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Michael Jordan, especially early on his tenure as owner, was hands-on. He would make himself accessible to players. Occasionally, he even reminded them of why he’s, arguably, the greatest player of all time. Gerald Henderson: We were getting our ass kicked for about a week. I show up to the training room the next morning. I was a rookie so I had to get my stuff out of the way first and he’s already in there stretching and he’s got practice gear on. I said “What are you about to do, man?” He said “I’m gonna come up there and kick y’all ass.” He’s in there talking s–t for however long. He comes up there and he gets into our scrimmages. He jumped on our second team. Our first team had like Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton, and — who else started that year? — Boris Diaw. On our second team it was me, Derrick Brown, DJ Augustin, maybe Tyrus Thomasand somebody else. He looked like prime Michael Jordan, without the quickness and the jumping ability. But it was just all MJ work. Talking smack the whole time.
BREC in Baton Rouge has announced plans for a one-of-a-kind basketball camp for young people. The camp is expected to be staffed by current and former NBA players, former LSU greats, and high school and college coaches. The list of staffers includes Dale Brown, Garret Temple, Ricky Blanton, Ronnie Henderson, Jermaine Williams, Ronald Dupree, Tazim Mitchell, coach John Brady, Darnell Lazare, Collis Temple Jr., Collis Temple III, Tyrus Thomas, Howard Carter, and more.
Bulls on LaMarcus Aldridge's radar?
The Athletic reported that Aldridge has been medically cleared to return to the NBA after a heart scare forced him to retire from the Nets in mid-April. He has been linked to the Bulls in the past, telling associates he has always wondered what it would be like to play for the franchise that traded his draft rights to the Trail Blazers in exchange for those of Tyrus Thomas in 2006. But The Athletic reported that the Nets also are the leaders to sign Aldridge.
When the Bulls signed Garrett Temple, the free-agent acquisition didn't move the needle much for some. The well-traveled veteran arrived with modest expectations. Now that Temple has exceeded those, showcasing his reputation as a glue guy at both ends and veteran leader, some surprise has followed. Tyrus Thomas isn’t surprised. “Garrett is one of those special dudes, man,” Thomas said in a phone conversation. “He’s just that guy that everybody loves and that guy who makes everybody around him better.”
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Thomas, the Bulls’ first-round acquisition in 2006, has known Temple since they were three years old. Along with Glen Davis, the three natives of Baton Rouge, La. grew up playing bitty basketball together -- “We won three titles in a row from (ages) nine to 11,” Thomas said -- and teamed up to lead LSU’s surprising run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four. “We’ve been playing together our whole lives,” Thomas said.
Tyrus Thomas: “Unlike a lot of the guys in the NBA, including myself, he actually has family and the foundation where he’s not the savior for the family. He understands a lot more than we did. He always was more advanced just in the sense of rationale and logic as opposed to guys like me and Glen who grew up in survive mode and we’d sometimes be irrational. So I was just so happy for him because I knew he’d be able to handle it and enjoy it the right way, as opposed to some guys who have to try to figure out ways to change the trajectory of their family. His family did well for him and by him. He’s always been a well-rounded guy.”
TMZ Sports has learned ex-NBA star Glen "Big Baby" Davis has signed on to play in the Global Mixed Gender Basketball league ... along with 2 other former NBA players. We're told Davis -- along with Stromile Swift and Tyrus Thomas -- are all on board and will play in the GMGB's first exhibition game on Sept. 23 in Las Vegas.
He is currently a co-owner of the Everything Philly sandwich shop near Louisiana State University. He says his body feels very good and he still plays basketball regularly. But with Baton Rouge in need of help, it appears his pro hoop days are now over and he is focused on helping the needy back home. “If something changes, it changes. But right now I don’t have any expectations,” Thomas said. “Realistically, I can’t say I am ready to hoop and I am going to have teams knocking at my door. I ain’t no fool. I am living life. I got a lot of purpose helping people. Apparently, I am doing what a lot of people work their lives to do, and that’s find their purpose.”
Thomas is hoping his phone rings again, as he is gladly willing to talk about Baton Rouge being submerged in water by a recent tragic flood. But the ex-Louisiana State University basketball star says the phone calls he is getting now are more of the plea-for-help nature than how can we help get the word out. “Ain’t nobody talking about it. You got 110,000 people homeless, but ain’t nobody talking about it because it ain’t no god damn controversy,” Thomas told The Undefeated. “This isn’t a black and white thing. ‘Why help them? We don’t want no attention on that. That ain’t enough controversy. They are bringing themselves together. We’re not going to help you come together.’
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Alex Kennedy: Tyrus Thomas has signed with German basketball club Eisbaeren Bremer, according to his agency.
Marc J. Spears: Former NBA player Tyrus Thomas, who played for the Grizzlies last season, has signed with Germany Eisbaeren Bremerhaven.
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