Al Thornton
Encyclopedia
Al Thornton is an American
professional basketball
player who last played for the Golden State Warriors
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). He had formerly played for the Los Angeles Clippers
and the Washington Wizards
. Collegiately, he played for Florida State University
.
'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.
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. 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.
After the new year, Thornton is averaging 15.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 1.6 apg; he is doubling his scoring and quadrupling his assists from November and December when he averaged 7.15 ppg, 3.2 rpg, and 0.4 apg. Thornton's playing time has increased to 31.7 mins for the month of February, and with the month almost up, he is averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assist, and .8 steals a game.
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. Thornton also recorded his first double-double on February 9, in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers
, in which he had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
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.
On May 13, 2008, Al Thornton was named to the 2008 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
On October 31, 2008, Thornton had a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds, a season high.
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.
On March 1st, 2011, he reached a buyout agreement with the Wizards and was waived. He signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors
on March 3rd, 2011.
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | LAC
| 79 || 31 || 27.3 || .429 || .331 || .743 || 4.5 || 1.2 || .6 || .5 || 12.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | LAC
| 71 || 67 || 37.4 || .446 || .253 || .754 || 5.2 || 1.5 || .8 || .9 || 16.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | LAC
| 51 || 30 || 27.5 || .478 || .357 || .741 || 3.8 || 1.2 || .5 || .4 || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | WAS
| 24 || 16 || 28.1 || .463 || .353 || .694 || 4.3 || 1.2 || .8 || .5 || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | WAS
| 49 || 23 || 21.8 || .471 || .160 || .757 || 3.2 || 1.0 || .6 || .2 || 8.0
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | GSW
| 22 || 0 || 14.3 || .490 || .000 || .829 || 2.6 || .5 || .3 || .1 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 296 || 167 || 28.0 || .452 || .293 || .747 || 4.2 || 1.2 || .6 || .5 || 11.9
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who last played for the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). He had formerly played for the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
. Collegiately, he played for Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
College
Al 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 Third-Team All-American, a unanimous selection to the First-Team All-ACC team, and was runner up to Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
's Jared Dudley
Jared Dudley
Jared Dudley is an American professional basketball player. He is a forward for the NBA's Phoenix Suns. During his college years he played with the Boston College Eagles. Along with fellow senior Sean Marshall, he was one of the team's two captains, and was the leading scorer and rebounder on the...
for the ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
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.
Los Angeles Clippers
On June 28, 2007, Thornton was taken 14th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
by the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. 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
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
.
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
Ruben Patterson
Ruben Nathaniel Patterson is a former American professional basketball player. During his career, he played as a small forward and shooting guard. During his college career at the University of Cincinnati, Patterson earned third-team All-American honors and helped lead the Bearcats to Conference...
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. With a slew of injuries to the Clippers' big men, including Paul Davis
Paul Davis (basketball)
Paul Davis is an American professional basketball player. Davis started his career at Reuther Middle School where his number has been retired. Davis played for Rochester High School, earning Mr. Basketball of Michigan honors in 2002. As a center for the Michigan State Spartans, he finished the...
with a torn ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
, Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas (basketball)
Timothy Mark "Tim" Thomas is an American professional basketball player, in the small forward position.-High school / College:...
with recurring back and ankle injuries, and Elton Brand
Elton Brand
Elton Tyron Brand is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association...
sidelined with a ruptured achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
, Thornton took advantage of his minutes playing power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
and small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
when teammate Corey Maggette
Corey Maggette
Corey Antoine Maggette is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association, for the Charlotte Bobcats. He excelled at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was an All-American in basketball and also an Illinois high school state track finalist in long...
was on the bench.
After the new year, Thornton is averaging 15.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 1.6 apg; he is doubling his scoring and quadrupling his assists from November and December when he averaged 7.15 ppg, 3.2 rpg, and 0.4 apg. Thornton's playing time has increased to 31.7 mins for the month of February, and with the month almost up, he is averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assist, and .8 steals a game.
On January 30, 2008, Thornton scored a then season-high 33 points against the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, including a significant block in the final seconds in a 95–88 Clipper win. Thornton also recorded his first double-double on February 9, in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, in which he had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
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
Grizzlies
Grizzlies may refer to:*Grizzly bear, a powerful bear that lives in the uplands of western North America*Memphis Grizzlies , a basketball team of the National Basketball Association...
. Thornton scored 20 of his 39 in the fourth quarter to seal the win and snap the Clippers' 10-game losing streak.
On May 13, 2008, Al Thornton was named to the 2008 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
On October 31, 2008, Thornton had a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds, a season high.
Washington Wizards
On February 17, 2010, Thornton was traded from the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
to the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
as part of a three-team, six-player trade that sent Antawn Jamison
Antawn Jamison
Antawn Cortez Jamison is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He currently plays power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers and was a member of the USA National Team for the 2006 FIBA World Championships...
from Washington to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
Žydrunas Ilgauskas
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
, a 2010 first round pick
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
and the rights to Emir Preldžič
Emir Preldžic
Emir Preldžić is a Turkish professional basketball player of Bosnian origin who played for Slovenian national basketball team at the 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament. He is 6 ft 9 in tall and he can play at both the small forward and power forward positions, and he can also play as a...
from Cleveland to Washington, Drew Gooden
Drew Gooden
Andrew Melvin "Drew" Gooden is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Gooden is a 6'10", 250 lbs...
from Washington to Los Angeles, and Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Telfair was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers out of Abraham Lincoln High School...
from Los Angeles to Cleveland.
On March 1st, 2011, he reached a buyout agreement with the Wizards and was waived. He signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on March 3rd, 2011.
College
| Year | Team | Games Played | Minutes/Game | Points/Game | Rebounds/Game | Assists/Game | Blocks/Game | Steals/Game | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | Turnovers/Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId= | Florida State University Florida State Seminoles The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a... |
35 | 31.2 | 19.7 | 7.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 53% | 44.4% | 79% | 2.5 |
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | LAC
| 79 || 31 || 27.3 || .429 || .331 || .743 || 4.5 || 1.2 || .6 || .5 || 12.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | LAC
| 71 || 67 || 37.4 || .446 || .253 || .754 || 5.2 || 1.5 || .8 || .9 || 16.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | LAC
| 51 || 30 || 27.5 || .478 || .357 || .741 || 3.8 || 1.2 || .5 || .4 || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | WAS
| 24 || 16 || 28.1 || .463 || .353 || .694 || 4.3 || 1.2 || .8 || .5 || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | WAS
| 49 || 23 || 21.8 || .471 || .160 || .757 || 3.2 || 1.0 || .6 || .2 || 8.0
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | GSW
| 22 || 0 || 14.3 || .490 || .000 || .829 || 2.6 || .5 || .3 || .1 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 296 || 167 || 28.0 || .452 || .293 || .747 || 4.2 || 1.2 || .6 || .5 || 11.9
External links
- FSU Player Profile
- Draft Express Profile
- ESPN Player Profile
- NBADraft.net Profile
- http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=nBa&id=557