Rattlers Fill International Roster Spot with French Shooting Guard
Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Tuesday that they have signed Bondy, France-native, Adrien Thimon in accordance to the CEBL import rule for the 2023 season. Thimon reunites with 2020-21 teammate Jermel Kennedy when the 2023 Saskatchewan Rattlers roster meets at training camp this month.
“Adrien is a significant addition as he brings skill, size, and great European experience to our lineup.” said Rattler Associate Head Coach Tanner Massey “He has shown the ability to shoot it consistently throughout his career and uses his size well to make plays for others. Adrien impacts the game defensively as well, as evidenced by his steal rate and his activity.”
“I’m really excited to play for the Rattlers this upcoming season. It will be my first experience overseas, out of France, and I could not be more happier to do it for the city of Saskatoon.” said Thimon “I will join one of my best friends, Jermel Kennedy. We played one season in France, and we almost won a championship together. I heard about [the] Rattlers success coming up short in the playoffs last season. I come with big ambitions and will help write a good page on the book. I can’t wait to see and celebrate with the fans.”
During his professional career, Thimon has played 11 seasons with six professional teams in France for the French Nationale Masculine 1 League and LNB Pro B. Thimon has a career average of 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 21.9 minutes in 277 professional games.
Thimon started his career with Quimper during the LNB Pro B League during the 2011-12 season. He went on to play two more seasons averaging 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 11.7 minutes over 51 games with Quimper in the French Nationale Masculine 1 League (France NM1). Thimon spent his next eight seasons playing in the French NM1 for five different teams. During the 2015-16 season, Thimon signed with Sorgues Basket Club averaging 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 15.7 minutes over 31 games. He signed to Union Tarbes Lourdes Pyrennes for the 2016-17 season averaging 4.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 13.7 minutes over 39 games. Thimon returned to Sorgues in 2017-18 with a breakthrough season recording career-best shooting 49% from the field and 42% from behind the arc for the season. He played 25 games recording 9.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists while playing 25.2 minutes per game.
Coming off the successes in 2017-18, Thimon signed with Eveil de Recy Saint-Martin for the 2018-19 season. He appeared in the starting line-up for 27 of his 28 games played; recording 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists while playing 32.1 minutes per game. He recorded a career-high 12 rebounds (October 30) and a career-high 8 assists (March 2). Thimon joined Toulouse Basket Club in 2018, playing with the team for the next three seasons averaging 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 26.9 minutes over 70 games. During the 2020-21 season, Thimon played with Rattlers forward Jermel Kennedy where they helped lead the team to a franchise best record of 17-9 with a fourth place finish. In his eleventh season, he just finished playing with the E Cergy Osny Pontoise. Thimon averaged 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 31.1 minutes in 33 games.
Canadian Elite Basketball League free agency will continue leading up to the announcement of the full training camp roster. The Rattlers season opener is scheduled for May 31 st 2023 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, SK.
Individual game tickets range from $30 in the bronze section to $90 for seating in the courtside row 2 (All courtside row 1 offers are sold out), three-games bundles start at $28/seat per game in the bronze section, half season five-packs start at $35/seat per game in the silver section, and season tickets include 10 regular season games and one playoff game starting at $33/seat per game. All ticket can also be purchased through the Rattlers Front Office (306) 244-2181, Saskatchewan Rattlers website, or via Ticketmaster. For more seating options, luxury suites, and group rates; fans can contact an account executive
All games including playoffs will be live streamed on CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). TSN will showcase live coverage of select CEBL games on TSN and TSN+.
About the Saskatchewan Rattlers
The Saskatchewan Rattlers are Saskatchewan’s professional basketball team, one of the six original teams in the CEBL – the Rattlers won the 2019 inaugural season championship. Playing out of SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – the Rattlers offer an entertainment-focused environment surrounded by some of the world’s top professional athletes. The Rattlers are a community-first organization and take pride in their ability to bring communities together while making sport more accessible to the province.
About the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 roster being Canadian Players bringing experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players have attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, & YouTube.
For more information on the Saskatchewan Rattlers professional basketball team - visit therattlers.ca.