Tyrus Thomas: Talent Rich, Production Poor

Not too soon afterwards, a player most experts probably never thought would play in the NBA heading into the year was the fourth overall pick of the Draft. Traded immediately to the Bulls, GM John Paxson was effusive in his praise of the young forward:

"When you are drafting No. 2, with a clear shot at far and away the best talent in the Draft, you don't pass on him. Not now and not ever."

His rookie year he didn't put up crazy numbers as he did at LSU, but after a slow start played his way into a spot in the rotation for a playoff team, despite only being 20 years old. His best regular season game came Jan. 31 against Cleveland, scoring 27 points on Steve Kerr-esque 9 for 11 shooting. His dominance was not limited to the offensive end, however; he also snagged three steals and blocked three shots.

In the playoffs, he played in all ten of the Bulls games, and was used as a defensive specialist against the dominating Detroit big men. He finished the year voted as a member of the All-Rookie Second Team.

What will probably be most remembered from his rookie year is something he did off-the-court, though. It didn't involve late night partying, drugs, or abusing women, just speaking a little too honestly with the media. A reporter queried him about being selected to the upcoming Slam Dunk competition in Vegas, and Tyrus bluntly replied:

"I'm just into the free money. That's it. I'll just do whatever when I get out there."

That comment earned him a $10,000 fine, a public tongue lashing from Paxson and derision and disgust from sportswriters across the nation. Personally, I thought the comment was not only funny, but also had a valuable honesty rarely seen from athletes.

I mean, I guess some guys do participate in the dunk contest exclusively for the love of basketball and treat it as seriously as they would any real game, but most don't. Most also would never be honest with the media, but that's something Tyrus will learn going forward.

Reporters will only use your words to their advantage Tyrus, regardless of what they know you meant or were trying to say.

This cockiness reminds me of another Chicago celebrity, Kanye West. In the last, largely spoken word track of his debut album "College Dropout" Mr. West has some lines which I feel are particularly appropriate to the young man from Baton Rogue,

"Now I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem
or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams
I use it as my gas, so they say that I'm gassed
But without it I'd be last, so I ought to laugh"

Indeed, for a kid who entered high school as a 5' 10" guard, and got cut from his freshman team, without a certain amount of arrogance he'd of never developed into an NBA lottery pick. Certainly no one was out there telling Tyrus that he had a chance back then.

His early failure is reminiscent of a former Bull, Michael Jordan, who also got cut his freshman year of high school. Also like his Airness, Tyrus got to where he is today thanks to a tireless work ethic. His coach at LSU, John Brady thought as much of the young man, saying:

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