JT Thor’s path to the NBA? It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride, full of moves, challenges and a lot of resilience.

Jokhow Panom Thor (born August 26, 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska) is not born in the gym or on the basketball court. His parents, immigrants from South Sudan, who left home to provide them with a better life. That kind of sacrifice? It stays with you. It shapes you.

For Thor, it’s all been at the heart of everything he’s tried to do. His family left again, at age five, for Anchorage, Alaska. While Alaska is certainly not exactly known as a prime NBA factory, Thor’s journey really starts here. He did not even pick up a basketball until seventh grade. Seventh grade. Yet in a matter of just a few short years he’d completely transform himself into an elite prospect.

But before he got there, life had a few more twists in store for him.

Where is JT Thor from? What is the Wizards star’s nationality?

You look at Thor’s game—long, athletic, versatile—and it’s got South Sudanese influence written all over it. That’s no coincidence.

He was born in the U.S. but his roots run deep. He grew up in Anchorage, surrounded by a tight South Sudanese community that kept his family’s homeland close. And that connection? It wasn’t cultural. Just fuel. Basketball wasn’t just about him. It had everything to do with his family, his people, and the chance to represent something more than himself. Thus making him a South Sudanese-American professional basketball player

He left Alaska at 14 for West Virginia to play at Huntington Prep, one of the best high school programs in the country. Two years later, another move—this time to Norcross High School in Georgia. He really made his name there, reclassifying to the class of 2020 and going off as a senior, averaging 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

At this point, the scouts were watching. The offers were coming in. The dream was getting closer. But the road? Still far from easy.

Which college did JT Thor attend? When did he join the NBA?

Thor chose Auburn after they offered him over other schools like Oklahoma State. That was a gamble, one year to prove himself and take a shot at the NBA. No time to waste.

From the jump, you could see potential. He had the size, the, athleticism, and the defensive instincts. Then, there were times when it all clicked: That February 13, 2021 game against Kentucky. Thor then went for 24 points and 9 rebounds, knocking down 5 of 6 from three. At that instant it was just plain evident, he was not just an athlete. He was a real player.

By the end of the season, he was averaging 9.4 points, five rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. It wasn’t eye-popping, but NBA teams saw the upside—the raw talent that just needed refining.

So he bet on himself. Thor declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, initially keeping his college eligibility open. But as the process went on, he made the decision—he was all in. No looking back.

Draft night? The Detroit Pistons took him 37th overall. But before he could even process it, he was on the move again—traded to the Charlotte Hornets in a deal involving Mason Plumlee.

It was another fresh start. Another challenge. And, as it turned out, another uphill battle. Charlotte signed Thor on August 6, 2021, and he spent time developing in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm. The flashes were there—the defense, the energy, the athleticism—but breaking into the rotation? That was a different story.

Three seasons later, after struggling to carve out a consistent role, the Hornets waived him in June 2024. It was a tough blow, but if there’s one thing about Thor, it’s that he never stops moving forward.

Determined to keep his NBA dream alive, he signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in September 2024. It seemed like a fresh start, a new chance to prove himself. But in the NBA, nothing is guaranteed. On March 1, 2025, Cleveland cut him loose. Another setback. Another moment where most players would consider calling it quits. But Thor? He’s not wired like that.

Now, he’s got a new home with the Washington Wizards. Another opportunity. Another chapter to write. The NBA road isn’t always smooth. But if there’s one thing we know about JT Thor? He’s not done yet.