John Thomas (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 8, 1975 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| High school | Roosevelt (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Minnesota (1993–1997) |
| NBA Draft | 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25th overall |
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |
| Pro career | 1997–2013 |
| Career history | |
| 1997–1998 | Boston Celtics |
| 1998–2000 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2001–2002 | Diablos de La Vega |
| 2002–2003 | Dakota Wizards |
| 2003–2004 | Casademont Girona |
| 2004–2005 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2005 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2005–2006 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2006 | New Jersey Nets |
| 2007–2008 | Colorado 14ers |
| 2009–2010 | Hapoel Holon |
| 2011 | Aris |
| 2011–2012 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| 2012 | Jeonju KCC Egis |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
John Thomas (born September 8, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a power forward and center. John was known for his strong presence and skills on the court.
Contents
Early Life and College Career
John Thomas was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He went to Roosevelt High School in his hometown. After high school, John played college basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was the captain of the team in the 1996–97 season. That year, his team made it all the way to the Semi-Finals of the 1997 NCAA tournament. This was a big achievement for the team.
Professional Basketball Career
NBA Draft and Early Trades
In 1997, John Thomas was chosen by the New York Knicks in the 1997 NBA draft. He was the 25th player picked overall. However, he never played a game for the Knicks. He was traded to the Boston Celtics soon after the draft. This trade happened in October 1997.
A few months later, in February 1998, John was traded again. This time, he went to the Toronto Raptors. He played for the Raptors until 1999.
Playing for the Timberwolves and Other Teams
After playing for the Raptors, John Thomas played for several other teams. In October 2004, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played in 44 games for them during that season.
In November 2005, John joined the Atlanta Hawks. He was with them for a short time before moving to the New Jersey Nets to finish the 2005–06 season. He played in two games for the Nets.
International Play and Later Career
John Thomas also played basketball in other countries. In 2009, he signed with Hapoel Holon in Israel. During the 2009–10 season, he was the best rebounder in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. This means he grabbed the most missed shots.
In January 2011, he moved to Greece to play for Aris B.C.. He stayed there until April 2011. The next season, in 2012, he played for Jeonju KCC Egis in South Korea. John Thomas continued his professional career until 2013.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from playing basketball, John Thomas continued to work in the sport. As of 2014, he was the National Coordinator for Ultimate Hoops. This is a basketball league for adults. In 2015, he became their National Manager of Training. He helps train players and manage the league.
See also
In Spanish: John Thomas para niños
