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Al Thornton

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Al Thornton
Thornton with the Wizards in January 2011
No. 1 – Peñarol Mar del Plata
PositionSmall forward / Power forward
LeagueLNB
Personal information
Born (1983-12-07) December 7, 1983 (age 41)
Perry, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolPerry (Perry, Georgia)
CollegeFlorida State (2003–2007)
NBA draft2007: 1st round, 14th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers
Playing career2007–present
Career history
2007–2010Los Angeles Clippers
2010–2011Washington Wizards
2011Golden State Warriors
2012Brujos de Guayama
2012Zhejiang Lions
2014Brujos de Guayama
2015–2016NLEX Road Warriors
2017Gaiteros del Zulia
2017Brujos de Guayama
2018Shimane Susanoo Magic
2019–2020Suwon KT Sonicboom
2020–2021Club Atlético Aguada
2021–2022Peñarol Mar del Plata
2022Trotamundos B.B.C.
2022–2023Peñarol Mar del Plata
2023Club Atlético Olimpia
2023–presentPeñarol Mar del Plata
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Willie Alford Thornton (born December 7, 1983) is an American professional basketball player for Peñarol Mar del Plata of the Liga Nacional de Básquet (LNB). He had formerly played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and the Golden State Warriors. Collegiately, he played for Florida State University.

College career

[edit]

Thornton's outstanding four-year career at Florida State University was capped off by a stellar individual senior year that saw him make the AP All-American squad as a third team choice, a unanimous selection as first-team All-ACC, and was runner-up to Boston College's Jared Dudley for the ACC Player of the Year. He led the ACC in scoring and averaged over 7 rebounds per game as well. His season came to a disappointing end as the Seminoles did not qualify for the NCAA tournament for the ninth straight season and were forced to play in the NIT.[1]

Professional career

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Los Angeles Clippers

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On June 28, 2007, Thornton was taken 14th overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Thornton also has the same agent as Yao Ming. On July 9, Thornton played his first summer league game for the Clippers, scoring 24 points and registering 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks in a 108–102 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

In just his third preseason game as a rookie, Thornton led the Clippers to a win over the Golden State Warriors with 24 points on 11–15 shooting, including a perfect 2–2 from behind the 3-point arc while also connecting on all 8 of his first attempts from the floor.

With Ruben Patterson in the starting lineup at the start of the season, Thornton would not get the playing time he had received during preseason. Patterson was waived on December 13, 2007, in order to give the rookie more playing time.[2] With a slew of injuries to the Clippers' big men, including Paul Davis with a torn ACL, Tim Thomas with recurring back and ankle injuries, and Elton Brand sidelined with a ruptured achilles tendon, Thornton took advantage of his minutes playing power forward and small forward when teammate Corey Maggette was on the bench.

Thornton with the Clippers in March 2009.

On January 30, 2008, Thornton scored a then season-high 33 points against the Atlanta Hawks, including a significant block in the final seconds in a 95–88 Clipper win.[3] Thornton also recorded his first[4] double-double on February 9, in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, in which he had 18 points and 10 rebounds.[5]

On March 29, 2008, Thornton equaled a rookie franchise 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.[6]

On May 13, 2008, Al Thornton was named to the 2008 NBA All-Rookie First Team.[7]

On October 31, 2008, Thornton had a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds, a season high.

Washington Wizards

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On February 17, 2010, Thornton was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Washington Wizards as part of a three-team, six-player trade that sent Antawn Jamison from Washington to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, a 2010 first-round pick and the rights to Emir Preldžič from Cleveland to Washington, Drew Gooden from Washington to Los Angeles, and Sebastian Telfair from Los Angeles to Cleveland.[8]

Golden State Warriors

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On March 1, 2011, he reached a buyout agreement with the Wizards and was waived.[9] He signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors on March 3, 2011.[10]

On March 14, 2011, Thornton scored 23 points against the Sacramento Kings, his most points as a member of the Warriors.

Puerto Rico

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On February 19, 2012, he signed with the Guayama Wizards of the Puerto Rican basketball league Baloncesto Superior Nacional.[11] There he averaged 18.7 points per game.[12]

China

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On September 29, 2012, Thornton signed with the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.[12] Due to injury, he was replaced mid-season by Gary Forbes.[13]

Return to Puerto Rico

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In March 2014, he rejoined the Guayama Wizards of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.

Philippines

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On January 2, 2015, he signed with the NLEX Road Warriors.[14] He made his debut during the 2015 Commissioner's Cup in a loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with 28 points and 12 rebounds.[15] In a loss to the Alaska Aces, he led the team with 39 points and 13 rebounds.[16] He was then held to a PBA career-low 11 points on 3-of-14 from the field.[17] He bounced back with 39 points and 15 rebounds as he finally led NLEX to its first win of the conference.[18] From there, NLEX won five straight games to get into the playoffs, including a win over Barangay Ginebra in which he scored 50 points.[19][20] In the playoffs, they were swept by the Meralco Bolts.[21]

In January 2016, Thornton returned to the Philippines to play again for NLEX for the 2016 Commissioner's Cup.[22] He started NLEX's campaign by scoring 50 points once again in an overtime win over Ginebra.[23] In a triple overtime game against the San Miguel Beermen, he scored 69 points, the highest in his career and most by any PBA player in over two decades, but his team still lost.[24] NLEX did not qualify for the playoffs that conference.[25]

