promoter explained. "It was a miscommunication and understanding of words," Thomas said, answering evenly, his eyes directly meeting each questioner. "I take it as a lesson learned. I hate that this happened. I don't want to give a bad impression. I didn't even think I said it in a way to make it be as if I was saying, 'OK, I'm going out to get a check, and that's it.' I didn't [want to make it] like that at all." The issue and embarrassment for Thomas will fade away, as most of these things do around pro sports. Thomas said he might appeal the fine to the players' association but didn't appear enthusiastic. He added he always intended to donate his winnings to his high school ($35,000 for first, $22,500 for second and $16,125 for third and fourth). Thomas even is studying classic dunks from previous contests as sort of an homage to the event. "[The contest prize is] not such a big amount that I'm going out for the money. I think more people watch the dunk contest than they do the game." Perhaps one day this all will go down in Thomas' file with an asterisk as one of those life's lessons in which the overwhelmed kid doesn't know how to respond but learns quickly. The Bulls would love that, as Thomas has been almost no factor lately. He didn't play in Monday's loss in Utah and has fallen out of the rotation. He played only two minutes against the Clippers and had a combined four points and four rebounds in the victories in Seattle and Portland. With Andres Nocioni out until at least the All-Star break, Thomas becomes a bigger factor. But his play has been disappointing halfway through the season for a player who, in effect, was the second pick in the draft. Among the top eight selections in the draft, Thomas is contributing the least, averaging 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 44 percent from the field and 55 percent on free throws. The Bulls, for the first time in almost a decade, failed to land anyone in the All-Star Game or rookie game. Thomas was invited to the dunk contest, which could be a main event with Michael Jordan, Julius Erving and Dominique Wilkins, three of the best ever in the contest, acting as judges. Tribune beat reporter K.C. Johnson, expecting the usual political reply, asked Thomas at Monday's shootaround in Utah about the contest and Thomas dismissed it in such a shocking and demeaning way he drew the ire of the team and the league, as well as a critical column here. That led to the expected spin control, with Thomas' agents issuing a statement to the effect Thomas was honored to be in the contest and privileged to represent the city and the team. His agents claimed it was a difficult time for Thomas because his comments came after a tough road loss. They actually were before a game in which Thomas didn't play, and Thomas said Wednesday that his agents misunderstood. There's a lot of that going around. For the Bulls, the episode was a look into the character of a player they hope will become a fixture for them. Thomas has been difficult, often rude and condescending to the team's staff and the NBA. He often acts like he has little time or interest for anyone but himself. Thomas' supporters say it's just the case of an overwhelmed young player from a rural area. "I'm hoping they weren't honest answers but a defense mechanism because he did not know what to say," Skiles said. "Pretty much every day things are going on in the gym he never has seen before, every game there's stuff going on he never encountered before. He was asked a very valid question. You hope those weren't his real feelings. "We knew when we took Luol [Deng] he played only one year of college [too]. But he left home at an early age. "Sometimes his first year, you'd take him out and he'd sit there and pout like young guys do. But all you had to do is talk to him once or twice and that was the end of it. There was much more maturity there. We'll see with Tyrus." Everyone wants to see now. Maybe for his dunk, he can jump over the prize money and everyone can have a good laugh.
I'm guessing that "Thomas' supporters" (or more likely the author), have never been to Baton Rouge. It's not Chicago, but it's also not rural.
Probably because he is playing the NBDL and not the NBA. He is playing in the NBDL All Star Game though. http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/dleague_rosters.html
