Robert George Thornton (born July 10, 1962) is an American basketball coach and former player who played nine seasons in the 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, and the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. 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. In January 2021, Thornton moved to Australia to become lead assistant coach of the Perth Wildcats. Reference External links College & NBA stats @ basketballreference.com NBA.com coach profile 1962 births Living people American expatriate basketball people in Italy American expatriate basketball people in Spain American men's basketball coaches American men's basketball players Arkansas RimRockers players Basketball coaches from California Basketball players from Los Angeles Cal State Fullerton Titans men's basketball coaches Chapman Panthers men's basketball coaches Chicago Bulls assistant coaches Chicago Rockers players Continental Basketball Association coaches Huntsville Flight coaches Memphis Grizzlies assistant coaches Mens Sana Basket players Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coaches Minnesota Timberwolves players New York Knicks draft picks New York Knicks players Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coaches Pallacanestro Virtus Roma players Philadelphia 76ers players Power forwards (basketball) Quad City Thunder players Saddleback Gauchos men's basketball players Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA) players Sportspeople from Mission Viejo, California UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball players Utah Jazz players Washington Bullets players