James Edward Thomas (born October 19, 1960) is a retired American professional basketball player.

Thomas played competitively at Nova High School, in Davie, Florida.

While playing for head coach Bobby Knight at Indiana, he was the sixth man on the 1981 national championship team, and also made the 1981 Final Four All Tournament Team, after grabbing nine rebounds off the bench, in place of foul-plagued starter Ted Kitchel, in the 63–50 title game win over North Carolina.

Thomas played professionally in the NBA, with the Indiana Pacers, L.A. Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, from 1983–1990.

[1] Thomas played with the US national team at the 1982 FIBA World Championship, winning the silver medal.