Sioux Falls' Billy Thomas Earns NBA Call-Up from Washington Wizards26 February 2006
Boise, ID (February 24, 2006) - Sioux Falls guard Billy Thomas signed a 10-day contract today with the Washington Wizards, making him the 11th Continental Basketball Association and fourth Skyforce NBA call-up this season. It marks Thomas' second career call-up.
The signing was announced by Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations, Ernie Grunfeld. Thomas will be in uniform (#12) tonight when the Wizards play the Cavaliers in Cleveland at 7:30 pm. Thomas will be playing for Wizards head coach and former CBA player Eddie Jordan, as well as joining former CBA player Awvee Storey on the Wizards roster.
"Billy is a veteran player who is very familiar with our system," said Grunfeld.
The 6-foot-5, 218-pound Thomas was previously with the Wizards from Oct. 1-30, 2004, spanning training camp and the 2004-05 preseason, and again from Oct. 3-27, 2005. He also competed on the Washington summer league team in 2004.
The 1998 Kansas grad has appeared in 31 CBA games this season, 21 with the Dakota Wizards and 10 with Sioux Falls. He was traded from Dakota to Sioux Falls on Jan. 19. Thomas is 13th in the league in scoring at 15.9 ppg., while he is averaging 3.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game for the season. He is shooting 41.6 pct. from the field, 84.5 pct. from the free-throw line, and 37.3 pct. from 3-point range for the year, as well.
Thomas was named CBA All-League First Team and All-Star in 2005 after averaging 20.6 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 24 games for Dakota.
Thomas also played in 25 games with the New Jersey Nets last season. He was signed to a pair of 10-day contracts by New Jersey (Jan. 20 and Jan. 31, 2005) before signing with the Nets for the remainder of the 2004-05 season on Feb. 10. He scored an NBA career-high 14 points versus the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 9, 2005.
Rookie forward Stephen Graham is the other Skyforce player that has been called up to the NBA this season, earning three trips. His latest call-up was Feb. 6 with the team Thomas faces tonight, Cleveland.
CBA-to-NBA Call-Ups for 2005-06
Date Player CBA Team NBA Team
11/ 16 Darrick Martin Michigan Mayhem Toronto Raptors
12/05 Josh Davis Idaho Stampede Milwaukee Bucks
12/10 Stephen Graham! Sioux Falls Skyforce Houston Rockets
12/29 Josh Davis Idaho Stampede Houston Rockets
01/05 Randy Holcomb Gary Steelheads Chicago Bulls
01/09 Josh Davis* Idaho Stampede Phoenix Suns
01/17 Stephen Graham! Sioux Falls Skyforce Chicago Bulls
01/18 Ronny Turiaf! Yakama Sun Kings Los Angeles Lakers
01/27 James Thomas Albany Patroons Chicago Bulls
02/06 Stephen Graham!* Sioux Falls Skyforce Cleveland Cavaliers
02/24 Billy Thomas Sioux Falls Skyforce Washington Wizards
* - Ties CBA single-season record for call-ups by a player.
! - Rookie
Source: oursportscentral
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