Part-Time Player, Big-Time Shot
For NBA players, most offseasons last roughly six months. For Tim Thomas, his was more like an 11-month sabbatical with a three-game interruption.
The 6-10 forward had gone from “untouchable” with the Milwaukee Bucks to traded twice in a 16-month span. The second deal had landed him in Chicago just before the start of the 2005-06 season. Problem was, the Bulls were set on a young core that included Luol Deng, Tyson Chandler, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni.
Thomas’ demotion from full-time starter to bench player lasted just three games, in which he played just 31 total minutes.