Raise: What will Kyrie Thomas bring to Maccabi Tel Aviv? | Israel Today

After long weeks of searching, Maccabi Tel Aviv found the reinforcement they were looking for for the back line and signed guard Kyrie Thomas.

Is this the man who can change the Yellows' season and bring about the desired upgrade in the squad?

Hard to know.

Thomas has so far played only a game and a half in Europe, another 39 in the NBA and spent almost his entire professional career in the G-League, so not sure if this is the player who can turn the situation around.

What, after all, does the new procurement bring?

Excellent defense, high energies and off-archery, but he really is not a coordinator (0 assists in his only two games in Europe).

"Thomas is a long-range shooting guard who plays with high intensity and can keep both positions in the back line," says a senior European scout.

"He may not be a brilliant attacking player in general, but a good scorer who can score points."

"I think he can definitely fit in with the high level of the Euroleague," the scout adds.

"Especially on days when the market is so limited because of what's happening in the NBA he has a physical profile, understanding of the game and influence on both sides of the pitch. These advantages can allow him to compete at the highest levels of Europe."

Thomas in action.

Will become defense minister at the hall ?, Photo: Getty Images

Thomas won the Defensive Player of the Year title in 2017 and 2018 at the Big East Conference considered when he played at Creighton College, a title previously won by esteemed defensive players like Dikamba Mutambo and Patrick Ewing.

In 2018 he was selected 38th in the draft by Philadelphia and was traded to Detroit Media Partner in just 34 games for two years (scoring 2.2 points on average) and spent most of the period in the development team.

Last season he started in the San Antonio development team until May received a ten-man contract in the Houston uniform that suffered from the blow of injuries and surprised everyone - in four games he scored 65 points, handed out 20 assists, took 15 rebounds, grabbed 9 times and blocked three balls.

Aside from James Harden who came to Houston as a star, Thomas is the Rockets' first player to put up such numbers since 1984. The great ability led the team leaders to sign him to a long-term (but not guaranteed) contract, but he was released before the start of the current season.

"Thomas was very impressive in his five games in Houston," explains journalist Ben Pickman of Sports Illustrated.

"But the call he received was mainly because of the severe injury blow to the team. Despite the contract he received, the Rockets gave him up to complete a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for a second-round pick they desperately wanted. First - Jaylen Green (2) and Josh Christopher (24) ".

Yannis.

Will patience pay off ?, Photo: Alan Schieber

"He was selected in the draft at a relatively advanced age where the players are expected to have immediate output," the European scout analyzes the guard's situation in the best league in the world.

"He did not take advantage of the first chances he was given and that made it difficult to stay. He does not have a good enough size for the NBA.

 In November, Thomas signed for Bilbao in place of the injured ex-Maccabi Tel Aviv Andrew Gadulok. "Kyrie will help us physically," explained Rafa Foio, the team's sporting director. Get a player songs the energies in the locker room, especially given the current state of the team.

A few days after arriving at Bilbao, the guard already excelled with 23 points in 27 minutes against Basconia, but already in his second game he injured his muscle and has not played since.

He has recently returned to training, and it will soon be seen whether he is fit for the high levels of Europe, and whether he is the man to help the Yellows get out of the Great Depression.

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