Interesting Chicago Tribune Article on Tyrus Thomas...(with excerpts)

quote:

---

Where Thomas is now is far from the bright lights of the NBA. Close to three years since Charlotte used the amnesty clause to rid its franchise of Thomas' contract; close to 10 years since the Bulls traded the draft rights of LaMarcus Aldridge, the No. 2 pick, to the Trail Blazers for the draft rights of Thomas at No. 4 in an ill-fated move; Thomas is playing for Eisbaren Bremerhaven in Germany's Basketball Bundesliga League.

Thomas, who played in the NBA's Development League and on a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies last season, will turn 30 in August. On average, his team plays once a week, traveling by bus for hours on end to nondescript gyms. His league is considered Germany's top competition but pales in comparison to even Euroleague play.

And yet he never has sounded more at peace.

"This is what I want to do," Thomas said. "My career didn't end the way I wanted. But I'm not trying to make up for anything. I'm grateful with the way my career played out because I don't think I would be the man that I am now if I wouldn't have had the hardships that I endured"

Thomas' hardships, at least in Chicago, are well documented. He never lived up to projections for him after John Paxson and Gar Forman strayed from their typical draft formula and selected potential over production.

Aldridge, who signed with the Spurs last summer, made four All-Star appearances with the Trail Blazers. Thomas made second-team All-Rookie in 2007 but averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds over 3 1/2 inconsistent seasons before the Bulls traded him to Charlotte for Flip Murray, Acie Law and a first-round pick later used in the Doug McDermott acquisition.

Thomas also displayed moodiness and immaturity. That led to the Bulls once fining him $10,000 when he told the Tribune he only accepted an invitation to the dunk contest at All-Star weekend for "the free money"

"I call them decisions, not mistakes," he said. "Because everything I've been through, whether it's my misjudgment or someone else's, has me to the exact point that I am today."

And this can't be stressed enough: Thomas is happy with that place.

He has mastered enough German to ask for what he wants. He sometimes wanders around his new city, camera in tow, searching for images that intrigue him. He spends time with his family in Louisiana and travels to warmer locales in the offseasons, posting inspirational quotes on his Twitter account and more photos on his Instagram page.

Thomas is averaging 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds for his 4-15 team. He admits he has played well some games, not as well in others.

Above all, Thomas is happy simply to be playing after undergoing surgery in March 2014 to remove a cyst from his spinal cord that also involved placing a plate in his neck to fuse vertebrae. In a sign of his peace of mind and maturity, Thomas refuses to blame his inconsistent play with Charlotte on the then-undiagnosed injury.

"Then, I'm also better dealing with the other elements I struggled with when I was younger — what's going on with the team, relationships with management and coaches, dealing with teammates. There have been games when I played six minutes and other games where I've played 26 out of 40. Either way, I got better. Maybe I cheered. Maybe I motivated teammates. Maybe I pointed out things to them during the game that I saw that maybe they didn't see."

"Guys look up to me there just because of my past," he said. "I was in the NBA for seven years. A lot of those guys are younger than me. They saw me in my higher days in Chicago. I don't actively pursue a leadership role. But I know guys look up to me and cherish what I have to say.

Thomas only recently arrived at this place, this peace. As recently as last season, he experienced bouts of frustration and emotional swings. Returning to the Development League after his 10-day contract with the Grizzlies marked a low point.

Thomas credits Iowa Energy coach Bob Donewald Jr., who heads the Grizzlies affiliate, with helping him navigate this period.

"I wasn't being realistic with myself. I was like, 'I can still play,'" Thomas said. "When I got back to Iowa, I was down. I was hurting every day, battling my aches and pains. Bob actually kept me sane. I wanted to give up. I wanted to quit. He, along with my agent (Chicago native Roger Montgomery) and my trainers, kept my spirits up. He said, 'T, you've been off for two years. You've only been working out two or three months now. Stay with it.'

"That's when I made the decision that I wanted to give it my all. I had to look at my career and all the ups and downs and be realistic with myself. At one point, I was holding onto the fact that I didn't have much consistency around me to help me flourish in the way I thought I needed. Six coaches in seven seasons and too many teammates to count. But I had to accept I wasn't as consistent with the things I could control. I would get emotional and worry about things out my control instead of focusing on working every day and giving 100 percent.

"That's where I am now. And if being in this place gets me back to the BBL next season, I can sleep with that. If it gets me to the Euroleague, I can sleep with that. If it gets me back to the NBA, I can sleep with that. But if I get none of that, that's also something I'm at peace with now."

So how long will Thomas try?

"It's not a time," he said without hesitation. "For me, it's a matter of the heart and the body. I'm finally to the point physically where I know I can get better. I know mentally I'm as tough as I've ever been in my life. It's not, 'Oh, I have to get back to the NBA.' When I give it my all and it's nowhere else for me to go, that's when I'll hang it up. If I have no offers this summer, then I can walk away. And my head will be held high."

"For me, the NBA happened overnight," Thomas said. "I was on an (LSU) team that initially asked me to walk on. I redshirted, didn't start at the beginning of the year and by January I was considered a top draft pick. I banked on my natural abilities and banked on being young and being a freakish athlete.

"And I didn't have anybody in my corner that knew the business of basketball or how to prepare me for basketball at that level. So I didn't know how to handle all that was thrown my way.

"I didn't know how to cherish or handle relationships, particularly with other men in positions of authority. I know that's an issue, especially when you have kids who come from low-income backgrounds and they become these big stars. That's a good percentage of the NBA. We just have to be realistic about it.

"Scott Skiles and Larry Brown are two of the best coaches I've had for X's and O's but I didn't know how to handle Scott's message because I had never been around a person who was that demanding and meticulous in what he wanted done. I took it personal the way he coached me and talked to me because I didn't have anybody outside the team helping me and saying, 'Listen to the message. He's just trying to help you.'

As Thomas details this desire, his voice rises, the first time over the course of a nearly hourlong phone conversation he doesn't sound at peace. That's how passionate he is about this.

Thomas sounds committed to helping others, sounds like someone whose life has come into sharper focus.

---