Montepaschi Siena calls again Bootsy Thornton

In the face of several recent injuries, Montepaschi Siena has reached into its past to bring back classic swingman Bootsy Thornton for a third stint with the club. Thornton (1.95 meters, 34 years old) made the Final Four with Montepasch in two of his previous three seasons with the club, including his first one, 2003-04, and his last, 2007-08. He played for Siena in 2004-05 as well. Thornton has also played for Euroleague clubs Efes Pilsen of Turkey and F.C. Barcelona of Spain, amassing career averages of 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 127 Euroleague games over seven seasons. Thornton was named to the 2007-08 Euroleague team while wearing a Siena uniform. "I feel very close to the city and the club," Thornton said in a statement by the team. "It has always been my desire to wear a Siena uniform again." Thornton signed until the end of the current season. He will be expected to offset long-term injuries to another swingman, Rimantas Kaukenas, and to big man Ksistof Lavrinovic, both of whom had surgery in the last 10 days.