Kenneth Cornelius Thomas (born July 25, 1977) is an American retired professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
player who played eleven seasons in the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
(NBA).
High school career
He attended
Austin High School, in
El Paso, Texas
El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the county seat, seat of El Paso County, Texas, El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau w ...
, for three seasons before moving to
Albuquerque, New Mexico to play for
Albuquerque High School
Albuquerque High School is a public high school near Downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It is a part of the Albuquerque Public Schools district. Enrollment at AHS stands at 1,741.
AHS was named the 43rd best high school in the state ...
during his senior season. Averaging 25.2 points and 16.9 rebounds each game, Thomas helped Albuquerque to a 22–3 record and Class 4A state title. ''
Parade'' named him a boys' basketball All-American in 1995.
College career
Thomas attended the
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico (UNM; es, Universidad de Nuevo México) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1889, it is the state's flagship academic institution and the largest by enrollment, with over 25,400 ...
in Albuquerque, one of the highest-profile recruits to ever attend the school. He is second on the Lobos' all-time scoring list (1,931 points), career blocks list (239), and career dunks list (114), and leads the school's lists in career rebounds (1,032), freshman scoring (484) and rebounding (256), and personal fouls for a season (118) and career (383). Thomas is one of eight Lobos to be selected as an All-American (1998).
Kenny led the Lobos to four consecutive NCAA Tournament first round wins. UNM was an amazing 71–3 in The PIT in Kenny's four years with the Lobos including 41 consecutive wins.
NBA career
The
Houston Rockets selected Thomas as the 22nd pick in the
1999 NBA Draft. He led his team in rebounds for the
1999–2000 season, making him one of only two rookies to do so. Thomas was consistently among the team leaders in rebounds and blocked shots before being traded to the
Philadelphia 76ers during the
2002–03 season. He was then named, The "K9".
Thomas was one of only eleven players to average a
double-double
In basketball, a double-double is a single-game performance in which a player accumulates ten or more in two of the following five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. The first "double" in the term ...
for the
2003–04 season, and the shortest one at 6-foot, 7-inches.
On February 23, 2005, Thomas was traded to the Sacramento Kings in a deal that sent
Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III (born March 1, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player. Drafted number one overall by the Orlando Magic, though arguably best known and remembered as the star forward for the Sacramento Ki ...
to Philadelphia. On February 18, 2010, the Kings released Thomas after the trade deadline.
Thomas was invited to the
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
2010 pre-season camp, but was waived on October 11.
After basketball
Personal life
After basketball Kenny became an entrepreneur and established multiple businesses where he has been under the mentorship of basketball great, Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Currently, Kenny is the president and CEO of T3 Productions LLC, a versatile multi-faceted company that engages in various business ventures including, but not limited to television and film production, sports entertainment and management, real estate development, and the PPE industry. Given his tenure in the basketball industry from high school to college and 11 years in the NBA, Kenny is also a strong proponent in the push for name, image, and likeness availability and opportunities for college and pro athletes. As a University of New Mexico alum (“UNM”), Kenny enjoys rooting on their sports teams and is still recognized as one of the most celebrated athletes to ever play at UNM. He is an avid golfer and plays in many charitable and private tournaments throughout each year. Kenny has two children and currently resides in Sacramento, California.
[https://www.kennythomas.com/]
Basketball tournaments and camps
Kenny hosts multiple basketball tournaments and camps throughout the year in both New Mexico and California. He is also a member of the AAU basketball circuit.
