Marcus Thornton (basketball, born 1987)

Last updated

Marcus Thornton
Marcus Thornton 2016.jpg
Thornton with the Washington Wizards in 2016
No. 23–Eberlein Drive
Position Shooting guard
League TBT
Personal information
Born (1987-06-05) June 5, 1987 (age 37)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school Tara (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
College
NBA draft 2009: 2nd round, 43rd overall pick
Selected by the Miami Heat
Playing career2009–2019; 2022–present
Career history
2009–2011 New Orleans Hornets
2011–2014 Sacramento Kings
2014 Brooklyn Nets
2014–2015 Boston Celtics
2015 Phoenix Suns
2015–2016 Houston Rockets
2016–2017 Washington Wizards
2017–2018 Grand Rapids Drive
2018 Beijing Ducks
2018–2019Grand Rapids Drive
2022 Motor City Cruise
2023–present Eberlein Drive
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Marcus Terrell Thornton (born June 5, 1987) is an American professional basketball player for the Eberlein Drive of The Basketball Tournament. He played college basketball for Kilgore College and Louisiana State University before being drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Miami Heat. He has played in the NBA for the New Orleans Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards.

Contents

College career

Thornton played two years at Kilgore College, a junior college in Kilgore, Texas. As a freshman in 2005–06, he averaged 14.5 points while shooting at 65 percent from the field. He averaged 26.9 points in his second season at Kilgore in 2006–07, earning first-team Junior College All-American honors and MVP honors for Region XIV. [1]

Following his sophomore season, Thornton transferred to Louisiana State University. As a junior in 2007–08 playing for the Tigers, he averaged 19.6 points (second in the SEC) and shot 81.7 percent from the free-throw line, the second-best percentage in the conference. As a senior in 2008–09, he averaged 21.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, subsequently earning the 2009 Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. In two seasons at LSU, he finished with 1,347 points, 21st all-time and with a 20.4 scoring average, he ranked sixth all-time. He also finished eighth in school history with 168 three-pointers. [1]

Professional career

New Orleans Hornets (2009–2011)

Thornton was selected with the 43rd overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2009 NBA draft, but his rights were traded to the New Orleans Hornets. On February 23, 2010, in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he tied a Hornets' franchise record for points scored by a rookie (37), and set a franchise record for points in a quarter (23) and points off the bench (previous, 33, Dell Curry). His 37 points also tied for the third most points by an NBA rookie off the bench since the 1976–77 season. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2009–10 after averaging 14.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 25.6 minutes per game in 73 games (started 17) with New Orleans. He also set a franchise rookie record with 117 three-pointers in a season. [1]

Sacramento Kings (2011–2014)

Thornton with the Kings in 2013 Marcus Thornton Kings.jpg
Thornton with the Kings in 2013

On February 23, 2011, Thornton was traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Carl Landry. [2] On March 14, 2011, he scored a career-high 42 points against the Golden State Warriors. [3]

In the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, Thornton averaged a team-leading 18.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 34.9 minutes in starting all 51 games he played in. [1]

On January 24, 2014, Thornton tied his career-high of 42 points in an overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers. [4]

Brooklyn Nets (2014)

On February 19, 2014, Thornton was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans. [5] His best game for the Nets came on March 9, as he scored 27 points in a win over the Kings. [6]

Boston Celtics (2014–2015)

On July 10, 2014, Thornton was traded to the Boston Celtics in a three-team deal involving the Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. [7] On December 7, he scored a season-high 21 points in the Celtics' 101–93 win over the Washington Wizards. [8]

Phoenix Suns (2015)

On February 19, 2015, Thornton was traded, along with a 2016 first-round pick, to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Isaiah Thomas. [9] He completed the 2014–15 season with the Suns playing in just nine games. He did not manage game time in 18 of a possible 27 games with the Suns, largely thanks to an Achilles' tendon injury and being a non-rotation player on a non-playoff team. [10]

Houston Rockets (2015–2016)

On July 25, 2015, Thornton signed with the Houston Rockets. [11] On December 8, he scored a season-high 32 points in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. [12] On February 18, 2016, Thornton and Donatas Motiejūnas were traded to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade involving the Rockets and the Philadelphia 76ers. [13] However, four days later, the Pistons rescinded their trade following a failed physical by Motiejūnas. [14] [15] Thornton didn't play again following his return to Houston, and on February 26, he was waived by the Rockets. [16]

Washington Wizards (2016–2017)

On March 9, 2016, Thornton signed with the Washington Wizards. [17] Two days later, he made his debut with the Wizards in a 114–93 loss to the Utah Jazz, recording two points, one assist and one steal in 20 minutes off the bench. [18]

On July 28, 2016, Thornton re-signed with the Wizards. [19]

On February 22, 2017, Thornton was traded, along with Andrew Nicholson and a 2017 first round draft pick, to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Bojan Bogdanović and Chris McCullough. [20] He was waived by the Nets the next day. [21]

