Kurt Thomas (basketball) facts for kids
Thomas in 2009
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 4, 1972 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| High school | Hillcrest (Dallas, Texas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | TCU (1990–1995) |
| NBA Draft | 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Selected by the Miami Heat | |
| Pro career | 1995–2013 |
| Career history | |
| 1995–1997 | Miami Heat |
| 1997–1998 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1999–2005 | New York Knicks |
| 2005–2007 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2007–2008 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 2008–2009 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2009–2010 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2010–2011 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2011–2012 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2012–2013 | New York Knicks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 8,973 (8.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 7,328 (6.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,204 (1.1 apg) |
Kurt Vincent Thomas (born October 4, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a power forward and center. Thomas was known for his tough playing style and strong defense. He played for 18 seasons in the NBA.
Contents
Early Life and College Basketball
Kurt Thomas started playing basketball in Dallas, Texas. He played at Birdie Alexander Elementary and D.A. Hulcy Middle School. Later, he went to Dallas Carter High before moving to Hillcrest High.
After high school, Kurt attended Texas Christian University (TCU). In the 1994–95 season, he was amazing. He led all college players in scoring and rebounding. He scored 28.9 points per game and grabbed 14.6 rebounds per game. Only two other players in history had done this before him! TCU later retired his No. 40 jersey to honor his achievements.
Kurt Thomas's NBA Journey
Kurt Thomas was picked by the Miami Heat in the 1995 NBA Draft. He was the 10th player chosen overall. His NBA career lasted from 1995 to 2013.
Starting with the Miami Heat (1995–1997)
Kurt Thomas started his NBA career with the Miami Heat. In his first year, he played in 74 games and started 42 of them. He even scored 29 points and got 15 rebounds in one game! In his second season, he got a serious ankle injury. This injury needed surgery and made him miss most of the season. After his injury, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
Short Time with the Dallas Mavericks (1997–1998)
Kurt Thomas's time with the Dallas Mavericks was very short. He played only 5 games before injuring the same ankle again. This meant he missed the rest of that season too. The team's coach even hired him as an assistant coach while he recovered. After the season, Thomas decided to join the New York Knicks.
Years with the New York Knicks (1999–2005)
Kurt Thomas played seven seasons with the New York Knicks. This was the longest time he spent with any team. During these years, the Knicks made it to the playoffs four times. They even reached the NBA Finals in 1999! Thomas was a key player for the Knicks. He was known for his strong defense and hard work. In the 2001–02 season, he played in all 82 games and started every one. He averaged 13.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game that year. He also scored a career-high 33 points twice during his time with the Knicks.
Moving to Other Teams (2005–2012)
After his time with the Knicks, Kurt Thomas played for several other NBA teams. He played for the Phoenix Suns for two seasons (2005–2007). Then he was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007. A few months later, he was traded again to the San Antonio Spurs.
In 2009, Thomas joined the Milwaukee Bucks. He played there for one season. In 2010, he signed with the Chicago Bulls. With the Bulls, he got more playing time because some teammates were injured. ..... He averaged 4.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game that season. In 2011, he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Returning to the Knicks (2012–2013)
In 2012, Kurt Thomas returned to the New York Knicks for one more season. He was traded back to the team he had played for the longest. He played 39 games in his final NBA season before retiring in 2013.
NBA Career Statistics
Kurt Thomas played in 1,110 regular season games during his career. He averaged 8.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He was a consistent player known for his rebounding and defense.
More About Kurt Thomas
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season scoring leaders
See also
In Spanish: Kurt Thomas para niños