Charitable work
Kenny is the founder of the Kenny Thomas Foundation dedicated to helping the community youth experiencing financial hardship by providing them with opportunities through higher education, college scholarships, and helping families in need of assistance move from poverty to self-sufficiency. He is also a member of several nonprofit boards including 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
, -
, align="left" ,
1999–00
, align="left" ,
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, 72 , , 29 , , 25.0 , , .399 , , .262 , , .660 , , 6.1 , , 1.6 , , .8 , , .3 , , 8.3
, -
, align="left" ,
2000–01
, align="left" ,
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, 74 , , 21 , , 24.6 , , .443 , , .272 , , .722 , , 5.6 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , .6 , , 7.1
, -
, align="left" ,
2001–02
, align="left" ,
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, 72 , , 71 , , 34.5 , , .478 , , .000 , , .664 , , 7.2 , , 1.9 , , 1.2 , , .9 , , 14.1
, -
, align="left" ,
2002–03
, align="left" ,
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, 20 , , 14 , , 29.3 , , .432 , , .000 , , .733 , , 6.9 , , 2.0 , , .8 , , .3 , , 9.9
, -
, align="left" ,
2002–03
, align="left" ,
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, 46 , , 28 , , 30.3 , , .482 , , .000 , , .750 , , 8.5 , , 1.6 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , 10.2
, -
, align="left" ,
2003–04
, align="left" ,
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, 74 , , 72 , , 36.5 , , .469 , , .200 , , .752 , , 10.1 , , 1.5 , , 1.1 , , .4 , , 13.6
, -
, align="left" ,
2004–05
, align="left" ,
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, 47 , , 43 , , 28.6 , , .456 , , .250 , , .798 , , 6.6 , , 1.6 , , .9 , , .1 , , 11.3
, -
, align="left" ,
2004–05
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 26 , , 15 , , 31.7 , , .492 , , .000 , , .722 , , 8.7 , , 2.9 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , 14.5
, -
, align="left" ,
2005–06
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 82 , , 55 , , 28.0 , , .505 , , .000 , , .676 , , 7.5 , , 2.0 , , .9 , , .5 , , 9.1
, -
, align="left" ,
2006–07
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 62 , , 53 , , 22.8 , , .482 , , .000 , , .513 , , 6.1 , , 1.2 , , .7 , , .3 , , 5.3
, -
, align="left" ,
2007–08
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 23 , , 3 , , 12.2 , , .421 , , .000 , , .000 , , 2.7 , , .6 , , .3 , , .0 , , 1.4
, -
, align="left" ,
2008–09
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 8 , , 0 , , 7.8 , , .375 , , .000 , , .000 , , 1.9 , , .1 , , .8 , , .1 , , .8
, -
, align="left" ,
2009-10
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 26 , , 2 , , 12.0 , , .486 , , .000 , , .583 , , 3.3 , , .6 , , .4 , , .4 , , 1.6
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 632 , , 406 , , 27.4 , , .465 , , .244 , , .699 , , 6.9 , , 1.5 , , .8 , , .4 , , 9.3
Playoffs
, -
, align="left" ,
2003
, align="left" ,
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, 12 , , 12 , , 32.4 , , .535 , , .000 , , .655 , , 9.3 , , .9 , , .7 , , .4 , , 10.6
, -
, align="left" ,
2005
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 5 , , 5 , , 30.6 , , .511 , , .000 , , .700 , , 8.8 , , 2.4 , , .8 , , .4 , , 12.0
, -
, align="left" ,
2006
, align="left" ,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, 6 , , 6 , , 24.7 , , .542 , , .000 , , .692 , , 4.5 , , 1.3 , , .8 , , .0 , , 5.8
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 23 , , 23 , , 30.0 , , .529 , , .000 , , .677 , , 8.0 , , 1.3 , , .7 , , .3 , , 9.7
References
External links
*
New Mexico Lobos bio(archived)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Kenny
1977 births
Living people
African-American basketball players
All-American college men's basketball players
American men's basketball players
Basketball players from Atlanta
Basketball players from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Basketball players from El Paso, Texas
Houston Rockets draft picks
Houston Rockets players
New Mexico Lobos men's basketball players
Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
Philadelphia 76ers players
Power forwards (basketball)
Sacramento Kings players
Universiade medalists in basketball
Universiade gold medalists for the United States
Medalists at the 1997 Summer Universiade
21st-century African-American sportspeople
20th-century African-American sportspeople