Thornton was tapped to represent the Mighty Sports PH the representative club of the Philippines at the 2016 William Jones Cup.[26] Thornton led the Mighty Sports-Philippines past South Korea on its second day with 24 points in an 86–65 win.[27] Thornton once again led the Mighty Sports by beating India 81–101 with 30 points[28] and on the following day versus Iran 80-73 tallying 24 points and 10 rebounds.[29] Thornton carried the Mighty Sports to a 7–0 win–loss record in the tournament with a double-double 20 points and 15 rebounds by beating Egypt 61-80[30] and eventually winning the gold medal with an unblemished record of 8–0 by beating Chinese Taipei B 80–104 on the last day of the tournament.[31]

Japan

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On February 28, 2018, Thornton signed with the Shimane Susanoo Magic of the Japanese B.League.[32]

The BIG 3

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Thornton had initially gone undrafted in the inaugural BIG 3 draft. Al was later acquired by Allen Iverson's 3's Company team.[33][circular reference] Al provided "3's Company" with scoring off the bench and went on to become the league's first 4th Man.[34]

Uruguay

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On August 7, 2020, Thornton signed with Club Atlético Aguada of the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball.[35]

NBA career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games 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

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2007–08 L.A. Clippers 79 31 27.3 .429 .331 .743 4.5 1.2 .6 .5 12.7
2008–09 L.A. Clippers 71 67 37.4 .446 .253 .754 5.2 1.5 .8 .9 16.8
2009–10 L.A. Clippers 51 30 27.5 .478 .357 .741 3.8 1.2 .5 .4 10.7
2009–10 Washington 24 16 28.1 .463 .353 .694 4.3 1.2 .8 .5 10.7
2010–11 Washington 49 23 21.8 .471 .160 .757 3.2 1.0 .6 .2 8.0
2010–11 Golden State 22 0 14.3 .490 .000 .829 2.6 .5 .3 .1 6.0
Career 296 167 28.0 .452 .293 .747 4.2 1.2 .6 .5 11.9

Personal

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Thornton is a cousin of fellow NBA player Marcus Thornton.[36] He is the son of Alford and Philomenia Thornton.[37]

References

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  1. ^ "Player Bio: Al Thornton :: Men's Basketball". Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
  2. ^ "Ruben Patterson". Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  3. ^ Reeling Hawks' comeback try falls short against Clippers
  4. ^ Al Thornton: Complete 2007-08 Regular Season Game Log
  5. ^ 76ers ride balanced attack to third straight win
  6. ^ Clippers stop Grizzlies to put end to 10-game drought
  7. ^ "Durant, Horford Headline T-Mobile All-Rookie Team". NBA.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
  8. ^ "Wizards Acquire Ilgauskas, Thornton and First-Round Pick In Three-Team Deal". NBA.com. February 17, 2010. Archived from the original on February 19, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  9. ^ Stein, Marc (March 1, 2011). "Al Thornton bought out by Wizards". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  10. ^ Warriors Sign Free Agent Forward Al Thornton NBA.com, March 3, 2011
  11. ^ "Thornton signs with Guayama Wizards". Rotoworld. February 19, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Al Thornton signs with Guangsha". Sportando.net. September 29, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  13. ^ Pastuszek, Jon (December 14, 2012). "Forbes for Thornton in Guangsha one of several mid-season import moves". NiuBBall.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  14. ^ Al Thornton signs with Road Warriors in the Philippines
  15. ^ Panaligan, Marisse (February 3, 2015). "NBA veteran Al Thornton suprised by physicality in PBA". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  16. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (February 7, 2015). "Alaska escapes past NLEX for first win in Commissioner's Cup". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  17. ^ "Marc Pingris bares how he held Al Thornton to a PBA career-low output". Spin.ph. February 12, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  18. ^ "Quick-fire NLEX deals Blackwater a beating as 'real' Al Thornton finally shows up". Spin.ph. February 17, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (March 11, 2015). "Al Thornton shows NBA pedigree by scoring 50 points in NLEX fightback against Ginebra". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  20. ^ "NLEX makes it five wins in a row to seal place in playoffs as KIA runs out of gas". Spin.ph. March 18, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  21. ^ Terrado, Reuben (April 4, 2015). "NLEX in search for a high scoring import and Asian reinforcement as it rides on momentum gained in Commissioner's Cup". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  22. ^ "NLEX set to bring NBA veteran Al Thornton back as import for Commissioner's Cup". Spin.ph. December 27, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  23. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (February 12, 2016). "Al Thornton catches fire in overtime, scores 50 points in NLEX win over Ginebra". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  24. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (April 5, 2016). "Thornton scores 69, but remembers dunk that failed to count: 'I should've laid it up'". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  25. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (April 18, 2016). "Grateful NLEX coach wants to see resurgent Al Thornton get another shot at NBA". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  26. ^ "5 ex-PBA imports to beef up mighty sports". Archived from the original on July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  27. ^ Thornton carries Mighty Sports to 2nd Straight win
  28. ^ "Al with 30 points vs India". Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  29. ^ "Thornton clutch performance vs Iran". Archived from the original on August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  30. ^ Thornton double-double performance vs Egypt
  31. ^ Mighty Sports completes sweep
  32. ^ "アル・ソーントン選手 契約締結のお知らせ". susanoo-m.com (in Japanese). February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  33. ^ 3's Company
  34. ^ "Rashard Lewis wins first-ever BIG3 MVP; Stephen Jackson named Best Trash Talker". August 23, 2017.
  35. ^ "Al Thornton inked with Atletico Aguada". Sportando. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  36. ^ "Hornets Take UCLA's Collison". WDSU.com. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  37. ^ "Player Profile: Al Thornton | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS". NBA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
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