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Perth Wildcats sign American defensive powerhouse TaShawn Thomas ahead of upcoming NBL season

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Craig O'DonoghueThe West Australian
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TaShawn Thomas is joining the Wildcats.
Camera IconTaShawn Thomas is joining the Wildcats. Credit: Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Perth Wildcats are confident they have found the defensive answer which became the missing piece of their puzzle last season after signing American forward TaShawn Thomas as an import.

Thomas, 29, made his name as a defensive power in Europe and was named both a State Cup MVP and Best Defender during his time in Israel.

The Wildcats lacked a defensive big man last season and attempted to make a last-ditch change to their roster as play-offs approached.

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Basketball operations manager Danny Mills said Thomas was exactly what the team needed this season.

“Towards the end of last season we were trying to fill in that role,” Mills said.

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“Bringing in someone from the start like TaShawn who has that ability on both ends ... excites us a lot. It’s something that we feel is definitely needed with our current roster.”.”

Mills said Thomas was versatile, a super efficient finisher around the rim and could attack off the dribble at his position.

“And then defensively (we) have someone who is incredibly versatile, can grab and go off the defensive glass and push it himself and also be able to be a defender that can guard multiple positions,” Mills said.

Thomas is 203cm and 105kg, and last played in France where he averaged 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals per game while being named an All-Star and earning selection in the LNB Pro All-First Team.

He will arrive in Perth next month with his wife and son. Thomas said he wanted to be a game changer for the Wildcats.

“My No.1 focus point is really to make the best play to try and get the team going,” he said.

“I’m big on transition. I like getting a flow of the game going and doing things that change the game.

“Basketball is a game of runs. There’ll be a time when a team is high and I’m big on trying to change the momentum of the game and trying to be there for the team on defence and be a leader that way.”

The Wildcats still have one spot remaining on their roster for another import and there has already been speculation they will be signing former NBA centre Alan Williams.

The 29-year-old played for both Phoenix and Brooklyn during his four seasons in the NBA.

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