New Orleans Pelicans: 30 greatest players in franchise history

Marcus Thornton is a sharpshooting role player that got his career off to a hot start with the Hornets. He was selected No. 43 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft from the LSU Tigers, known for his ability to fill it up in a hurry.

He was selected as an All-Rookie performer during the 2009-10 NBA season, putting up 14.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest in 73 appearances off the bench. He shot 37.4 percent from 3-point range on 1.6 3-point makes per game on the season.

In Thornton’s first season in the NBA, he put up career numbers in points (1,057) and 3-pointers made (117). He put up 37 points as a rookie off the bench on 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) shooting from the floor and 3-of-7 (42.9 percent) shooting from 3-point land in his best game of the year.

Thornton also made a rookie-best six 3-pointers in a 30-point performance off the bench back on March 1, 2010, against the San Antonio Spurs. He finished the game shooting 6-of-7 from the 3-point arc and 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from the field.

During his second season, Thornton didn’t have as quite of a successful campaign, posting 7.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest, sparking a trade move at the 2011 NBA Trade Deadline in February. He was dealt to the Sacramento Kings in the first of four trades he’s been involved with in his nine-year career in the league.