Etan Thomas facts for kids
Thomas playing for the Washington Wizards in 2008.
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 1, 1978 New York City, U.S. |
| High school | Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Oklahoma) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Syracuse (1996–2000) |
| NBA Draft | 2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall |
| Selected by the Dallas Mavericks | |
| Pro career | 2000–2011 |
| Career history | |
| 2001–2009 | Washington Wizards |
| 2009–2010 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2010–2011 | Atlanta Hawks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 2,341 (5.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,927 (4.7 rpg) |
| Blocks | 427 (1.0 bpg) |
Dedrick Etan Thomas (born April 1, 1978) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Atlanta Hawks.
Beyond the basketball court, Thomas is known for being a published poet, writer, and activist. He uses his voice to speak about important social issues. He also co-hosts a sports talk radio show.
Contents
Early Life and College
Etan Thomas grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His first name, Etan, was inspired by Akhenaten, a pharaoh from ancient Egypt.
He played college basketball for Syracuse University from 1996 to 2000. At Syracuse, he was a star player known for his strong defense. He was named the Big East Conference's Defensive Player of the Year twice. He graduated with a degree in business management.
NBA Basketball Career
In the 2000 NBA draft, Thomas was chosen 12th overall by the Dallas Mavericks. This meant he was one of the top young players entering the league.
Washington Wizards (2001–2009)
Before playing a single game for Dallas, Thomas was traded to the Washington Wizards. He spent most of his career with the Wizards. His best season was in 2003–2004, where he averaged nearly 9 points and 7 rebounds per game.
In 2007, a routine medical exam revealed a serious heart condition. Thomas needed open-heart surgery and had to miss the entire 2007–2008 season. He made an amazing comeback one year later, scoring 10 points in his first game back.
Final NBA Seasons (2009–2011)
In 2009, Thomas was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and then quickly to the Oklahoma City Thunder. A trade is when teams exchange players.
He played his final NBA season (2010–2011) with the Atlanta Hawks. He retired from basketball after that season, ending an 11-year professional career.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from the NBA, Etan Thomas focused on writing and speaking. He wanted to show he was "more than an athlete."
Writing and Activism
In 2005, he published a book of poems called More Than an Athlete. In his writing, he often discusses social issues and his own experiences. He has also written books about the importance of fathers and about social justice.
Thomas is an activist who speaks out on important topics. He has participated in rallies and uses his platform to support causes he believes in. For example, he has spoken about the need for fairness in the justice system. He also supported Barack Obama's campaign for U.S. president in 2008.
In 2010, he donated $30,000 to help people in Haiti after a major earthquake.
Personal Life
Thomas is a member of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. He helps organize forums and events for young people.
NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Washington | 47 | 0 | 13.1 | .536 | — | .554 | 3.9 | .1 | .4 | .7 | 4.3 |
| 2002–03 | Washington | 38 | 0 | 13.5 | .492 | — | .638 | 4.3 | .1 | .2 | .6 | 4.8 |
| 2003–04 | Washington | 79 | 15 | 24.1 | .489 | — | .647 | 6.7 | .9 | .5 | 1.6 | 8.9 |
| 2004–05 | Washington | 47 | 10 | 20.8 | .502 | — | .528 | 5.2 | .4 | .4 | 1.1 | 7.1 |
| 2005–06 | Washington | 71 | 9 | 15.8 | .533 | — | .600 | 3.9 | .2 | .3 | 1.0 | 4.7 |
| 2006–07 | Washington | 65 | 32 | 19.2 | .574 | — | .558 | 5.8 | .4 | .3 | 1.4 | 6.1 |
| 2008–09 | Washington | 26 | 7 | 11.8 | .485 | — | .696 | 2.5 | .2 | .1 | .7 | 3.1 |
| 2009–10 | Oklahoma City | 23 | 1 | 14.0 | .456 | — | .591 | 2.8 | .0 | .2 | .7 | 3.3 |
| 2010–11 | Atlanta | 13 | 0 | 6.3 | .476 | — | .800 | 1.8 | .2 | .1 | .3 | 2.5 |
| Career | 409 | 74 | 17.3 | .513 | — | .603 | 4.8 | .4 | .3 | 1.0 | 5.7 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Washington | 8 | 0 | 15.8 | .655 | — | .455 | 4.5 | .3 | .0 | .9 | 6.0 |
| 2006 | Washington | 3 | 0 | 6.0 | .400 | — | .500 | 2.0 | .0 | .7 | .7 | 2.0 |
| 2007 | Washington | 4 | 4 | 21.0 | .412 | — | .667 | 5.5 | .3 | .5 | .8 | 5.0 |
| 2010 | Oklahoma City | 2 | 0 | 8.5 | .833 | — | 1.000 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 6.0 |
| 2011 | Atlanta | 1 | 0 | 7.0 | .000 | — | — | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Career | 18 | 4 | 14.0 | .559 | .000 | .541 | 3.8 | .2 | .2 | .7 | 4.8 | |
See also
In Spanish: Etan Thomas para niños
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders
