SOLID NBA VET BEEFS UP NLEX
Another NBA top first round pick in the person of Al Thornton is bringing his wares to the Philippine Basketball Association.
Thornton, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft who later made the NBA All-Rookie First Team with Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Luis Scola and Jeff Green, has just signed up to be the NLEX Road Warriors’ import in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Ahead of the PBA second conference, the former Florida State U standout reinforces the Road Warriors in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament slated Jan. 16-24.
NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez is hopeful they can make big improvement from their 10th place finish in the Philippine Cup with their acquisition of Thornton.
“I’ve been watching his videos and reading his profiles, and he is quite a versatile player,” said Fernandez.
“He can shoot from the outside, he can attack the basket and can post up as well. I heard he can play defense and he could really be a big plus factor for our team,” Fernandez added.
Thornton showed all those stuff right in his rookie year as a Los Angeles Clipper where he averaged 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
On Jan. 30, 2008, Thornton scored a then season-high 33 points against the Atlanta Hawks, including a significant block in the final seconds of a 95–88 Clippers win. Thornton also recorded his first double-double on Feb. 9, in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, in which he had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
On March 29, 2008, Thornton equaled a franchise rookie record (and Clippers season-high) 39 points on 13 of 23 field goal shooting, 3 of 6 from behind the arch, and 10 of 12 from the line in a 110–97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Thornton scored 20 of his 39 in the fourth quarter to seal the win and snap the Clippers’ 10-game losing streak.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Thornton later also suited up for the Washington Wizards and the Golden State Warriors.
He also had an outstanding four-year collegiate career capped by a stellar senior year that saw him make the AP Third Team All-American, a unanimous selection to the First Team All-ACC team and was runner-up to Boston College’s Jared Dudley for the ACC Player of the Year. (SB)
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