Kenny Thomas (basketball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kenny Thomas

Thomas in 2006
Personal information
Born	(1977-07-25) July 25, 1977 (age 48) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
High school	Austin (El Paso, Texas) Albuquerque (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
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
Second-team All-American – SN (1998) Third-team All-American – NABC (1998) 3× First-team All-WAC (1996, 1998, 1999) Third-team Parade All-American (1995)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States Summer Universiade Gold 1997 Trapani Team competition

Kenny Thomas (born July 25, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

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 final year, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. He joined the team at Albuquerque High School. During that senior season, Kenny was amazing. He scored about 25 points and grabbed nearly 17 rebounds in each game. His efforts helped Albuquerque High School achieve a great 22–3 record. They also won the Class 4A state championship. In 1995, Parade magazine recognized him as a top high school basketball player.

College Career Highlights

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 basketball team. Kenny holds several records for the Lobos, which is the university's team name.

• He is second in all-time scoring with 1,931 points.
• He is second in career blocked shots with 239.
• He is second in career dunks with 114.
• Kenny leads the school in career rebounds with 1,032.
• He also holds records for freshman scoring (484 points) and rebounding (256 rebounds).

Kenny was chosen as an All-American in 1998. He led the Lobos to win their first-round games in the NCAA Tournament four times in a row. The team had an incredible record of 71–3 at their home arena, The PIT, during Kenny's four years. This included a streak of 41 straight wins!

Playing in the NBA

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. Only one other rookie player did that in the same season. Kenny was always one of the top players for the Rockets in rebounds and blocked shots.

In the 2002–03 season, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. There, he earned the nickname "The K9." For the 2003–04 season, Kenny was one of only eleven players in the entire NBA to average a double-double. This means he averaged double digits in two categories, like points and rebounds, per game. He was also the shortest player to achieve this at 6 feet, 7 inches tall.

On February 23, 2005, Kenny was traded again. He went to the Sacramento Kings as part of a big trade. The Kings released him on February 18, 2010. After that, he was invited to a training camp with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2010. However, he was waived by them on October 11 of that year.

Life After Basketball

After his professional 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.

Kenny's Businesses

Today, Kenny is the president and CEO of T3 Productions LLC. This company does many different things. It works in television and film production. It also deals with sports entertainment and management. T3 Productions is involved in real estate development. They even work in the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) industry.

Supporting Athletes

Because of his long career in basketball, Kenny strongly supports college and professional athletes. He believes they should have more chances to use their name, image, and likeness (NIL) for business opportunities. As a former student of the University of New Mexico (UNM), he loves to cheer for their sports teams. Many people still remember him as one of the best athletes to ever play at UNM. He often attended Lobos Men's basketball games.

Hobbies and Family

Kenny is also a big fan of golf. He plays in many charity and private golf tournaments each year in New Mexico. Kenny has two children. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Basketball Camps and Charity Work

Kenny hosts several basketball tournaments and camps every 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.

Kenny founded the Kenny Thomas Foundation. This foundation helps young people in the community who are facing financial difficulties. It gives them chances for higher education and college scholarships. The foundation also helps families in need move from poverty to being able to support themselves. Kenny is also 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.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games

See also

In Spanish: Kenny Thomas para niños