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F DeShaun "The Diesel" Thomas (Panathinaikos - Greece)

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Deshaun Thomas: 'Nanterre is a good step before joining NBA'
Written by Jeff Garcia on Friday, 06 September 2013

San Antonio Spurs 2013 NBA draft pick Deshaun Thomas will be playing overseas with French team Nanterre this season as he hope to improve
BFC70_NCAA-_0323_11.jpg
his game and eventually make his NBA debut.

But why Nanterre? Other teams overseas were hoping to land Thomas, so what persuaded him to pick Nanterre?

In an interview with French site Basket Actu, Thomas says he felt Nanterre was a better program for him adding that fellow Ohio State alum David Lighty put in a good word for the team.

"Nanterre had a good program for me and it is a good step before joining the NBA. Pro A is a good competition and it will be interesting to play in the Euroleague. I spoke with David (Lighty, former Ohio State player) on the championship team. He told me they took good care of him, there's a great atmosphere on the team, he had a lot of fun during the season and the city was great. It will be a good challenge for a young player like me to play the Euroleague. My goal this season is going to be to get better and win games."

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http://www.projectspurs.com/2013-ar...nterre-is-a-good-step-before-joining-nba.html
 
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Video: Deshaun Thomas begins training with Nanterre
Written by Paramjit Mahal on Monday, 09 September 2013 13:30.

The San Antonio Spurs have long been known for employing their draft and stash strategy with their international talent. Tiago Splitter, Nando De Colo and Manu Ginobili are a few of the players that the Spurs have let mature overseas and then bring over to the NBA.

Deshaun Thomas, the Spurs' 2013 second round pick, was a player they were hoping to help at the small forward position. Thomas played for the Spurs during the Las Vegas Summer League and debuted with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in a 69-68 win over the Bobcats.

But the Spurs saw that there would not see enough playing time to help improve his game.

The Spurs, always being ahead of the curve, are now putting a new twist on their draft and stash strategy. Instead of drafting international players and keeping them overseas, they are sending their US born draft picks overseas, as with another draft pick Justin Denmon.

Thomas will be playing for JSF Nanterre in France to work on his game and gain playing experience.

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http://www.projectspurs.com/2012-ar...aun-thomas-begins-training-with-nanterre.html
 
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Saw Deshaun play today in the first home game of the pre season. He scored 16 pts, grabbed some boards and played the 4 and the 5 (in a small ball configuration similar to the one OSU used last year). He seems happy to play there and the fans love his 3 pts shot.
 
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Deshaun scored 13 pts and 4 boards today in their third game of the week and of the season (they are 3-0). They face CSKA Moscow (10 participations in the last 11 Euroleague Final Four) thursday. I will try to provide a link for this game.

=> game highlights
 
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Deshaun scored 11 point in 15 minutes against CSKA in a 59-62 loss and 25 pts against Paris-Levallois in the battle of Paris won by Nanterre.

Nanterre's coach on why they picked up DT :

"It's a player that i really wanted. One of the criteria was his college. I know that Ohio State is a program that know what its doing and does a great job every year unlike other programs (did not give name)."
 
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http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...es-made-an-nba-roster-but-its-not-a-big-issue

Gary Parrish
Not all early entries made an NBA roster (but it's not a big issue)

...

Take Deshaun Thomas, for instance.

He led the Big Ten in scoring last season, took Ohio State to the Elite Eight and entered the NBA Draft, where he was selected 58th overall. He played summer league and performed well. But it became clear, at some point, that the 6-foot-7 wing probably wouldn't make the opening day roster. So Thomas signed with a pro team in France -- where he's now earning an annual net salary in excess of $150,000, according to his agent J.R. Hensley.

Is this really the "kid" we're trying to "save?"

He's a 22-year-old making a six-figure salary in France.

He's doing OK.

Granted, this is not where Thomas planned on being or wanted to be when he announced that he would forgo his senior year. But if the worst decision Thomas ever makes is dropping out of college to earn $150,000 playing professional basketball in Europe, man, he really is going to live a charmed life.

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