At home are Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince and Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Wilson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan. It is a valuable experience that networks will not have without the restart of the NBA beginning in Orlando, Florida after a shutdown due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
This is where Lance Thomas intervenes.
The former Knick has been in the league for nearly a decade and, like newcomers and gray-bearded Jamal Crawford, can provide wisdom to his younger teammates.
“Great veteran presence,” said Thomas’s Jarrett Allen after Saturday’s rehearsals, via Zoom. “Entering all our older kids – I hope they get better – they all came with the coronavirus and we’re stuck in a younger team. But now having these older kids here able to guide us and show us the ropes, I think this will you help enormously “.
32-year-old Thomas is thrilled to have the opportunity. The forward-looking forward spent the training camp with Nets, but was released on October 18. Nobody picked it up after four seasons with the Knicks. He mostly stayed at home in his New York City apartment because of the virus until June, but he remained in shape and had recently trained in the NBAPA gym.
Once the Nets players started giving up, the need emerged. He was signed on Tuesday as Michael Beasley’s replacement and trained for the first time on Saturday.
“It was nice to get out of quarantine,” he said. “Sitting in the room for about 6-7 days, I couldn’t wait to get back on the pitch. I re-acclimated with the boys and I was thrilled with the opportunity. “
Although Thomas hasn’t played in a while, he has an edge after spending a training camp with nets. However, there are some changes that need to be made and must return to playing basketball. However, he doesn’t think it will take too long, considering that basketball is his life, saying that there is a lot of muscle memory.
Personally, I will only be tenacious, “said Thomas.” Do open shots, do whatever the team needs me, probably protect the best player from the other team, do things that brought me to the league, things I like to do . … I play the hand that is dealt to me. I think I am a player who has been in the league and that you learn to adapt quickly to any situation. Once again, I am ready for whatever happens to me. “
Interim coach Jacque Vaughn said on his first day, Thomas did mostly individual work. But he expects it to be a significant part of the team.
“He will adapt to the group, he will be able to play multiple positions, which we need,” said Vaughn.
During rehearsals, Vaughn showed his players a video commemorating the life of MP and icon of the civil rights movement John Lewis, who died on Friday at the age of 80 from pancreatic cancer. Vaughn told them he was one of five people on his wish list for dinner.
“Speaking for the organization, I am extremely pleased to be able to enlighten and educate our kids about a human being who has devoted a large part of his life to others and to the social well-being of all human beings,” he said. “An ideal time for us to lean into gratitude and lean into joy in our lives and commemorate a boy who has defended a lot for many human beings.”
The Nets signed guard / striker Justin Anderson on Saturday to replace the player for the rest of the season, filling the last available spot.
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