Matt Thomas of the Iowa State Cyclones and Toronto Raptors
My mom could shoot it, it’s genetic - Matt Thomas of the Toronto Raptors
It only took 150 episodes, but the Moonlight Graham Show is proud to welcome our first current NBA player to the podcast. This week’s guest isn’t an Iowan by birth, but his deadeye shooting made him a favorite son of the Iowa State Cyclones. Matt Thomas continues to make Cyclone Nation proud as a member of the Toronto Raptors and he is ready to pick up where he left off before Covid-19 struck.
Matt Thomas grew up in Onalaska, Wisconsin where he made a name for himself as one of the best shooters in his recruiting class. Thomas had several Division I offers but had a connection to Cyclone basketball. His ability to shoot matched perfectly with Fred Hoiberg’s system at Iowa State University. As a Cyclone, Matt Thomas was part of four straight Cyclone teams that won more than 20 games and ranked in the top 10 multiple times. Thomas played with some of the best Cyclones in recent history, including Monte Morris and Georges Niang. Thomas’s time in Ames also included the head coach transition from Fred Hoiberg to Steve Prohm. During the 2015-2016 season, Prohm’s first season at the helm, Thomas and the Cyclones had a tremendous season that ended with the heartbreaking Sweet Sixteen loss to Virginia in the United Center.
Mr. 99%
Matt Thomas went undrafted after the 2016-2017 season and though he burned up the nets for the Lakers NBA summer league team, he started his professional career in Spain. Thomas continued his hot shooting for two different Spanish clubs. In fact, Thomas earned the nickname Mr. 99% for his deadly catch-and-shoot accuracy. Playing professionally helped him develop his all-around game at the highest level of basketball in Europe.
Fall in love with the process
Thomas spent two years in Spain proving his ability all over the court and earned the call from the Toronto Raptors to start the current NBA season. Thomas made his debut for the Raptors on the same court where he and the Cyclones lost to the Virginia Cavaliers in March 2016. After recovering from a broken finger, Thomas was starting to find his stride for the Raptors before the pandemic put the NBA season on hold and is poised to make a fast start when the NBA returns.
Every Iowa sports fan knows the reputation of Harlan Community High School. The Harlan Cyclones are known far and wide for their success in every sport. Coach Bladt and the football program built a foundation of success that the entire community rests on. There is a lot of pride in the school colors and full bleachers whenever they take the field or court. Mitch Osborn has helped to continue that success in his roles as AD and head basketball coach. This week we sit down with Coach Osborn to learn about his career and what makes Harlan so darn special.