Willis Thomas

Willis Thomas
Personal information
Born1937 (age 87–88)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolJefferson
(Los Angeles, California)
College
Playing career1967–1968
PositionShooting guard
Number20, 10
Career history
1967Denver Rockets
1967–1968Anaheim Amigos
Career highlights and awards
Career ABA statistics
Points555 (9.0 ppg)
Rebounds114 (1.8 rpg)
Assists55 (0.9 apg)
Stats at Basketball Reference

Willis "Lefty" Thomas (born 1937) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'2" guard from LA Harbor College, Thomas played in the American Basketball Association during the 1967–68 season. He started the season with Denver Rockets and scored 39 points in his debut.[1] In December 1967, he was traded to the Anaheim Amigos for Jeff Congdon.[2] In 62 games he totaled 555 points and 55 assists. Prior to him joining the ABA, he played for the Harlem Clowns and other teams that regularly faced the Harlem Globetrotters.[1][3]

In 1958, he led the Jefferson Democrats to the Los Angeles City High School title. For the season he averaged 21.5 points per game, never scoring under 15 points in a game. He was named the City Co-Player of the Year with Bill McGill.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Pluto, Terry (1990). Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 77. ISBN 9780671673901.
  2. ^ "Trade completed". The Park City Daily News. 12 December 1967. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Comedy cage show staged in local gym". The Napa Valley Register. 5 January 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  4. ^ "1957-58 All-City Cagers". Los Angeles Times. 14 February 1958. Retrieved 21 May 2021.


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