It was a crazy summer for South Sudan's Olympic men's basketball team. They didn't get a medal, but they did put Team USA on the ropes. It was a shocking back-and-forth thriller that nearly led to a stacked United States roster being crushed. South Sudan was able to celebrate an incredible game that gave them hope for the future of their team. JT Thor attracted the eyes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have officially offered him a two-way deal.
The college years
The young forward played one season with Auburn, and it was decent enough to get him drafted. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and .9 assists per game. He also had a field goal percentage of 44.0% with a three-point percentage of 29.7%.
Honestly, Thor probably could have gone another year or two in college to build some basic skills up and give him a boost entering the league. Unfortunately, he also landed himself on a Charlotte Hornets team that was failing to build up young players year after year.
JT Thor's first shot in the NBA
Thor got his start with the Charlotte Hornets when he was drafted in 2021 in the second round. Things didn't go as planned as he struggled to perform. In the first year, he averaged 2.0 points per game. In 2022-2023, he averaged 3.8 points per game. His final year with the Hornets didn't go any better, averaging 3.2 points per game.
Thor's other stats weren't fantastic, either. He didn't gain any traction as the seasons passed, and Charlotte wasn't willing to keep on the roster. However, he can thank the Olympics for giving him a second chance. He averaged seven points and five rebounds over the summer in Paris, which is a decent boost compared to his seasons in the league.
What to expect for him in Cleveland
Thor plays both small forward and power forward, which means he'll probably do both for the team. There's a good chance Thor will play in the preseason but will most likely be sent to the G League's Cleveland Charge during the regular season. Hopefully, the Charge can help Thor grow a bit and get a better feel for the pros.
If he can play well in the G League, he could possibly get the attention of some other teams as well. He has the chance to make a splash and learn. He might not be a Cavs player in the future, but he could find himself hopping around in the G League until he gets the call from a main roster.
JT Thor proved himself this summer. He wasn't the best on the roster, but he did enough to earn the two-way. Thor is young, so we'll most likely be seeing him represent South Sudan in 2028, too, if they can make it into the group stage. It will be interesting to see how his career unfolds as he starts his next journey.
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