Kenny Thomas (basketball) facts for kids
Thomas in 2006
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| Born | July 25, 1977 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | New Mexico (1995–1999) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22nd overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1999–2010 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Houston Rockets | |||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | Sacramento Kings | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Kenneth Cornelius Thomas (born July 25, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contents
High School Basketball Journey
Kenny Thomas started his high school basketball career at Austin High School in El Paso, Texas. He played there for three seasons. For his senior year, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, he joined Albuquerque High School.
During his final high school season, Kenny was amazing. He scored an average of 25.2 points and grabbed 16.9 rebounds in each game. He helped his team achieve a great 22–3 record. They also won the Class 4A state championship. In 1995, Parade magazine named him a boys' basketball All-American. This means he was one of the best high school players in the country.
College Basketball Career
After high school, Kenny Thomas went to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He was one of the most exciting new players to ever join the school's team, the Lobos. He holds many records for the Lobos.
Kenny is second in all-time scoring with 1,931 points. He is also second in career blocks with 239. He leads the team in career rebounds with 1,032. As a freshman, he set records for scoring (484 points) and rebounding (256 rebounds). Kenny was chosen as an All-American in 1998. This shows how talented he was.
He led the Lobos to win their first-round games in the NCAA Tournament four times in a row. The team was incredibly strong at their home arena, The PIT. They won 71 of 74 games while Kenny was there. This included an amazing streak of 41 wins in a row!
NBA Career Highlights
The Houston Rockets picked Kenny Thomas as the 22nd player in the 1999 NBA draft. In his first season (1999–2000), he led his team in rebounds. He was one of only two rookies to do this that year. Kenny was always one of the top players for the Rockets in rebounds and blocked shots.
In the 2002–03 season, Kenny was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Fans and teammates started calling him "The K9." He continued to play strongly. In the 2003–04 season, Kenny was one of only eleven players in the entire NBA to average a double-double. A double-double means he averaged double-digit points and double-digit rebounds per game. He was also the shortest player at 6 feet, 7 inches tall to achieve this.
On February 23, 2005, Kenny was traded again. He went to the Sacramento Kings as part of a big trade. He played for the Kings until February 18, 2010, when they released him. After that, he was invited to a training camp with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2010 but was later released.
Life After Basketball
Kenny's Personal Life and Businesses
After his basketball career, Kenny Thomas became a successful businessman. He started several companies. He even had the chance to learn from basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
Today, Kenny is the president and CEO of T3 Productions LLC. This company does many different things. It works in television and film, sports entertainment, and real estate. Kenny also supports college and professional athletes. He believes they should have more chances to earn money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
Kenny is still a big fan of the University of New Mexico Lobos. He often goes to their basketball games. He is also a very good golfer and plays in many charity tournaments. Kenny has two children and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Basketball Camps and Tournaments
Kenny loves to share his basketball knowledge. He hosts many basketball tournaments and camps throughout the year. These events take place in both New Mexico and California. He is also part of the AAU basketball circuit, which helps young players develop their skills.
Helping the Community
Kenny Thomas is also very involved in charity work. He started the Kenny Thomas Foundation. This foundation helps young people in need. It gives them chances for higher education and college scholarships. The foundation also helps families move from poverty to being able to support themselves.
Kenny is a member of several non-profit boards. These include the ALS New Mexico Chapter board, the African American Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and The University of New Mexico Black Alumni Chapter. He works hard to make a positive difference in his community.
Images for kids
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Thomas in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Kenny Thomas para niños