Grand Rapids Drive (2017–2018)

On December 13, 2017, Thornton was acquired by the Grand Rapids Drive of the G-League. [22] [23]

Beijing Ducks (2018)

On February 4, 2018, Thornton signed with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. [24]

Return to the Drive (2018–2019)

On December 11, 2018, Thornton was reacquired by the Grand Rapids Drive of the G-League. [25] On March 3, 2019, Thornton scored 42 points to go along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in a 102–97 win over the Maine Red Claws. [26]

Motor City Cruise (2022)

On January 8, 2022, Thornton was acquired via available player pool by the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League, [27] but was waived on January 21, after appearing in only 4 games.

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2009–10 New Orleans 731725.6.451.374.8142.91.6.8.214.5
2010–11 New Orleans 46016.2.410.376.7582.8.9.4.17.8
2010–11 Sacramento 272338.1.450.361.8054.73.41.7.221.3
2011–12 Sacramento 515134.9.438.345.8653.71.91.4.218.7
2012–13 Sacramento 72824.0.429.372.8812.51.3.8.112.7
2013–14 Sacramento 462624.4.381.318.8082.71.0.7.28.3
2013–14 Brooklyn 26123.8.414.380.8002.81.21.0.112.3
2014–15 Boston 39016.4.416.419.8241.9.9.5.28.9
2014–15 Phoenix 909.0.325.105.8001.4.2.7.03.6
2015–16 Houston 47618.8.400.338.8792.41.4.7.110.0
2015–16 Washington 14216.0.393.333.7622.51.4.9.18.4
2016–17 Washington 33117.4.400.350.8522.31.4.6.16.6
Career48313523.4.425.358.8302.81.4.8.111.9

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2014 Brooklyn 10012.4.389.238.6671.9.1.2.15.9
Career10012.4.389.238.6671.9.1.2.15.9

Personal life

Thornton's fiancée, Lyndsey Duplessis, gave birth to their first child on January 1, 2016, a daughter named Maleia. [28] Thornton is a cousin of former NBA player Al Thornton. [29]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Marcus Thornton Stats, Video, Bio, Profile". NBA.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Kings Acquire Marcus Thornton from the New Orleans Hornets in Exchange for Carl Landry". NBA.com. February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Marcus Thornton's career night helps Kings wax Warriors". ESPN.com. March 14, 2011. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Game Rewind: Pacers 116, Kings 111 (OT)". NBA.com. January 24, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Nets Acquire Marcus Thornton from Sacramento". NBA.com. February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Marcus Thornton 2013-14 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Celtics Complete Three-Team Trade". NBA.com. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Marcus Thornton 2014-15 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Suns Complete Deal with Boston for Thornton, Draft Pick". NBA.com. February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ Coro, Paul (April 10, 2015). "Phoenix Suns' Marcus Thornton 'learning' from cut in playing time". AZCentral.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Rockets Sign Marcus Thornton". NBA.com. July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Nets hold off Rockets to sweep season series". NBA.com. December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Rockets Acquire First Round Pick in Three-Way Trade with Detroit and Philadelphia". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 18, 2016. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Detroit Pistons Rescind Trade Acquiring Forward Donatas Motiejunas and Guard Marcus Thornton". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  15. ↑ Watkins, Calvin (February 22, 2016). "Pistons void trade with Rockets when Donatas Motiejunas fails physical". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Rockets Waive Marcus Thornton". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  17. ↑ "WIZARDS SIGN MARCUS THORNTON". MonumentalSportsNetwork.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Mack scores career-high 27 as Jazz beat Wizards 114-93". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Wizards Re-Sign Marcus Thornton". MonumentalSportsNetwork.com. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  20. ↑ "BROOKLYN NETS ACQUIRE FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK, ANDREW NICHOLSON AND MARCUS THORNTON FROM WASHINGTON". NBA.com. February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  21. ↑ "BROOKLYN NETS WAIVE MARCUS THORNTON". NBA.com. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  22. ↑ "NBA G League Transactions". NBA.com. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  23. ↑ "We added 2 new players to our roster yesterday: Clemson University product KJ McDaniels and NBA vet Marcus Thornton!". Twitter.com. December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  24. ↑ "北京男篮官宣签前火箭后卫 曾获索大腿称号" (in Chinese). February 4, 2018.
  25. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Drive have re-acquired @NBA vet Marcus Thornton (@OfficialMT23)!". Grand Rapids Drive on Twitter. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Grand Rapids Drive 102 Maine Red Claws 97". G-League Stats. March 3, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  27. ↑ "2021-22 NBA G League transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Duncan scoreless for 1st time but Spurs beat Rockets 121-103". NBA.com. January 2, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Hornets Take UCLA's Collison, Trade For LSU's Thornton". WDSU.com. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
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