Thomas NBDL's Top Sportsman
March 19, 2003 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 19, 2003) â Billy Thomas of the Greenville Groove has been selected by the eight coaches in the National Basketball Development League as the recipient of the 2002-03 NBDL Sportsmanship Award.
"Billy Thomas is truly one of the greatest sportsmen I have ever been around," Greenville head coach Tree Rollins said. "He has sacrificed his ego and statistics this year in order to allow his teammates to shine.
"While a lot of players get caught up in focusing on their individual accomplishments, Billy is always looking out for his teammates. He is the true definition of a team player," Rollins said. "He sets himself apart both on and off the court, always trying to do what is right for the team. He is very deserving of this honor."
Thomas, a first-team All-NBDL selection in 2001-02, is the captain of the Greenville team. He leads the Groove and is ninth in the NBDL in scoring with 15.4 points per game. Thomas is also among the league leaders in steals (1.4 pg) and minutes played (31.6 pg). He has started all 47 games for the Groove up to this point in the season.
"Billy Thomas is a true professional in every sense of the word. Our coaches couldn't have made a better choice," NBDL executive director Karl Hicks said. "He works hard on the court, while always respecting both his teammates and opposing players. Billy also represents the NBDL and the Greenville Groove in a very positive manner off the court."
Thomas has been very active in the Greenville community, never turning down an offer to participate in the league's primary community initiative, Read to Achieve. He has also been active in various local charity fund-raising efforts this season.
A former Kansas Jayhawk, Thomas finished his career the most prolific three-point shooter in Kansas history. One of the top Allen Fieldhouse memories from his senior season came Dec. 13, 1997 when he broke the career three-point field goals record, then pointed to his mother, Eddie Mae, in the stands.
Thomas ranked third in the Big 12 Conference in three-point field goals per game (3.0) as a senior. He also led the Jayhawks and ranked 10th in the Big 12 in steals (1.7 per game), and finished his senior year ranked third on the team and 16th in league in scoring (13.6 ppg.).
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