Thomas says personal success is nothing new

To hear some NBA observers tell it, Tim Thomas wasn’t much of a player last season until he joined the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns claimed Thomas off waivers in March after the Chicago Bulls waived him, and the 6-foot-10 forward emerged as a clutch three-point shooter in the Western Conference playoffs.

It’s a feel-good story, but the facts indicate otherwise.

Thomas has been among the league’s most productive reserves in a nine-year career, and now he provides a boost off the bench for the Clippers. Although Thomas’ skills were well suited for the Suns’ up-tempo attack, he said his success wasn’t a product of the system.

“Yeah, people forget what I’ve done in this game,” he said. “But it’s not for me to go around the world and try to change everybody’s thoughts.

“I know where I’ve been in my career. I know about the stages I’ve played on, and how I’ve played, so it’s not for me to try to make them remember. I just go play.”

In the Clippers’ 96-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, Thomas scored 21 points and made five of 11 shots behind the arc. Thomas scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers overcome a 10-point deficit, and his three-point basket with 36.9 seconds left gave them a 94-93 lead.

That’s what the Clippers expected when they signed Thomas to a four-year, $24-million contract in the off-season after his impressive run with the Suns.

In Phoenix’s seven-game first-round playoff victory over the Lakers, Thomas averaged 15.6 points and made 47.1% of his three-pointers. In Game 6, Thomas’ three-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining in regulation sent the game to overtime, and Phoenix won, 126-118.

Thomas averaged 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds to help the Suns eliminate the Clippers in seven games in the conference semifinals, and shot 51.7% on three-pointers as the Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals.

In the market for a long-range shooter after Vladimir Radmanovic joined the Lakers as a free agent, the Clippers upgraded with Thomas, players said.

“He’s paying dividends already,” All-Star power forward Elton Brand said. “I’m just glad I don’t have to play against him anymore.”

*

Sam Cassell and Corey Maggette plan to play host to an invitation-only birthdays party-charity event Nov. 18 at Universal Studios, Cassell said.

Maggette’s birthday is Nov. 12 and Cassell’s is Nov. 18, so they’ve scheduled a combined “extravaganza,” Cassell said. Guests have been asked to bring teddy bears and toys for underprivileged children.

jason.reid@latimes.com