Meet Thomas Gardner
WHERE IT STARTED
Thomas Gardner graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon in 2003. He went on to the University of Missouri, where he played three years, tallying a BIG 12 league leading 19.7 ppg as a junior for the Tigers. Gardner left Missouri after his Junior season in 2006 to pursue his dream of playing professionally. Gardner went undrafted in the 2006 NBA draft and spent what would've been his senior year at Mizzou playing for Verviers-Pepinster in Belgium, where he helped lead the team to the Belgium Cup semifinals.
THE JOURNEY
In 2007 Gardner's dream became reality as he was invited to play for the Chicago Bulls summer league team. Gardner was impressive as he led the team in scoring at 16.8 ppg and was offered a one-year non-guaranteed contract by the Bulls. In 2008 Gardner again was impressive in Summer League, as he averaged a team high 16.3 ppg for the Atlanta Hawks, during the Rocky Mountain Revue, hitting .480 FG and .467 3FG. His efforts earned him a one year fully guaranteed deal with the Hawks.
The Marathon Continues
In 2011, Gardner decided to step away from professional basketball to be a father to his now 13-year-old autistic son Quincy. Since then, Gardner spent 5 seasons as The Lead Youth Development Coach with the Portland Trail Blazers, coached both Varsity girls' and boys' High school basketball and now is in his 11th year as the Director of his own youth AAU basketball program.
