Tommy Rutherford

Thomas "Tommy" Rutherford (born January 9, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Neptūnas Klaipėda of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). He won the 2023 Dutch League championship with ZZ Leiden, and was named Finals MVP.

Tommy Rutherford
No. 42 – Neptūnas Klaipėda
PositionCenter
LeagueLithuanian Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1997-01-09) January 9, 1997
San Diego, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolGrossmont High School
(El Cajon, California)
CollegeUC Irvine (2016–2020)
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2021Racing Luxembourg
2021–2022Starwings Basel
2022–2023ZZ Leiden
2023–presentNeptūnas Klaipėda
Career highlights and awards

College career

After graduating Grossmont High School, Rutherford played with the UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team from 2016 to 2020.[1] He was a first-team All-Big West in 2018.[2]

Professional career

Rutherford started his professional career in 2020, when he played his rookie season with Racing Luxembourg in the Luxembourg League. He averaged a double-double of 16.2 points and a league-leading 16.2 rebounds per game.[3]

In the 2021–22 season, Rutherford played in Switzerland for Starwings Basel. He averaged 15.3 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in the Swiss Basketball League (SBL).[3]

On August 22, 2022, Rutherford signed with Dutch club ZZ Leiden of the BNXT League.[2] With Leiden, he won the Dutch Cup, Dutch League and BNXT championship in the 2022–23 season. In Game 5 of the Dutch League finals, Rutherford scored the decisive two free-throws that sealed Leiden's fifth national title. He was also named Dutch Finals MVP after the series.[4]

On August 2, 2023, Rutherford signed with Neptūnas Klaipėda of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[5]

Personal

Rutherford has an older brother and an older sister. He studied civil engineering at the University of California, Irvine.[1]

References
  1. "Tommy Rutherford - Men's Basketball". UCI Athletics. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  2. "ZZ Leiden | ZZ Leiden legt Thomas Rutherford vast". www.eredivisiebasketballleiden.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  3. "Sportiw - Profile of Tommy Rutherford ,player". Sportiw. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  4. "ZZ LEIDEN KROONT ZICH TOT KAMPIOEN VAN NEDERLAND". bnxtleague.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  5. "Neptunas sign a second foreign player, ex ZZ Leiden". eurobasket.com. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
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