Lance a Hornet

[Jim3k]

Hornet Roster. Last name on the alphabetic list.

First game is Sunday at Phoenix. I believe it is 9 pm Eastern time. TV is unknown.

I hope he can get off the bench.

Hope your dream is really fulfilled, Lance. Good luck!

[Jim3k]

Hornet Roster. Last name on the alphabetic list.

First game is Sunday at Phoenix. I believe it is 9 pm Eastern time. TV is unknown.

I hope he can get off the bench.

Hope your dream is really fulfilled, Lance. Good luck!

Correction, that's Monday, not Sunday.

[DevilWearsPrada]

Congratulations to Lance and receiving a wonderful Christmas gift of being an NBA basketball player. LT is a great role model that hard work and persistency can make your Dreams come true! Always great to see our Duke boys progress to the Professional League.... it can only help with recruiting!

[NovaScotian]

i'll be the first to say how pleasantly surprising this is - pleasant because of how much affection i have for lance as a player and person - surprising because his game seemed so flawed and unfit for the nba after he graduated. i guess it speaks to both how much new orleans is hurting, and how hard he worked to imprive his game (specifically his shooting) in the nbdl.

[Newton_14]

Big congrats to Lance. Well done. I always felt his defensive abilities were NBA-Level, but worried teams would not be able to get past his offensive shortcomings. The guy can guard. I believe he can defend NBA SG's, SM's, and some of the shorter PF's. I am glad the Hornets apparently see the benefits of LT's defense, and he has worked hard on his scoring ability, to the point where he can score the ball even if it's a modest ability. I was surprised at how well he scored in the NBDL and with the USA team.

Now that Lance has finally made it to the top, hopefully he can show not only the Hornets but other teams as well that he belongs out there. There was a guy that played with one of the Celtics teams that made the finals a couple of years back, that Lance reminds me of. Cannot recall his name, but Doc Rivers used him off the bench as a defensive specialist to come in and harass/lock-down 2-Guards and small forwards. I definitely think Lance can play that type of role, even on the better teams in the league.

I remember K stating late in 2010 that Lance would be a NBA player one day. Many scoffed, but hey, at the very least, LT made a roster. Hopefully he can stick.

One more NBA team to root for!

[Billy Dat]

Big congrats to Lance. Well done. I always felt his defensive abilities were NBA-Level, but worried teams would not be able to get past his offensive shortcomings. The guy can guard. I believe he can defend NBA SG's, SM's, and some of the shorter PF's. I am glad the Hornets apparently see the benefits of LT's defense, and he has worked hard on his scoring ability, to the point where he can score the ball even if it's a modest ability. I was surprised at how well he scored in the NBDL and with the USA team.

Now that Lance has finally made it to the top, hopefully he can show not only the Hornets but other teams as well that he belongs out there. There was a guy that played with one of the Celtics teams that made the finals a couple of years back, that Lance reminds me of. Cannot recall his name, but Doc Rivers used him off the bench as a defensive specialist to come in and harass/lock-down 2-Guards and small forwards. I definitely think Lance can play that type of role, even on the better teams in the league.

I remember K stating late in 2010 that Lance would be a NBA player one day. Many scoffed, but hey, at the very least, LT made a roster. Hopefully he can stick.

One more NBA team to root for!

You may be thinking of James Posey, who is not on an opening day roster - another reminder of how hard it is to stay in the league no matter your past deeds.

This is an incredible accomplishment for Lance - as others have said, let's hope he can stick.

[mo.st.dukie]

i'll be the first to say how pleasantly surprising this is - pleasant because of how much affection i have for lance as a player and person - surprising because his game seemed so flawed and unfit for the nba after he graduated. i guess it speaks to both how much new orleans is hurting, and how hard he worked to imprive his game (specifically his shooting) in the nbdl.

Kid balled out in the D-League starting all 46 games last year averaging 12ppg and 5 rpg last season and in 4 games this year averaged 17 and 10. Everybody has their own development path and we always hear K talking about how each player has to run their own race. It's not easy and for many it's just not in the cards.

Interestingly enough, for a championship team that so many non-Duke fans claimed to be weak and devoid of NBA talent, there could be as many as 5 players, if not more, from the 2010 team playing in the NBA in a few years. Nolan and Lance are already on NBA rosters and I think both will stick. I wouldn't be surprised if Kyle and Jon found a place on an NBA roster in the next year or two. Mason will be a high draft pick and who knows, maybe Ryan and Andre find a roster spot.

