By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
NBA veteran Matt Thomas penned a deal with Rytas for the remainder of the 2026–27 season, the defending Basketball Champions League champions announced on Saturday.
Per the press release: “Rytas Vilnius have strengthened their backcourt with the signing of 32-year-old American guard Matt Thomas (191 cm). The club has agreed a deal with the NBA and EuroLeague veteran until the end of the current season.
Thomas arrives in Vilnius from Spain, where he represented Unicaja Malaga earlier this season.
Throughout his career, the American sharpshooter has played for three NBA teams and represented Panathinaikos Athens and ALBA Berlin in the EuroLeague. In 2019, he won the EuroCup title with Valencia Basket.
It was during his time in Valencia that Thomas earned his memorable nickname – “Mr. 99%”. The nickname originated during the team’s successful EuroCup campaign, when statistics revealed that the American had recorded an extraordinary 99% effective field goal percentage (eFG%) on wide-open shots.
The remarkable figure quickly attracted attention across the basketball world and became one of the defining features of his reputation as a shooter. Interestingly, the number 99 had already played a role in Thomas’ life during his childhood – as a sixth-grader, he made an incredible 99 out of 100 free throws in a shooting competition.
That same year, Thomas also won the Spanish ACB League’s three-point shooting contest.
“I am very excited to be joining Rytas. I can’t wait to get on the court and play in front of all the „Rytas“ fans. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the club and the city of Vilnius. I am looking forward to getting there, meeting everyone and competing for another championship,” said newest Rytas’ addition Thomas.
The sharpshooter began the 2026–27 season with Unicaja Malaga. In two Basketball Champions League appearances, the American averaged 11.5 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist per game, shooting an impressive 70% from three-point range (7/10).
His standout performance of the season came on November 3, when he scored 20 points in just 19 minutes against Pallacanestro Reggiana, converting 6 of his 9 three-point attempts.
“Matt is an elite shooter with extensive experience in both the NBA and Europe’s top competitions,” said Rytas Vilnius Sporting Director Artūras Jomantas. “He is a player who can give our offense additional options, stretch the floor and pose a threat to opponents even without the ball in his hands. His ability to make difficult shots, make quick decisions and draw on his experience at the highest level are exactly the qualities we were looking for. We believe Matt will quickly adapt to our playing system and become an important part of the team.”
The American started the previous 2025–26 season in Spain’s top division with Coviran Granada, averaging 14.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 14 games. He shot 46.7% from beyond the arc. Later in the season, Thomas moved to Beşiktaş Istanbul, competing in both the Turkish league and the EuroCup.
One of the most notable chapters of Thomas’ career came during his time with ALBA Berlin, where he played from 2023 to 2025. In the 2024–25 EuroLeague season, the American averaged 12.3 points, 2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 21 appearances. He shot an outstanding 48.5% from three-point range, once again demonstrating why he was regarded as one of the competition’s most dangerous sharpshooters.
Before moving to Germany, Thomas represented Panathinaikos Athens during the 2022–23 season. Earlier in his career, he spent three years in the NBA, playing for the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls. Across 126 NBA regular-season appearances, he shot 40.4% from beyond the arc.
Thomas began his professional career in 2017 after graduating from Iowa State University. His first European destination was Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Following a successful debut season, he joined Valencia Basket.
Rytas Vilnius had been looking to strengthen their roster following a series of injuries in late October, with guards Martynas Paliukėnas and Ignas Urbonas both sidelined for extended periods due to shoulder injuries.
Thomas is expected to make his Rytas debut on November 18, when the Vilnius side travel to Kėdainiai to face Nevėžis in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).”
🏀 Matt Thomas se despide del Unicaja
🫂 ¡Muchas gracias y suerte, @Theiceman_21! Thank you!
📰 NOTICIA https://t.co/lMEixpk9p8
💚💜 #YoSoyDelUnicaja https://t.co/IeVeq9mvJl
— UnicajaCB (@unicajaCB) November 13, 2026
On Friday, fellow BCL outfit Unicaja parted ways with the 32-year-old guard.
Per the press release: “Unicaja and Matt Thomas are parting ways. The club and the American shooting guard have reached an agreement to terminate their contract early by mutual consent.
Matt Thomas arrived in Málaga in late September to bolster the perimeter, though Tyler Kalinoski’s return from injury limited his playing time, and he appeared in a total of five games across the Liga Endesa and the BCL. In his best game, which took place against Pallacanestro Reggiana in the BCL, he scored 20 points with six three-pointers, tying the Unicaja record for a player in that category in the competition.
Unicaja Baloncesto would like to thank the player for his professionalism and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
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