Not every player reaches stardom. Some just need to find a role. Creighton Bluejays guard Khyri Thomas seems tailormade to find his place in the NBA.
Role players are hard to find. Or at least, players entering the college who are readymade to play a role and contribute to a team.
This is one of the biggest tricks of the draft. Everyone that is taken — for the most part — was the star of their college team. Creating a skill set that fits into a NBA role and that distinct possibility they will not become an All-Star is vital to a player’s survival.
As the draft gets later and later, identifying these secondary, supporting skills is critical. Teams take their big swings on all-or-nothing players early in the Draft. They take their shots there. But there is less room to do that later.
Especially since those are the competitive teams. They are not looking for a development job.
Downshifting from star to role player is the biggest challenge. And shooting remains the biggest quality teams look for in these role players. It remains the best way to stay on the floor.
This is why Khyri Thomas, a high-scoring shooter for the Creighton Bluejays, is getting some serious draft buzz.
Not for the Lottery. He does not have that star power. But certainly for the late first round. He has all the tools and skills that would make him a valuable role player on a winning team.
Thomas averaged 15.1 points per game, slowly progressing through his three years in college. This past year, he shot 41.1 percent from beyond the arc and finished his three-year career shooting 40.6 percent.
The 6-foot-3 shooting guard does not have great size for a shooting guard. That will be his concern in the NBA. But every team could use a knock-down shooter off the bench. Someone they could easily plug into the lineup and complete a specific role. Thomas seems perfectly capable of filling that role in the NBA level.
His ceiling though is limited. Especially in this long, athletic NBA. He probably will never be a starter because of that size. Thomas has good length and defensive instincts though. That might make up for it.
But bench players and role players have value too. And if Thomas’ shooting translates to the NBA, he will find value somewhere.
The Good
Khyri Thomas’ shooting numbers stand out on the page more than anything else. A team drafting Thomas is doing so specifically because of this skill. That is what will make him a NBA player.
Thomas shot 41.1 percent from beyond the arc last year on 4.6 3-point attempts per game. This all came with a 21.0 percent usage rate. He had a 62.9 percent effective field goal percentage.
Thomas was efficient and strong as a shooter and scorer at Creighton. And it was no fluke for his junior year.
He slowly gained a larger role and took to that larger role with vigor, increasing his production across the board. All while maintaining his efficiency. For his career, he shot 51.1 percent from the floor, shot a 40.6 percent from beyond the arc and shot a 58.9 percent effective field goal percentage.
He greatly improved his free throw percentage — a woeful 52.6 percent his freshman year to 78.8 percent his junior year — suggesting again his shot is still improving. With all that efficiency, it is easy to envision him becoming a solid role player.
Thomas simply is not going to make mistakes. Despite his prodigious scoring, he kept his usage rate low and would make the right play offensively. His efficiency is as much a product of that decisionmaking as his solid shooting.
Thomas also proved himself to be a pretty strong defender. His discipline is evident on this end too. He averaged 1.7 steals per game last year, but he was not a gambler.
Instead, he uses his length and athleticism to harass defenders. And his strength makes it hard to push him around.
At 6-foot-3 and as Creighton’s best defender, he defended point guards. And he was a tough guy to break down and beat. To many, he was one of the best defenders in college basketball. That makes him even more valuable.
His 6-foot-10.5 wingspan was among the largest measured for guards at the NBA Draft Combine. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Josh Okogie’s 7-foot wingspan was the largest among pure guards in the NBA Draft Combine database for 2018.
Thomas projects as a good 3-and-D player despite his small stature. And that is a defined role he already seems ready made to fill.
The Bad
There does not seem to be much reason why Khyri Thomas would not be considered a Lottery pick if he is a solid shooter and a potentially good defender. He has the athleticism, length and efficiency to crack a roster and find a role.
Maybe it is that ceiling that he cannot become a star that holds him back in some way. But that might be a product of his biggest drawback. That is simply his height.
The league is getting a bit better with its versatility. There may be more situations where a smaller guard like Thomas can play as a shooting guard and use his defense to make up for his lack of size. It is not like teams are asking him to be the main creator anyway.
But the size matters.
