BIO: TaShawn Thomas was born in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) and attended Killeen High School (Killeen, Texas).

NBL EXPERIENCE

TaShawn Thomas made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 29 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, Perth underwent major changes during the off-season. Scott Morrison stepped down after one season to return to Canada for family reasons, with former Townsville Crocodiles guard John Rillie appointed as head coach on a three-year deal.

Kevin White (to Illawarra) and Matt Hodgson (to Taiwan) departed, while Vic Law and Michael Frazier II were not re-signed. Bryce Cotton, Todd Blanchfield and Jesse Wagstaff re-signed, while Kyle Zunic was elevated from development player to the full roster. Corey Webster (via Franklin Bulls), who had briefly signed with Perth in 2017 before leaving for an overseas opportunity, returned to the Wildcats, while Brady Manek (via North Carolina) and TaShawn Thomas (via Le Mans) filled the team’s import positions.

Rillie believed the new big man would give Perth greater versatility, passing and defensive intensity.

“One thing that impressed me is TaShawn played for a coach in Israel who demanded effort at the defensive end, and he was rewarded with Defensive Player of the Year. So, as well as the dunks and blocks, I think the Red Army will buy into the intensity he’ll bring at the defensive end.”

“I value players who can pass the ball, because if we’re going to play a good style on offense, we need guys who can share, but also put the ball in the hole,” Rillie said.

Perth opened the season against Brisbane at RAC Arena on October 2, where the new import (12 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals) made his NBL debut. Cotton (23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals) and Wagstaff (14 points) led the Wildcats, while Devondrick Walker (16 points and 5 rebounds) was Brisbane’s leading scorer as Perth recovered from 24 points behind to win 87-73.

Thomas (13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 28 games) started every game he played, led Perth in rebounding and finished third in the club MVP voting.

Less than three minutes into Perth’s next game against Illawarra on October 8, Thomas (0 points) stepped on Sam Froling’s foot and re-injured the left ankle he had initially hurt during the preseason. Luke Travers (14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Mitch Norton (14 points) helped the Wildcats defeat the Hawks 77-71 despite losing their starting big man, while George King (25 points) led Illawarra. The injury ruled Thomas out against Cairns on October 10 and Melbourne on October 14, accounting for the only two games he missed, before he returned against Tasmania on October 22 and reached full fitness following the November international break.

Perth won its first three games and moved to the top of the ladder before five consecutive losses dropped the Wildcats to seventh, where they remained for much of the season before a late push towards the postseason.

Thomas (22 points and 8 rebounds) provided support for Cotton (32 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals) against Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on December 9, while Webster (22 points) also contributed. Mitch McCarron (20 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led the 36ers, with Norton (7 points) playing his 300th NBL game and Daniel Johnson (10 points and 5 rebounds) making his 400th appearance as Perth won 98-90.

Thomas’s best game came at the Cairns Convention Centre on December 20, where he finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, and 6 assists. He held Keanu Pinder to four first-half points as Perth forced 10 turnovers and built a 15-point halftime lead, while Cotton (24 points and 3 steals), Michael Harris (17 points and 5 rebounds) and DJ Hogg (24 points and 8 rebounds) were the other leading scorers as the Wildcats won 105-83 and extended their winning streak to four games.

Thomas matched his season-high scoring performance against New Zealand at RAC Arena on January 10, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds as Perth outscored the Breakers 26-18 in the fourth quarter. Webster (19 points and 4 rebounds) and Manek (15 points and 9 rebounds) provided support, while Dererk Pardon (28 points and 12 rebounds) led New Zealand before the Wildcats won 93-90 and moved from seventh to fifth.

With ten regular-season games remaining, Perth added Tai Webster (via Petkim Spor, 7 points across 8 games), reuniting him with his older brother Corey. Corey Shervill (0 points across 6 games) was released from the Wildcats’ 11-man roster but remained with the club as a training player.

Cotton (23.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.6 steals across 30 games) led the NBL in scoring, earned All-NBL First Team selection and received Perth’s club MVP, Players’ Player and Members’ MVP awards. Corey Webster (14.2 points across 29 games), Manek (13.1 points and 5.3 rebounds across 30 games), Travers (9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds across 29 games) and Norton (5.1 points across 28 games) were the other major contributors. Travers received Perth’s Defensive Player award, Harris (3.5 points across 17 games) was named Most Improved Player and Zunic (1.6 points across 14 games) received the Coaches’ Award. Perth produced the NBL’s best half-court offence and averaged 92.1 points per game, but ranked last in half-court defence and defensive rebound percentage.

Perth was outscored 27-15 in the fourth quarter against Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena on January 29, with Thomas (19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Webster (17 points and 4 assists) and Cotton (17 points and 2 steals) leading the Wildcats. Milton Doyle (21 points and 4 assists) led Tasmania as the JackJumpers won 102-94 and dropped Perth to 14-12.

Cairns then defeated Perth 84-71 at RAC Arena on February 3, despite Thomas (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) matching his season-high scoring performance and Cotton (28 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists) leading the Wildcats. Manek (12 points) also contributed, while Bul Kuol (15 points and 9 rebounds) led the Taipans, leaving Perth needing to defeat Sydney by at least 11 points in its final regular-season game to reach the postseason.

Eight minutes into the deciding game against Sydney at RAC Arena on February 5, Thomas injured his right knee but returned midway through the second quarter and finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. Sydney held Cotton (7 points) to one made field goal, but Webster (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Travers (22 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Manek (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals) carried Perth, while Dejan Vasiljevic (18 points and 7 rebounds) led the Kings. The Wildcats won 96-84, securing the required margin by one point to finish sixth with a 15-13 record and qualify for the inaugural play-in tournament.

The Play-In Qualifier moved to John Cain Arena on February 9, where Perth trailed South East Melbourne for most of the game before outscoring the Phoenix 41-23 in the fourth quarter. Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals), Manek (24 points), Thomas (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists), Webster (12 points), Travers (11 points and 9 rebounds) and Norton (10 points) led the Wildcats, while Mitchell Creek (24 points and 4 rebounds), Gary Browne (20 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Alan Williams (16 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 steals) led South East Melbourne as Perth won 106-99.

Perth then faced Cairns at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 12, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. The Taipans entered without Keanu Pinder because of a serious facial injury and Tahjere McCall because of a shoulder injury, but Hogg (32 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Kuol (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Sam Waardenburg (15 points and 10 rebounds) led Cairns. Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists), Thomas (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Webster (14 points and 4 rebounds) and Manek (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) were Perth’s best as Cairns won 91-78.

TaShawn Thomas played one season in the NBL. He averaged 13.1 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 28 NBL games.