[OldPhiKap]

Kid balled out in the D-League starting all 46 games last year averaging 12ppg and 5 rpg last season and in 4 games this year averaged 17 and 10. Everybody has their own development path and we always hear K talking about how each player has to run their own race. It's not easy and for many it's just not in the cards.

Interestingly enough, for a championship team that so many non-Duke fans claimed to be weak and devoid of NBA talent, there could be as many as 5 players, if not more, from the 2010 team playing in the NBA in a few years. Nolan and Lance are already on NBA rosters and I think both will stick. I wouldn't be surprised if Kyle and Jon found a place on an NBA roster in the next year or two. Mason will be a high draft pick and who knows, maybe Ryan and Andre find a roster spot.

I guess the NBA is alarmingly unathletic these days.

Big Congrats, Lance!

[JasonEvans]

I know the NBA's salary structure has changed, so I am not 100% clear on what the rookie minimum is, but I think Lance stands to make a little less than $500k this year playing for the Hornets. Not too shabby.

-Jason "I am not certain, but I don't think the contract is fully guaranteed yet... Lance may need to stay on the roster for a few weeks for that to happen" Evans

[throatybeard]

Lance a Hornet

I tried this once, but I find a flyswatter easier to use.

[SupaDave]

I went hard in many threads stating that Lance was a NBA player. You guys have no idea how much this thread pleases me. The Hornets organization finally did something that I approve of.

Supa "Hey - you just gotta know what to look for" Dave...

[roywhite]

I went hard in many threads stating that Lance was a NBA player. You guys have no idea how much this thread pleases me. The Hornets organization finally did something that I approve of.

Supa "Hey - you just gotta know what to look for" Dave...

Props to you, Supa, and props to Coach K who told us he thought Lance could be an NBA player.

roywhite after Lance's first two seasons....ahhh, this guy will never help us, can't shoot free throws, no court awareness, not much of a rebounder

Lance made himself valuable...became a good leader, worked on his game, improved dramatically from the free throw line, started getting rebounds, and moving the ball to teammates better
Had certain offensive moves that he got good at and became an even better defender
Evidently, he continued to work in the D league and got better and better

Coach K (and SupaDave) right again...this roywhite guy wrong.
Ah well...the real props here go to Lance Thomas. Good work and keep it up.

[Wheat/"/"/"]

Lance in the nba is a surprise to me. I'll also own up to doubting it would ever happen. He always played hard any player making the league deserves respect.

Well done!

[Acymetric]

Lance got his first NBA minutes today! 1-2 from the line and a foul and a turnover in the final minutes of a big win for the Hornets over the Celtics. Not flashy, but great to see him get into the game! Hope to see him pick up minutes as the season progresses...with the compressed schedule I wouldn't be surprised to see teams reaching deeper into their benches than usual.

[A-Tex Devil]

I see a lot of Chuck Hayes in Lance. That wouldn't be a bad career path to emulate.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Bummer...Lance was waived today. From his facebook status...

Today was my last day with the hornets, I was waived today. Want to thank the organization for the opportunity and I still have my eye on the prize. If you know anything about me you know that adversity never gets in the way of something I want so bad. My new years resolution is to work twice as hard as I did last year.

I have no doubts that he will continue to work, he has proved that through 4 years at Duke and beyond that he is relentless in his pursuit for success. Good luck Lance!

[SupaDave]

No worries. This is an NBA thing. He's in the game now. An injury here - an injury there, and he's right back on a roster.

#humbleandhungry

[cspan37421]

Lance got his first NBA minutes today! 1-2 from the line and a foul and a turnover in the final minutes of a big win for the Hornets over the Celtics. Not flashy, but great to see him get into the game! Hope to see him pick up minutes as the season progresses...with the compressed schedule I wouldn't be surprised to see teams reaching deeper into their benches than usual.

I hope that's not his only stat, but at least he is now in the book! Reminds me of Archie "Moonlight" Graham in Field of Dreams ...

[moonpie23]

here's hoping he gets another shot....go lance, go!!!!!

[hq2]

That's right! If Lance's career ends now, he can say he got in an NBA game and scored one point!
What a career! But seriously folks, he'll be back. We'll see him on some 10-day contracts for some
team. Good luck Lance!