Bolingbrook's Brodric Thomas Becomes Improbable NBA Rookie

BOLINGBROOK, IL —Bolingbrook High boys basketball coach Rob Brost said he probably talks to former Raider and current NBA rookie Brodric Thomas about once a month. However, the coach said he doesn't ask the Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard much about his day-to-day experiences in the league. Those stories are best left for the offseason.

"I just try to be there for support, we talk about working hard, doing the right things and being a good teammate," Brost told Patch. "When he comes home, we'll talk about some of the best moments."

Yet, Brost said does wonder what Thomas is making of it all, from going undrafted last October out of Division II Truman State to becoming a member of the Houston Rockets, for four games, and now the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"There is one picture I saw of him with the Rockets, and James Harden (since traded to the Brooklyn Nets) is out of the game and standing behind (Thomas) in the team huddle. Harden has his arms on Brodric's shoulders," Brost said. "What is that like? You have this $40 million player there, you've gotten to the league and Harden is behind you like 'this is my rookie,' making sure you are playing well."

The 6-foot-5 Thomas received an invite to Rockets training camp last November after averaging 21.5 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior at Truman State, located in Kirksville, MO, and being named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year and first-team Division II All-Midwest.

The Rockets ended up signing Thomas to a two-way (NBA/G League) contract. He made his NBA debut in a Dec. 26 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, becoming just the second Bolingbrook grad to play in the NBA. Ben Moore played two games for the Indiana Pacers during the 2017-18 season.

Thomas played four games for the Rockets and spent some time with the organization's G League affiliate. But Houston released Thomas in early February. That's when Cleveland came calling.

"One night I texted him, and he texted back: 'off to Cleveland,'"Brost said. "I wondered what that meant, and he said 'Cleveland just picked me up.' That was pretty fun."

After some standout performances for the Cavs' G League team in the Orlando bubble, Thomas was back in the NBA in mid-March.

Then, thanks to injuries and trades, Thomas found his way into the Cavs' regular playing rotation for a few games. On March 27, he even started, played 31 minutes and scored seven points in a 100-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

"(Thomas) has earned the minutes," Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told Fox Sports Ohio after the Kings game. "I think every time we’ve put him on the floor he’s been productive. He’ll defend, he can handle the ball on the offensive end, playmake and make shots."

Thomas did all of those things at Bolingbrook, helping lead the Raiders to the 2015 IHSA Class 4A State semifinals, where they lost to a Stevenson team featuring current Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson.

Thomas was just 6-1 and skinny at the time, and he ended up first at Southwestern Community College in Iowa, and then at Truman State. It may not have been Division I basketball, but Brost said it suited Thomas

"Going to Truman helped (Thomas) kind of progress into what you see now. By the time he was a senior, he was recognized as one of the best players at that (Division II) level," Brost said. "Obviously everyone wants to be Division I and all that stuff, but his path was perfect for him and it worked out nicely."

Ahead of last year's NBA Draft, Brost said he received calls from several NBA executives who wanted to know more about Thomas' work ethic and character. The coach gave his former player a glowing report.

Though it wasn't enough for Thomas to get his name called on draft night, Brost said it was clear the NBA thought highly of the former Raider.

"I don't think they expected quite THIS to happen," Brost said. "But he's done a really good job, worked hard and taken advantage of his opportunity. We're all really proud of him, how he's represented himself, our school and the community."