Matt Thomas joins Unicaja eager to compete

The American shooting guard Matt Thomas has appeared in the press room of the Martín Carpena to officially announce his incorporation into the Málaga team. With a decade of professional career behind him, the Illinois player has expressed optimism regarding this new stage in Spanish basketball, where he has already achieved success in previous seasons competing in the Liga Endesa.

Excitement and Expectations for Debut with Unicaja

Thomas has expressed his enthusiasm for wearing the jersey of the Málaga team. "I am happy to be here. I have had a long career and I am looking forward to putting on the team's jersey. I have had some of the best and most fun years of my career playing in the Liga Endesa. I am glad to be back in Spain and I am looking forward to this opportunity to play with Txus Vidorreta," the shooting guard stated during his official presentation.

The player emphasized his admiration for the Málaga coach, whom he has followed during his previous time on the Tenerife bench. "I followed him a lot when he was in Tenerife and I believe my game fits well with his style. And now I want to adapt as quickly as possible to help the team as much as I can," Thomas added, showing his willingness to integrate rapidly into the sports project.

Positive First Impressions in Málaga

Despite having been in the city for barely 48 hours, the American player has evaluated the welcome he received very positively. "I haven't even been here for 48 hours, but so far it’s going very well. I have had a warm welcome; you can see why it is a great club that has had success, especially recently, due to the character of the players," the player stated, who has already begun to get to know his new teammates.

Thomas stressed the importance of building a good relationship with the rest of the team to achieve a quick tactical adaptation. "I want to get to know my teammates better to adapt as quickly as possible and build chemistry this week," he indicated, demonstrating his commitment to the team from the moment he arrived in the capital of the Costa del Sol.

Role and Contribution in Offensive Play

Regarding his contribution on the court, the shooting guard made clear what his main function will be in Unicaja's offensive system. "As a player on the court, I will contribute my shooting ability and be a threat from the outside. I can also create space for my teammates on offense," Thomas explained, detailing his strengths as an outside shooter.

The Illinois player emphasized that, beyond his scoring ability, his experience accumulated over a decade as a professional will be fundamental for the team. "This is my tenth season as a professional; I have played some of my best years in the Liga Endesa, and I believe I can provide a lot in terms of experience and leadership, even though I just arrived," he noted, positioning himself as a key piece not only in offense but also in the leadership of the locker room.

Mentorship with Younger Players

An aspect that Thomas has particularly highlighted is his willingness to work with the younger elements of the roster. "I can do that with some of the younger guys on the team," he asserted, showing his readiness to be a role model for the development of players in training within the Málaga project.

The Return of Jersey Number 21

In the more anecdotal part of the presentation, Thomas revealed the details about the choice of his jersey number. The shooting guard explained that 21 has been his reference number for most of his professional career. "21 has been my number for a large part of my career; I was given it randomly when I was 10 years old. I wore it always until I joined Panathinaikos," the player commented, recalling his beginnings in basketball.

However, during his time with various European teams, he could not keep this number. "From then on, I couldn’t use it because it was taken, not in ALBA Berlin, nor in Coviran Granada, nor in Beşiktaş Istanbul, so I am happy to have it back here in Málaga. I haven't worn it since the NBA," Thomas explained, now reclaiming a number that is part of his identity as a player and that he has not been able to use since his time in the American league.

The presentation of Matt Thomas at Unicaja marks the conclusion of an operation aimed at strengthening the offensive perimeter of the Málaga team. His experience in the Liga Endesa, his shooting ability, and his leadership are seen as valuable assets for the club's objectives in the current season of the domestic competition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Matt Thomas llega al Unicaja con hambre de competir