Top 5 former LSU basketball players in the NBA

Mar 17, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Marcus Thornton (10) drives around Phoenix Suns guard Archie Goodwin (20) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Thornton, Houston Rockets – Shooting Guard

Coming in at No. 3 is Marcus Thornton.

Since coming into the league in 2009, Thornton has played a significant number of minutes for five different NBA teams. During his rookie season, Thornton posted an impressive 14.5 points per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

During his second season in the league, Thornton was traded from the New Orleans Hornets to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Carl Landry. After landing in Sacramento, Thornton’s NBA career took off, appearing in 27 games and averaging 21.3 points and 3.4 assists per game during that span. The following season Thornton locked down the starting shooting guard position and started all 51 games for the Kings.

Since that season, Thornton’s numbers have started to decline and he has bounced around the league spending time in Brooklyn, Boston and Phoenix. Last season, he averaged 7.9 points per game and struggled to get into an offensive rhythm.

Back in July, Thornton signed a one-year contract with the Houston Rockets at the veteran’s minimum. He provides the Rockets with a weapon on the perimeter, as he is a 36.2 percent career 3-point shooter. Thornton will also help keep the Rockets in games by providing an offensive spark when James Harden is not on the floor.

Next: No. 2