It should read, Tim Thomas knows a little what Stephon Marbury is going through. Thanks. Thomas was in exile during most of the 2005-06 season – a situation that ultimately led to his union with the Suns and Mike D’Antoni.
After the Knicks traded Thomas to the Bulls in the Eddy Curry deal on the first day of training camp, Thomas reported to Chicago, only to feud with coach Scott Skiles, who sent him home after the third game of the season.
MORE: Fine, Suspension Precursor To Final Mar-burial
MORE: Complete Knicks Coverage
Thomas, who still had his place in Manhattan, spent five months waiting for the Bulls to make a move so he could get on with his career. He spent the time working out at Basketball City at Chelsea Piers, went back to his alma mater, Villanova, to practice with the Wildcats, and watched a ton of Knicks games on TV.
“I was just waiting to be waived,” Thomas said. “I was more upset Chicago didn’t buy me out right away and instead resorted to negativity toward me – bad dude, whatever. I never even knew Skiles. Never even talked to him one-on-one.”
Once the Bulls released Thomas in early March, his agent, Arn Tellem, called D’Antoni, who was not interested because he had no roster spot. That is, until a week later when Kurt Thomas was lost for the season after breaking his foot.
“We needed another body that could play and he was by far the most talented player available,” D’Antoni said.
Thomas hit the biggest shot of the Suns’ run to the Western finals. Facing elimination in Game 6 vs. the Lakers, Thomas stroked a 3-pointer from the right corner with 6.3 seconds left to force overtime. The Suns later won and captured Game 7.
“He showed up, wasn’t in great shape, but wasn’t bad,” D’Antoni said. “But he really played well beyond expectations, a guy who hit big shots. His perimeter talent fit into our system. . . . We were able to run and open it up even more.”
Thomas averaged 15.1 points and 6.5 rebounds during the playoffs and was a key to their run. However, he left the Suns as a free agent that summer when the Clippers offered him a four-year, $40 million deal.
“They blew us out of the water,” D’Antoni said. “More years. More money.”
He comes here with none of the expectations of driving a team to the Finals, but Thomas is a key reason D’Antoni thinks the Knicks are going to be well off following their two trades once he gets in better shape.