| Bob Thornton | |
| League: | Southeastern Conference |
| Team: | Mississippi State Bulldogs |
| Position: | Assistant coach |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 10 |
| Weight Lb: | 225 |
| Birth Date: | 10 July 1962 |
| Birth Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| High School: | Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California) |
| College: |
|
| Draft Year: | 1984 |
| Draft Round: | 4 |
| Draft Pick: | 87 |
| Draft Team: | New York Knicks |
| Career Start: | 1984 |
| Career End: | 1996 |
| Career Number: | 23, 45, 23, 33, 34 |
| Career Position: | Power forward / center |
| Coach Start: | 1997 |
| Years1: | 1984–1985 |
| Team1: | Caja Madrid |
| Years2: | – |
| Team2: | New York Knicks |
| Years3: | – |
| Team3: | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Team4: | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Years5: | 1991–1992 |
| Team5: | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| Years6: | 1992 |
| Team6: | Tissino Assicurazione Siena |
| Team7: | Utah Jazz |
| Years8: | 1992–1993 |
| Team8: | Fernet Branca Pavia |
| Years9: | 1993–1994 |
| Team9: | Olitalia Siena |
| Years10: | 1994 |
| Team10: | Teorematour Roma |
| Years11: | 1994 |
| Team11: | Tonno Auriga Trapani |
| Years12: | 1995–1996 |
| Team12: | Chicago Rockers |
| Team13: | Washington Bullets |
| Cyears1: | 1997–1998 |
| Cteam1: | Chapman (assistant) |
| Cyears2: | 1998–1999 |
| Cteam2: | Cal State Fullerton (assistant) |
| Cyears3: | 1999–2000 |
| Cteam3: | Yakima Sun Kings (assistant) |
| Cyears4: | 2000–2001 |
| Cteam4: | Quad City Thunder |
| Cyears5: | 2001–2002 |
| Cteam5: | Huntsville Flight |
| Cyears6: | 2002–2004 |
| Cteam6: | Chicago Bulls (assistant) |
| Cyears7: | – |
| Cteam7: | Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant) |
| Cyears8: | – |
| Cteam8: | Oklahoma City Thunder (scout) |
| Cyears9: | – |
| Cteam9: | Memphis Grizzlies (assistant) |
| Cyears10: | – |
| Cteam10: | Sacramento Kings (assistant) |
| Cyears11: | 2021 |
| Cteam11: | Perth Wildcats (assistant) |
| Cyears12: | 2021–present |
| Cteam12: | Mississippi State (women's assistant) |
| Highlights: | As coach: |
Robert George Thornton (born July 10, 1962) is an American basketball coach and former player who played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He last served as the lead assistant coach for the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL.
Thornton played college basketball at University of California, Irvine and Saddleback Community College, and was selected by the New York Knicks with the 87th pick of the 1984 NBA draft.
Thornton played for five NBA teams (New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards) and averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 283 total games. He also played three seasons in the Italian A-1 league with Rome, Siena and Pavia.
He later held coaching positions with the CBA's Yakima Sun Kings and Quad City Thunder, the NBDL's Huntsville Flight,[1] and the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.[2] From 2007 to 2011, he worked as an advance scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was hired as an assistant coach by the Memphis Grizzlies on December 5, 2011.[3]
In January 2021, Thornton moved to Australia to become lead assistant coach of the Perth Wildcats.[4]