At 6-foot-3, logic dictates he will play a lot more point guard. But Thomas is not a point guard. He is not a good playmaker. He is a scorer. If there is no way to the basket or no 3-point shot available, he keeps the ball moving. He is not going to create for others.
That is evident in his numbers too. Thomas averaged 2.8 assists per game and just 2.5 assists per game for his career. He is not a great passer — although he certainly has some highlight-reel passes.
On that front too, Thomas is not a great playmaker. If he drives, he is driving to score. And it is often a pretty routine straight-line drive. He has the ability to get around defenders and finish at the basket, especially in transition. But he is not beating anyone off the dribble.
Then again, it does not seem likely anyone will expect Thomas to be the guy who spends most of his time on the ball.
If he can defend shooting guards effectively, none of this may matter. Then again, his lack of size might hurt him going up against bigger shooting guards, even off the bench. And if he cannot get his shot off, then his effectiveness and value decrease dramatically.
Draft Sites Say
Jonathan Givony, ESPN
"Thomas is one of the better defenders in college basketball, capable of guarding three positions with his 6-foot-11 wingspan. He’s also a willing ball mover and a promising spot-up shooter, and he has exactly the type of grit and unselfishness the NBA covets in role players."
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
"Elite perimeter defender who moves quick laterally, can switch onto wings, and combines good technique with intensity to neutralize opponents. Strong frame with thick legs and a long wingspan enables him to battle on post switches and rebound at a high level for his position. Plays and looks like a strong safety off-ball; quickly closes out to intercept passes and pickpocket ball handlers. . . . High, loose dribble makes it hard for him to create shots against a set defense. Uncomfortable shooting off the dribble; he needs to work on his footwork and quicken his release. Already a good shooter, but must extend his range to assure it translates to the NBA level."
Jackson Hoy, The Stepien
"Thomas is one of the safest bets from this year’s 3-and-D crop thanks to his proven year-over-year shooting, projectable frame and intensity on defense. With his underrated court vision and continually improving finishing ability, there’s some hope that Thomas can add some ancillary value on offense outside of spacing the floor. That said, it’s worth questioning how much of his below-the-rim game will translate inside the arc and how valuable he’ll be as a shot creator without advanced dribble moves. Thomas may also have some problems with bigger players on defense even with his plus length and strength. It’s worth wondering how much better he can get considering he has mostly maximized his physical profile at this point. Even so, he’s got a high floor as a dependable shot-maker on offense and a high-motor defender who succeeds on and off the ball."
Aran Smith, NBADraft.net
"Late blooming shooting guard with a picture perfect shooting stroke … Undersized at 6’3 for the two position but has a 6’10 wingspan allowing him to play bigger … Very controlled game, stays on balance, won’t rattle easily, doesn’t bite on fakes, composed, mature game. . . . The age of a senior. Turns 22 in May giving him less upside compared with most of the other prospects available for this year’s draft. Likely cannot afford to wait another season to enter draft … Not adept as a facilitator/ball handler in pick and roll situations … A solid athlete with good efficiency in transition, however he lacks elite explosiveness."
Final Word
Khyri Thomas seems to have every tool to find a spot somewhere in the NBA. He is a solid 3-point shooter who plays under control and understands what a good shot is. He will not venture too far outside of what he is capable of doing.
On top of all this, he is a solid defender with good length and athleticism. That makes up for his lack of size and harasses opponents.
If a team is looking for a role player — someone to come off the bench and produce and provide a few spot starts — that is what Thomas will almost assuredly do. And he is a relatively safe bet for someone who can contribute immediately in some way.
His size is the biggest concern. His lack of playmaking and driving makes him a true 3-and-D player. And an undersized one at that. Thomas’ length will make up for some of that. But it limits what he can do and where he can play. And the role.
But being a 3-and-D role player or bench player is no shame. The league needs these players. And having young players eager to fill these roles can bolster teams — especially contending teams. That is probably where Thomas will get drafted.
He will find a role somewhere in this league it would seem. This league simply values shooters too much. That is ultimately what Thomas can do. So long as he can get his shot off and find a role that allows him to do so, he should succeed.
Next: 2018 NBA Draft Preview: Jaren Jackson Jr.
For a role player, finding someone who has that defined skill set and accepts that role is absolutely critical. Thomas seems well ahead of the game on this front. He will take on whatever role the team asks of him. And it seems do it well.