Former NBA superstar Tim Thomas made headlines by revealing a college basketball offer. With a 14-year NBA career and accolades like the Big East Conference Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Year in 1997, Thomas now coaches the boys’ basketball team at Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey.
His transition from NBA player to high school coach underscores his continued passion for the game and dedication to mentoring the next generation of basketball talent.
Tim Thomas reveals his insane high school offer
Tim Thomas recently revealed to Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson that an unnamed university on the East Coast offered him a big paycheck of $3 million, along with a $2 million home, and four different vehicles for him to come to play for them in college.
Thomas said, “A University offered me $3 million, a $2 million home, four different vehicles, and they knew I was only going to be there for six months. And I said, ‘No way.’ It was on the East Coast. I’ll give you this hint. I told you that I’m Soprana of New Jersey, so I’ll just leave it at that.”
Exploring Tim Thomas’ college career
Tim Thomas was the second highest ranked recruit from the 1996 High School class, ranking only behind the NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who almost joined him at Villanova after the two played in the 1996 High School McDonald’s All-American game and the All-Star Magic Johnson Roundball classic game, in which they dominated together.
While Kobe went straight to the NBA, Thomas decided to play college basketball with the Villanova Wildcats. Thomas played for Wildcats in the 1996-97 Men’s Big East Conference Season where he averaged 16.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 32 games.
After his freshman year at Villanova, Thomas was drafted seventh overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 1997 NBA draft and was immediately traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the 76ers’ draft pick Keith Van Horn. Thomas averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, in the 824 games he played in the NBA.
Tim Thomas is considered one of biggest what-ifs of NBA as many analysts feel like his talent was not utilized properly in the NBA. During his time with the Bucks, then-teammate Ray Allen said, “If he wanted to, Tim Thomas could be the best player in the league.”
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