Bob Thornton

For other people with a similar name, see Robert Thornton (disambiguation).

Bob Thornton

Personal information
Born	(1962-07-10) July 10, 1962 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school	Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California)
College	Saddleback College (1980–1981) UC Irvine (1981–1984)
NBA draft	1984: 4th round, 87th overall pick
Drafted by	New York Knicks
Playing career	1984–1996
Position	Power forward / center
Number	23, 45, 23, 33, 34
Coaching career	1997–present
Career history
Playing
1984–1985	Caja Madrid
1985–1987	New York Knicks
1987–1989	Philadelphia 76ers
1990–1991	Minnesota Timberwolves
1991–1992	Sioux Falls Skyforce
1992	Tissino Assicurazione Siena
1992	Utah Jazz
1992–1993	Fernet Branca Pavia
1993–1994	Olitalia Siena
1994	Teorematour Roma
1994	Tonno Auriga Trapani
1995–1996	Chicago Rockers
1996	Washington Bullets
Coaching
1997–1998	Chapman (assistant)
1998–1999	Cal State Fullerton (assistant)
1999–2000	Yakima Sun Kings (assistant)
2000–2001	Quad City Thunder
2001–2002	Huntsville Flight
2002–2004	Chicago Bulls (assistant)
2005–2007	Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant)
2007–2012	Oklahoma City Thunder (scout)
2011–2016	Memphis Grizzlies (assistant)
2016–2019	Sacramento Kings (assistant)
2021	Perth Wildcats (assistant)
2021–2022	Mississippi State (women's assistant)
Career highlights
As coach: NBL Cup winner (2021)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Robert George Thornton (born July 10, 1962) is an American basketball coach and former player who played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He last served as the lead assistant coach for the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL.

Thornton played college basketball at University of California, Irvine and Saddleback Community College, and was selected by the New York Knicks with the 87th pick of the 1984 NBA draft.

Thornton played for five NBA teams (New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards) and averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 283 total games. He also played three seasons in the Italian A-1 league with Rome, Siena and Pavia.

He later held coaching positions with the CBA's Yakima Sun Kings and Quad City Thunder, the NBDL's Huntsville Flight, and the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. From 2007 to 2011, he worked as an advance scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was hired as an assistant coach by the Memphis Grizzlies on December 5, 2011.

In January 2021, Thornton moved to Australia to become lead assistant coach of the Perth Wildcats.

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Source

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1985–86	New York	71	23	18.6	.456	–	.531	4.1	.6	.4	.1	4.7
1986–87	New York	33	4	8.5	.433	.000	.650	1.7	.2	.1	.1	2.2
1987–88	New York	7	0	12.1	.316	–	.625	1.9	.6	.3	.0	2.4
	Philadelphia	41	2	12.4	.532	.000	.617	2.4	.3	.2	.1	3.6
1988–89	Philadelphia	54	0	8.3	.423	.333	.533	1.7	.3	.1	.1	2.4
1989–90	Philadelphia	56	0	10.6	.429	.333	.510	2.4	.3	.4	.2	2.2
1990–91	Minnesota	12	1	9.2	.308	–	.800	1.3	.1	.0	.3	1.3
1991–92	Utah	2	0	3.0	.143	–	1.000	1.0	.0	.0	.0	2.0
1995–96	Washington	7	0	4.4	.167	–	.500	1.7	.0	.1	.0	.4
Career		283	30	12.0	.444	.222	.558	2.5	.3	.3	.1	3.0

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1990	Philadelphia	9	0	9.9	.389	–	.500	1.7	.4	.2	.1	2.1
1992	Utah	7	0	4.6	.400	–	.750	1.3	.1	.0	.0	1.0
Career		16	0	7.6	.391	–	.571	1.5	.3	.1	.1	1.6

External links

• College & NBA stats @ basketballreference.com
• NBA.com coach profile