Etan Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Etan Thomas

Thomas with the Wizards in 2008
Personal information
Born	(1978-04-01) April 1, 1978 (age 47) 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
Third-team All-American – NABC (2000) First-team All-Big East (2000) 2× Big East Defensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000) Big East Most Improved Player (1998)
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 an American former professional basketball player. He played for the Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Beyond basketball, he is also a published poet, writer, activist, and motivational speaker. He co-hosts a sports talk show called Centers of Attention on ESPN Radio Syracuse.

Early Life and College Career

Etan Thomas's name comes from an ancient Egyptian king named Akhenaten. He played college basketball at Syracuse University from 1996 to 2000. During his time there, he averaged 11 points and almost seven rebounds per game. He earned a degree in business management.

Thomas was recognized for his skills in college. He was named the Big East Most Improved Player in his second year. In his junior and senior years, he won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award twice. After his successful college career, the Dallas Mavericks chose him as the 12th overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft. Before college, he played basketball at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Professional Basketball Career

Etan Thomas began his NBA journey with the Washington Wizards in 2001. He was traded to the Wizards without playing a game for the Mavericks. He played for Washington for eight years, though he missed the 2007–2008 season due to injury.

His best season was in 2003–2004, when he averaged 8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He also recorded 68 assists that season.

Overcoming Health Challenges

During a routine physical exam in 2007, doctors found that Etan Thomas had a leaking aortic valve in his heart. On October 11, 2007, he had successful open-heart surgery. He made an amazing comeback, returning to play for the Wizards on October 29, 2008. This was a full year after his surgery. In his first game back, he scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Later NBA Teams

In 2009, Thomas was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A month later, he was traded again to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On September 2, 2010, the Atlanta Hawks signed Thomas. His time with the Hawks (2010–2011) was his final season in the NBA. He played 13 games for Atlanta, averaging 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds. His last NBA game was on April 16, 2011, during the playoffs. He played for a few minutes in a win against the Orlando Magic. The Hawks were later eliminated from the playoffs.

Other Work and Activism

Etan Thomas is known for more than just basketball. He is also a writer and an activist.

In 2005, he published a book of poetry called More Than an Athlete: Poems by Etan Thomas. In 2012, he co-wrote his autobiography, Fatherhood: Rising to the Ultimate Challenge. This book talks about his own childhood and how important fatherhood is. Since 2020, he has been a writer and podcaster for Basketballnews.com. In 2022, he published another book, Police Brutality and White Supremacy: The Fight Against American Traditions.

Speaking Out for Change

Thomas at an anti-war protest in 2007

Etan Thomas became an activist after a difficult experience with police officers in high school. His speech teacher encouraged him to express his feelings through a speech. This experience made him realize the power of speaking out. His mother also taught him about athletes like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Muhammad Ali who used their fame to support important causes.

Thomas has spoken about how the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) operates. He believes the NCAA, which makes billions of dollars, does not always support student-athletes fairly. He shared how the NCAA tried to take away his wife's scholarship after she was injured in college.

He has also been involved in political and social causes. In 2005 and 2007, he spoke at anti-war rallies in Washington, D.C. He felt there was no clear reason for the Iraq War. He also supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008. In 2010, he donated $30,000 to help with relief efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Etan Thomas is also a strong advocate against police brutality.

Personal Life

Etan Thomas is a Baptist and attends the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. He helps organize youth forums, which are events where young people can discuss important topics.

NBA Career Statistics

Etan Thomas played in 409 regular season games during his NBA career. He averaged 5.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game.

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders