Future Watch: Sindarius Thornwell Rookie Basketball Cards, Clippers – It has been a disappointing season for the Los Angeles Clippers and their fans. After a slow start, they eventually traded their star Blake Griffin to the Pistons for a group of role players. For most of the season, they were in the hunt for a playoff spot in a crowded Western Conference before their elimination last week. While many will call it a lost season, the team debuted a lot of new talent that could see the court in Los Angeles for years to come. On Monday, rookie guard Sindarius Thornwell broke out for 20 points in a loss to the Pelicans. Thornwell has been seeing consistent minutes for the Clippers down the stretch and he could be an essential piece as they work themselves back to playoff relevance.
Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, Thornwell attended Lancaster High School for his first three years as a prep. He transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior season. As a senior, he averaged 26.8 points per game to go along with 8.6 boards and 3.6 assists. ESPN, Scout, Rivals and 247Sports all ranked him as a four-star college recruit. He would commit to play college ball for the University of South Carolina.
Thornwell played four years for the Gamecocks from 2013-2017. While he was productive in his first three seasons, he really came on as a senior. That season, he averaged 21.4 points per game and led USC to their first Final Four in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. He would leave South Carolina ranking in the top ten in school history in points, total rebounds and assists.
Standing 6’5” with an impressive 6’10” wingspan, Thornwell was a very intriguing prospect heading into the draft. During the 2017 NCAA Tournament, he put a lot of great defensive efforts on tape. He was often asked to defend the most difficult opponent during the tournament which was key in helping the Gamecocks advance as far as they did. Many scouts saw Thornwell as a player who could carve out a nice role for many years in the NBA. On draft night, Thornwell was taken in the second round with the 48th pick by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was dealt to the Clippers that same night.
This season, he’s averaging 15.6 minutes per game for the Clippers. While his 3.8 points per game isn’t eye popping in the slightest, he’s getting consistent NBA minutes. Say what you will about Doc Rivers, but he’s a true leader of men capable of getting the best out of forgotten talent. One could easily see Thornwell being a consistent presence for the Clippers off the bench with his defense and scoring. His best game came this past Monday night when he scored 20 points in a loss to the Pelicans. He also added seven assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals to his final line. While the Clippers didn’t have much to play for, New Orleans did, and it was hard for them to stop Sindarius from taking over the game. Now is the time to pounce on his rookie cards as he flies under the radar.
Sindarius Thornwell already has some great autographed rookie cards in the market. They can be found in 2017 Panini Contenders Collegiate Draft Picks Basketball. As a draft pick, collectors can be assured to find NBA licensed rookie cards of Thornwell in the complete portfolio of 2017-18 Panini NBA basketball card products during the 2017-18 NBA season.
Future Watch: Sindarius Thornwell Rookie Basketball Cards, Clippers – Other Resources
- NBA.com Player Profile – Sindarius Thornwell
- Sindarius Thornwell – Secondary Market Pricing
- Future Watch: 2017 NBA Draft Recap, Most NBA-Ready Players
- Future Watch: 2017 NBA Summer League Top Rookie Players
- NBA.Com
Future Watch: Sindarius Thornwell Rookie Basketball Cards, Clippers – Image Gallery
Here’s a look at cards featuring Sindarius Thornwell in his Los Angeles Clippers uniform.
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