{"id":50658,"date":"2022-02-01T11:29:05","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T11:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/?p=50658"},"modified":"2022-02-01T11:29:05","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T11:29:05","slug":"thomas-primed-to-make-maccabi-debut-as-yellow-blue-face-euroleague-double-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/thomas-primed-to-make-maccabi-debut-as-yellow-blue-face-euroleague-double-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomas primed to make Maccabi debut as Yellow & Blue face Euroleague double week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Zalgiris on Tuesday at (20:00) in Euroleague action as the Yellow & Blue will look to win their 3rd Euroleague game in a row after two home wins the past couple of weeks over Olympiacos and Alba Berlin.<\/p>\n

Head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos will not be available to man the sidelines after having been diagnosed with COVID-19 but the hopes are he will be available for Maccabi\u2019s second game later this week at Bayern Munich. In his stead, the club\u2019s head scout Avi Even will take over the coaching duties for the time being and got his first taste of being back behind the beech this past Saturday night when Maccabi slipped by Hapoel Holon 80-79.
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Avi Even – Photo Credit: Maccabi Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>
\nEven will be assisted by Noam Levy while the club\u2019s two other assistant coaches are also unavailable due to COVID protocols. In addition to the members of the staff who will be missing, veteran forward Jake Cohen will also be out after contracting COVID-19.<\/p>\n

However, despite the absences Maccabi will have one new player who is slated to make his debut for the club in guard Khyri Thomas. The former second round NBA Draft pick back in 2018 by the Philadelphia 76ers was traded soon thereafter to the Detroit Pistons where he made 39 appearances over a trio of seasons including a trip to the playoffs in 2019.
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Khyri Thomas – Photo Credit: Maccabi Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>
\nThomas joins the Yellow & Blue with a dual role in mind with the first being a defensive stopper and the second shooting lights out from deep as he did on a consistent basis where he was at Creighton where he went for over 40% from behind the arc.<\/p>\n

Just ahead of his expected debut, Thomas spoke about moving from the NBA to European hoops earlier this season, what he perceives to be his role and his initial thoughts about his new team in the Holy Land.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe country is beautiful and my teammates and coaches are welcoming,\u201d Thomas began. \u201cThey are taking me through the ropes and helping me figure things out so far.\u201d
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Khyri Thomas – Photo Credit: Euroleague<\/p><\/div>
\nThomas began this season hoping to hang on with the Houston Rockets after he had joined them this past May on a 10-day contract and subsequently signed a multi-year deal over the summer, but was waived on October 6th. With the NBA somewhat in the rear view mirror for the time being, Thomas decided to take his talents abroad for the first time in his career and joined Bilbao in Spain. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have guys that have played overseas so they gave me a heads up and said to enjoy the moment and be myself and not to pay attention to the other stuff,\u201d the Omaha, Nebraska native began. <\/p>\n

After only a couple of games in the ACB League, Thomas found himself on the shelf with an injury and as he worked himself back into shape Maccabi Tel Aviv came calling as they wanted to upgrade the guard position as they had decided to loan out first year Euroleague swingman Kameron Taylor.
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Khyri Thomas – Photo Credit: Maccabi Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>
\nThomas explained what he sees as his role coming into the Yellow & Blue midseason, \u201cI\u2019m not trying to come in to be the main guy, but do what the coach asks of me, run the point and knock down shots. Build chemistry with the guys and bring what I have to the table. Play hard and win at Maccabi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m getting my feet wet and understanding basketball abroad and I know things are different and every game counts and matter, this organization is known for winning and I never won too much in college and high school. I definitely want to be a part of that winning at a big club.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite so many NBA opportunities coming up over the past few months with 10-day contracts due to COVID-19 cases, Thomas has no regrets about staying in Europe.
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Khyri Thomas – Photo Credit: Maccabi Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cFor the ten days you wouldn\u2019t know the situation, whether it\u2019s to go back to the G-League. Overseas was something new and I played with guys that are over here or had been over here. They said there is nothing wrong with it and they said try it out. So I said I\u2019d try it out as I\u2019ve already tried the G-League and the whole NBA stuff.\u201d <\/p>\n

As for the atmosphere Thomas has seen at the arenas around Israel there is no question that he is looking forward to stepping out on the court, \u201cA lot of the guys were telling me that a lot of fans may not be there due to COVID but, it was super loud and they all bring the energy.\u201d
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