The NBA offseason is winding down as the final remaining roster spots across the league are being filled. This has led some veteran players to head overseas, as that has become a more viable option than before, with a recent member of the Los Angeles Lakers being the latest to make the jump.
Despite having a solid 2024-25 campaign for the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers, the former Lakers big man could not find the type of contract on the free agent market that he was hoping for. Now, he joins a Euroleague power in hopes of building his stock for a return to the NBA down the road.
Former Laker Thomas Bryant Pushed Out of NBA After Solid Season
Thomas Bryant is heading to Greece. The former Lakers center is reportedly nearing a deal with Greek power Panathinaikos, according to Telesport (via RealGM). This will be the first time in Bryant's professional career that he has left the United States to join a new team, and he picked quite the franchise to join.
Bryant was a fallback option for Panathinaikos as the team pivoted in his direction after its attempt to lure Jonas Valanciunas from the NBA fell short. Despite not being the team's first choice, he is going to be a key piece of the puzzle for the European club this coming season. His skillset should allow him to be a threat to score from all three levels on the floor, as the 3-point line is closer to the basket overseas than it is in the NBA.
For his career, Bryant has converted on 58% of his attempts from the field and over 35% of his attempts from beyond the arc. These averages are down from his career-best season, which occurred during the 2022-23 campaign, when he made 41 appearances for the Lakers. During that time, he shot 65% from the field and 44% from 3-point range, but they are solid nonetheless.
If Bryant can continue to show he is capable of scoring the ball effectively from the interior, mid-range, and perimeter, his odds of returning to the NBA sooner rather than later will receive a major boost.