Thomas suspended for 2 games

Bulls suspend Tyrus Thomas for skipping practice
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune reporter
March 6, 2008, 12:17 AM CST

In an untimely development as the Bulls attempt a late-season playoff push, Tyrus Thomas missed Wednesday's practice and general manager John Paxson suspended the second-year forward two games for the unexcused absence.

Thomas will miss Thursday's home game against the Cavaliers and Friday's game in Boston.

Efforts to reach Thomas for comment were unsuccessful and Paxson declined to comment. Reached late Wednesday, Brian Elfus, one of Thomas' two representatives, also declined to comment other than Thomas' absence was for "personal reasons."

Thomas, who lives with his uncle, didn't contact the organization about his absence. According to sources, the team made several attempts to reach Thomas, including sending people to his house.

Paxson has been critical of, in his words, "personal agendas" permeating the team this season. He opted for a strong suspension over a fine because Thomas' absence was unexcused.

A source close to the NBA Players' Association said Thomas' representatives plan to file a grievance.

Tyrus Thomas left interim coach Jim Boylan to twist in the wind Thursday morning at the team's morning shootaround.

Thomas refused to address reporters who wanted to question him about his unexcused absence from Wednesday's practice, which drew a two-game suspension from general manager John Paxson. Thomas said he would speak at the United Center before the Bulls' 6 p.m. tipoff against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In lieu of explanations from Thomas, Boylan was left to speak for the organization.

"In one word, it's disappointing," Boylan said.

Boylan actually repeated this phrase four times before adding, "It's just disappointing to me that at this point of the season we're dealing with stuff like this."

Asked if Thomas had apologized to the team, Boylan said: "You got to talk to Tyrus about that."

Asked if Thomas had explained to the organization where he was or why he didn't call to inform the team of his absence, Boylan said: "You'll have to talk to Tyrus about that."

A source close to Thomas said he eventually told the organization he needed to clear his mind. One of Thomas' representatives said in a phone interview late Wednesday that Thomas' absence was for "personal reasons."

Told that Thomas had informed reporters he wasn't speaking, Boylan opted for humor.

"I guess that's his right to speak or not speak," Boylan said. "We suspended him. It was a one-game suspension, but Griff [ Adrian Griffin] and Ben Wallace called and said we should make it two. So we decided that was the best thing."

Sources said Thomas blew off the practice as a protest for being benched for all but eight-plus minutes Tuesday in the win over Memphis.

Notes: Bulls F Tyrus Thomas would not reveal his reasons for skipping Wednesday's practice, but said a recent reduction in playing time had nothing to do with it. Thomas was a no-show after playing just under nine foul-plagued minutes in Tuesday's win over Memphis, drawing a two-game suspension from the team. "That wasn't the reason for me missing practice," he said. Thomas said he had a "nice, long conversation" with interim coach Jim Boylan that "broke some barriers."