Thomas Wilder

Thomas Javaine Wilder, born May 14, 1995, is an American professional basketball player whose career has moved through college basketball, NBA draft evaluation, the NBA G League, and overseas competition. He last played for Nürnberg Falcons BC of the German ProA league. His public record is that of a player who kept finding the next court, from Western Michigan to professional stops in Germany, the United States, and Georgia.

Wilder played college basketball at Western Michigan. He drew enough notice to plan for the 2017 NBA draft, but he withdrew his name and returned for his senior season. That decision gave him another year to lead and produce at the college level. As a senior, he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, numbers that show the range of his contribution: scoring, setting up teammates, rebounding, and creating pressure on defense.

Before the 2018 NBA draft, Wilder worked out for several NBA teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Charlotte Hornets. He went undrafted in 2018, but he was later included on the Utah Jazz roster for the 2018 NBA Summer League. That stretch placed him in the familiar space many professional players know well: close to the NBA, being measured in workouts and short opportunities, with every showing carrying weight.

On September 4, 2018, Wilder signed with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of Germany’s top tier. He played two games for the German club, then returned to the United States to sign with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. With Windy City, he continued his professional career in a league closely tied to NBA development. On January 16, 2020, he recorded 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a loss to the Lakeland Magic.

The record of Wilder’s career is shaped by choices and resets: entering the draft process, returning to school, going undrafted, accepting Summer League, moving overseas, and coming back to the G League. On January 3, 2021, he signed with Batumi-RSU of the Georgian Superliga, another step in a career built across leagues and countries. For readers drawn to his words, one quote fits the pattern of carrying on after change: “It's hard to turn the page when you know someone won't be in the next chapter, but the story must go on.” In basketball terms, Wilder’s path has been about turning pages and staying ready for the next one.