Wizards' Thomas called up to New Jersey
Published on January 21, 2005 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Dakota Wizards News Release
Boise, ID (January 21, 2005) â Dakota Wizards guard Billy Thomas has signed with the NBA's New Jersey Nets, it was announced today by the Continental Basketball Association League Office and Nets President Rod Thorn. The signing marks the seventh CBA-to-NBA call-up of the 2004-05 season.
"I am extremely pleased and proud of Billy," stated Wizards Head Coach Casey Owens. "It has been a long time coming, and I think this shows what the CBA is capable of doing for players. He came to the CBA and got a chance to showcase his game, and it resulted in his ultimate goal of getting to the NBA. Hopefully Billy will stick up there for the rest of the season, and we could not be more pleased for him."
Thomas ranked 4th in the league in scoring at 20.8 points per game, 4th in three-point field goal percentage (.446, 70 of 157), and 5th in steals (2.0 per game). He also led the Wizards in minutes played (1002), shot 51.3 percent from the floor (183 of 357), and added 4.5 assists per contest in 24 games played (23 started).
The University of Kansas alum ('98) was named to the CBA's Western Conference All-Star Team on January 11, as voted on by league head coaches and beat writers. He also earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors for the week of December 12 â 18, after posting 27 points and six rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-5, 218-pound guard previously played for the Nets in summer league competitions in 2002 and 2003. This season he was the last cut from the Washington Wizards 2004 Training Camp.
Thomas is filling a roster spot left vacant when the Nets decided not to re-sign forward Kaniel Dickens to a second 10-day contract. Dickens was the third CBA-to-NBA call-up of the season when the Nets called him up from the Idaho Stampede on December 8.
2004-05 CBA-to-NBA Call-Ups
(Season total = 7)
Date Player CBA Team NBA Team
11/24/04 Britton Johnsen Idaho Stampede Indiana Pacers
12/4/04 Corsley Edwards Sioux Falls Skyforce New Orleans Hornets
12/8/04 Kaniel Dickens Idaho Stampede New Jersey Nets
12/12/04 Lonny Baxter Yakima Sun Kings New Orleans Hornets
1/4/05 Darrick Martin Michigan Mayhem Los Angeles Clippers
1/10/05 John Thomas Sioux Falls Skyforce Minnesota Timberwolves
1/21/05 Billy Thomas Dakota Wizards New Jersey Nets
FORMER CBA PLAYERS ON 2004-05 NBA ROSTERS
Total roster spots held by former CBA players on 2004-05 NBA regular season rosters: 51
Total number of former CBA players on 2004-05 NBA rosters during the regular season: 47
Total roster spots held by former CBA players on 2004-05 NBA opening night rosters: 38
Total number of former CBA players on 2004-05 NBA training camp rosters: 65
Atlanta (0): (Anthony "Pig" Miller)
Boston (1): Mark Blount
Chicago (1): Adrian Griffin
Cleveland (2): Jeff McInnis, Ira Newble
Dallas (1): Darrel Armstrong
Denver (3): Earl Boykins, Greg Buckner, Voshon Lenard, (Mark Pope)
Detroit (1): Anthony Goldwire, (William "Smush" Parker)
Golden State (0): (Ansu Sesay)
Houston (1): David Wesley
Indiana (3): Michael Curry, Eddie Gill, Stephen Jackson, (Tremaine Fowlkes),
(Britton Johnsen)
L.A. Clippers (3): Rick Brunson, Mikki Moore, Darrick Martin
L.A. Lakers (1): Chucky Atkins
Miami (1): Damon Jones
Milwaukee (2): Zendon Hamilton, Mike James, (Anthony Goldwire)
Minnesota (3): Anthony Carter, Troy Hudson, John Thomas
New Jersey (2): Rodney Buford, Billy Thomas, (Kaniel Dickens), (Aaron Williams)
New Orleans (4): Junior Harrington, Lee Nailon, Corsley Edwards, (Lonny Baxter),
(Darrell Armstrong), (David Wesley)
New York (2): Moochie Norris, Bruno Sundov
Philadelphia (2): Josh Davis, Kevin Ollie
Phoenix (1): William "Smush" Parker, (Paul Shirley)
San Antonio (2): Bruce Bowen, Linton Johnson
Toronto (2): Rafer Alston, Aaron Williams
Utah (2): Raja Bell, Keith McLeod
( ) Indicates player was waived or traded during the regular season
Indicates 2003-04 CBA player, or 2004-05 CBA-to-NBA call-up
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 21, 2005
- Steelheads Head Coach Duane Ticknor Resigns - Gary Steelheads
- Gary Steelheads Head Coach Resigns from Team - CBA 1
- Itinerant Stampede Swing Through Dakotas for Two - Idaho Stampede
- Storm trio victorious in All-Star Game - Great Lakes Storm
- Wizards' Thomas called up to New Jersey - Dakota Wizards
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