Kenny Thomas (basketball)


Kenneth Cornelius Thomas is an American retired professional basketball player who played eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association.

High school career

He attended Austin High School, in El Paso, Texas, for three seasons before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico to play for Albuquerque High School 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 in Albuquerque, one of the highest-profile recruits to ever attend the school. He is second on the Lobos' all-time scoring list, career blocks list, and career dunks list, and leads the school's lists in career rebounds, freshman scoring and rebounding, and personal fouls for a season and career. Thomas is one of eight Lobos to be selected as an All-American. 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.
Thomas was one of only eleven players to average a double-double 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 to Philadelphia. On February 18, 2010, the Kings released Thomas after the trade deadline.
Thomas was invited to the Memphis Grizzlies 2010 pre-season camp, but was waived on October 11.

After basketball

After basketball Kenny Thomas created Kenny Thomas Enterprises. The organization is operated as a Limited Liability Corporation and is in good standing in the State of New Mexico and California. Kenny Thomas Enterprises is already operational and currently does business in several states. Kenny is the CEO of KTE with a diverse board of supporters and constituents. Kenny has been operating as CEO since 2012 and is also under mentorship of basketball great, Earvin ‘Magic” Johnson. KTE is presently home to Infinity O2 Oxygenated bottled water, KT Athletic Wear, and El Rey On K, which opened in Sacramento in October 2016.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs