Matt Thomas update and highlight videos

[I-stateTheTruth]

Matt Thomas' team achieved an important milestone this weekend - Monbus Obradoiro's last-second win over Bilbao Basket (70-69) assured their place again in next year's top flight. Just like in European soccer, the bottom teams are relegated to a lower division and have to fight to get back up to the top. Obradoiro's team will play in their 7th straight season in the top division in Spain, which is a good accomplishment for a team of modest resources from a small city.

Matt is the team's leading scorer and had 16 pts against Bilbao this weekend. Obradoiro is 13-18 with 3 games remaining and has no chance to get to the league playoffs or qualify for European competition next year. They just get to stay in the top division. The league is led by Real Madrid, which includes Luka Doncic, who will be an NBA lottery pick this year.

Someone made a video of Matt's 16 pts and 2 assists from this weekend. He's scoring more off the bounce than he did at ISU:

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Matt was the face of the Facebook promo for the game by Obradoiro:

 

[hoosman]

Looks like he has his same number.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I just realized that Matt went off for 30 in last weekend's game vs. a team based in Andorra, a win for Monbus Obradoiro. From their FB feed, here's a shot with ex Drake Bulldog Ben Simons after the game:

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Last one I could dig up that might be of some interest.

This ain't the NBA - kind of corny but for a good cause. In honor of Matt's 30-point game last weekend, a food company is donating 30 kilos of crackers to a local food bank:

 

[gocy444]

Just curious, what kind of salary does a player like Matt pull in Europe?

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Just curious, what kind of salary does a player like Matt pull in Europe?

$100k to $200k. at a small club like Obradoiro, I'm guessing. I think he got some leverage because of his summer league play with the Lakers. The bigger clubs that play in inter-Europe competitions (Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow etc.) might pay their top internationals something like $400k to $1M. These are broad assumptions but that's kind of an idea.

A lot of clubs also provide housing and a car, which helps your total take-home.

 

[ianoconnor]

Thanks for posting - I appreciate these updates.

 

[TXCyclones]

Based on the video I bet the fans of Monbus Obradoiro have new uniform fights every day on their fan sites.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

This link has Matt's stats for the season so far, in Spain:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/euro/players/matt-thomas-1.html

Key stats: 15.4 PPG, 46% from 3 and 94% from the line (why he's missing 6% of his FTs, I don't know

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I found a video compilation of Matt's 30-pt (and 6-assist) game from the previous weekend, which includes a bucket at the end of the shot clock that would make Steph Curry proud:

 

[gocy444]

$100k to $200k. at a small club like Obradoiro, I'm guessing. I think he got some leverage because of his summer league play with the Lakers. The bigger clubs that play in inter-Europe competitions (Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow etc.) might pay their top internationals something like $400k to $1M. These are broad assumptions but that's kind of an idea.

A lot of clubs also provide housing and a car, which helps your total take-home.

If you’re making $200,000 a year to play basketball you’re doing life right.

 

[greatshu]

It's tragic that Lakers kept Caruso over Thomas. Mattie ice definitely outplayed Caruso during summer league.

 

[Sparkplug]

If you’re making $200,000 a year to play basketball you’re doing life right.

Is that tax free?

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Is that tax free?

Not completely; it could depend on the country. But an expatriate American is exempt from US taxes on about the 1st $100,000 of income.