Thomas poised to be difference-maker for Bolts
Terry Thomas, an NBLC veteran, has shined in the early going for the Lightning in 2022, and his versatile game portends big things for the Bolts in their search for a fifth title.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
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Terry Thomas hit the season’s first buzzer-beater when he touched down in the Forest City on the eve of the London Lightning’s season opener.
Signing on Feb. 18, the 6-foot-4-inch guard contributed a huge 33 minutes off the bench three nights later in a 110-108 win against the KW Titans in Kitchener, netting 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Not bad for a guy who got one practice in with his new teammates.
“I’m getting kind of used to it now, traveling and flying, showing up at the last minute,” Thomas laughed. “You gotta stay ready because you never know when you’re gonna be called on. Once I hit the court, I just get locked in no matter what. I just try my hardest and play my heart out. It was good to be back out there – but it was definitely a quick turnaround.”
While his arrival may have been at the last minute, his club is counting on a lasting impact from a player long known for his deep Canadian roots, diverse skillset, and, most importantly, his ability to win wherever he goes.
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Hailing from Nova Scotia, Thomas came up through two UPSPORTS powerhouse programs, St. Francis Xavier and the University of Ottawa.
As a sophomore, he led the X-Men to a bronze medal in the 2012 CIS Men’s Final Eight. But a stormy junior year saw Thomas leave Halifax for Ottawa. A welcomed addition to the Gee-Gees program, Thomas set the school’s single-game scoring record against York with 44 points on Feb. 8, 2014. He set the record by topping Lightning alumnus Warren Ward’s 43 in a Gee-Gees uniform. (Thomas also has the No. 3 Ottawa single-game scoring mark with a 42-point effort against Queen’s on Jan. 25, 2014.)
Debuting in the NBL’s 2015-16 season, Thomas has made stops with the PEI Island Storm, Moncton Magic, and Halifax Hurricanes. His first stint with the Lightning only lasted two games before an Achilles injury sidelined him for the remainder of the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season.
Since rehabbing from injury, Thomas, 30, played in Finland, Venezuela, and Chile, during the pandemic, before returning home to Canada.
“I’m loving getting to travel and getting to play basketball. It is a lot of flights, a lot of miles, but I have a love of the game and it’s bringing me everywhere,” he said.
There has been a commonality to every stop for Thomas – winning. His ever-growing trophy case includes an NBL Canada Canadian Player of the Year Award, a Venezuelan League Finals MVP and Champion, First Team All-NBL Canada, First Team All-NBL Canada Defense, and Williams Jones Cup Gold Medalist.
“Terry is a winner, period,” Lighting head coach Doug Plumb stressed. “He has meticulously grinded through the pandemic to get his body back after an Achilles injury the last time we were together. I’m proud of the work he has done, and we know exactly what we are getting. He’s a proven scorer, a tough-nosed competitor, and a great ambassador for our organization and league.”
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Calling a guy a ‘role player’ sometimes diminishes the talent involved. For Thomas, though, every player on a successful team should have a bit of role player in them.
“You gotta know your game and then you gotta apply your game to where it fits for that team,” he explained. “You still need to do what you normally do because that’s what the team usually hired you to do. But it’s different because the game is different, the players are different everywhere. So, you gotta understand what you and your teammates are good at.”
Thomas’s broad-based game – scoring, rebounding, passing, defense – allows him to fit in on any team. With the Lightning, it makes him a powerful tool for Plumb to deploy where needed – especially early in the season as the team finds its identity and individual players settle into their own roles.
“Being more diverse as a player makes the game a lot easier for everyone,” Thomas said.
Thomas has arguably been the team’s most consistent performer in the season’s early going.
He had back-to-back double-doubles off the bench – a 19-point, 12-rebound effort in a 115-92 win on the road Feb. 26 against the Windsor Express followed by a 21-point, 11-rebound performance in a wild 104-90 win in London’s home opener against the KW Titans on Saturday night. For extra measure, he tossed in 19 points against the Lansing Pharaohs in Sunday’s matinee.
“I just make sure my teammates can play to their best ability, and once you win and everyone is playing well then everyone is happy,” he explained. “Winning tends to do that – winning is always good.”
(Photo: Bruce Laing).
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A return to the NBL Canada and London was a “no-brainer” for Thomas, who saw an opportunity to play for a coach who would push him, a franchise that gave him an opportunity to win, and a league that places him on a huge stage to showcase his game.
“We feel like none of the teams in this league can keep up with us. There are a lot of good players in this league, but our team and our guys are very talented. We just need to strive to get up there and be consistent.”
As the NBL Canada celebrates its 10th anniversary season, Thomas knows as well as anyone what it has meant (and will continue to mean) to Canadian players.
“This league has been giving guys opportunities to play at a professional level in Canada for 10 years. A lot of people don’t understand how huge that is. It is a stepping-stone to try and further their careers,” he explained. “The NBLC game is played at a very high level with a lot of good Americans coming up here, a lot of D1 guys, a lot of really good athletes from all over. The league tests your game. If you can keep up with those kind of players, you have a chance to keep your career going.”
Only four games into the season – each one a win – Thomas has a special feeling about this club.
“It’s a dog-eat-dog league. It’s fast paced. You really gotta come correct,” he said. “I just love playing at home in Canada. I love the energy, especially in London. I know a lot of guys on different teams, so it's like we’re all good friends and whatnot, but when it comes to the court, we’re really trying to get at each other. The competition is always good.”
That kind of tight-knit fraternity of players breeds a familiarity that leads to some on-the-court fun, as well. “There’s a lot of talent out there, and there’s a lot of talking.”
Oh yes, there’s a lot of talking out there. The Bolts are a lively, jawy bunch on the court. Guard Chris Jones talks so much it sounds like he is hosting a podcast while playing. Thomas isn’t far behind.
“I definitely love talking. A lot of people don’t talk to me because they know it gets me going. That's when I really play really well and get at it. I like when people talk to me. It’s not like it goes off the rails or is disrespectful, but it’s positive competition. You know, telling people they can’t do something and they have got to show you, it’s just like telling them to put their money where their mouth is. That’s what makes it so much fun. Then, at the end of the day, you shake hands. May the best man win.”
And that talk isn’t, well, just all talk. It’s part of a winning formula, if done correctly.
“You gotta move as five guys. You gotta move as one unit, as a body. I feel like communication is a big part of that,” Thomas said. “We have a bunch of leaders on this team. Our coach puts us in a good position to win. He scouts the hell out of players. So, we know what we’re walking into. He gives us so much ammo that we just have to follow through. Coach says, ‘You gotta take their souls!’ I really enjoy that. You just gotta work your ass off and that’s what I do. I like to working – that’s what my father taught me to do at a young age and I apply it to everything I do in my life.”
Around the Perimeter: London and KW are the final two teams standing. It’s experience vs. youth; Will Lightning match the Titans’ energy?; Will defense decide this matchup? Read our series preview …