Brodric Thomas

BIOGRAPHY

Brodric Thomas, a professional basketball player, was born on January 28, 1997. His journey saw him evolve from a lesser-known high school player to an NBA professional, spending his final season with the Ontario Clippers of the NBA G League. This biography maps his vigorous pursuit of his basketball dream, highlighting the challenges and records made along the way.

The Illinois-native attended Bolingbrook High School where he found genuine interest in basketball. Playing alongside teammates who later became NCAA Division I players, Thomas seemed to be on the peripherals of the basketball hoops. College recruiters kept their searchlights on the star players, and Thomas got left in the shadow. Despite this, he remained committed to his passion, securing an opportunity to play in NCAA Division II for Truman State Bulldogs.

However, his journey wasn’t smooth-sailing. An injury ahead of his freshman year forced him to redshirt, and during this period, his academic performance took a hit. Seeking a fresh start, he transferred to Southwestern Community College. Here, his basketball career began to blossom. A late growth spurt added to his pronounced talent- he grew four inches and gained fifty additional pounds- this helped catapult his game. He led his team to a NJCAA Men’s Division II Basketball Championship and earned the title of MVP. Moreover, he was among the First Team All-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference and Second-Team All-American, drawing attention from NCAA Division I recruiters.

Despite the newfound interest, Thomas opted to remain loyal to Truman State Bulldogs, returning to them. A vindication of his choice came when he set a school record of 666 points and was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year in his senior year.

In the 2020 NBA draft, Thomas surprisingly went undrafted. However, the Houston Rockets acknowledged his potential and secured his services shortly after. His initial contract was upgraded to a two-way contract following advancements in the training camp. His NBA debut came on December 26, 2020, at Moda Center in Portland. Unfortunately, the Rockets waived him less than two months later, he had only garnered ten points in 24 minutes over four games with the Rockets.

Thomas pressed on, signing with Rio Grande Valley Vipers in February 2021, hardly two days after the Rockets’ decision. Barely a month later, he sealed a two-way contract with Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he was re-signed on September 15. However, his stint ended swiftly; he was waived on October 12. He didn’t stay out of action for long, signing a two-way deal with Boston Celtics on October 18. Here, he made a significant contribution, the Celtics reaching the 2022 NBA Finals but sadly lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

Thomas continued his professional journey, playing short stints with the likes of the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, before joining the Ontario Clippers in October 2023. Despite the tumultuous professional journey, Thomas remained resolute. With each change of contract or city, he carried the lessons learned, skills honed, and an unfettered desire to make a mark. In between these transitions, he found time to pursue academics, majoring in psychology. His oscillating career path stands testament to the unpredictable world of professional sports, but it hasn’t shadowed his growth as a talented basketball player.