July 11, 2006
San Antonio, Texas - Former University of Missouri standout Thomas Gardner took the first steps towards pursuing his dream of playing in the National Basketball Association this week when he was selected to participate in Summer League Free Agent Tryouts for the San Antonio Spurs.
Gardner began the first of five workouts with the three-time NBA Champions (1999, 2003, 2005) on Monday (July 10) and continued with two workouts on Tuesday. Gardner has two final practices scheduled for Wednesday and should learn of his fortunes with the club by Thursday morning. Should Gardner make the Spurs' Summer League roster, he will participate in a final practice with the club before heading to Salt Lake City, Utah, to participate in the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League (July 14-21).
"This is a great opportunity to take another step towards my dream of playing in the NBA," Gardner said. "You look up and down San Antonio's roster and you see some great playmakers like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. With great players like that on their roster, you need to find your own unique way to catch the team's eye. My focus has been on playing unselfish basketball. There's a time to shoot the ball, but there are a number of other things you can do to help your team succeed and that's my focus. Another focus is defensively. It's an area you've got to work hard on in the NBA and I'm working on guarding anyone at the 1, 2 and 3 spots on the floor."
The Rocky Mountain Revue will feature Summer League clubs from: San Antonio, Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle and Utah and will be played at the Salt Lake Community College's Life Time Activities Center. Each team will play approximately six games over the seven-day event.
"It's a different atmosphere at this level," Gardner said. "Everyone here can play. You've got 18-19 guys fighting for a limited number of spots. They'll probably only take 15 at the most, and you've got veterans, free agents, rookies and younger players that have been with the club fighting for a limited number of spots. It's a great opportunity that I am excited about."
Gardner will look to begin his professional career following an outstanding junior season that saw him lead the Big 12 Conference in three-point field goals (3.36) and rank second in scoring average (19.7). A Third Team All-Big 12 pick by the Conference Coaches, Gardner was cited as being one of the Big 12's most improved players in 2005-06 and was tabbed the "Top Shooter" in the Conference in a player's poll conducted by Sports Illustrated.
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