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ShareKenny Thomas Re-Signs to Multi-Year Deal Quotes
Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Billy King announced on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, that the Sixers have re-signed forward Kenny Thomas to a multi-year deal. Below are some quotes from the press conference.
Sixers President and General Manager Billy King
On re-signing Kenny Thomas
“ My No. 1 priority after the season was to re-sign Kenny Thomas, and we are here today to sign him. It’s somebody who we’ve been trying to acquire, and now we’re keeping him here in Philadelphia. What the fans were able to see is that towards the end of the season Kenny is in a state to build on, and I’m excited to have Kenny back. He’s a great addition (to the team). This was our No. 1 priority, and I feel good to get that accomplished on the first day.”
Kenny Thomas
On re-signing with the Sixers
“I’ve been waiting for this day for the past 25 years. I’m 25 right now, and I’ll actually be 26 in six days. To be able to play in the NBA, this is a dream come true. To be able to come back to Philadelphia, and now this is going to be my home, to be able to bring up my 3-year-old son and my fiancé-- it just feels good. I’m going to come back to Philadelphia and just play hard like I did all season.”
“I consider this (Philadelphia) home, and when I came here, they accepted me with open arms-- all the players and the staff. It was really hard for me to begin because I was at a place for three and a half years and had just bought a home, but that’s all behind me now. Now I’m in Philadelphia, and I just have to accept this role and come here and play hard.”
On his role as a 76er
“I’m trying to come here in the best shape of my life. I’ve changed my body in the last three and a half years I’ve been here. It’s amazing the opportunity you can get when you come out here and work hard. To be able to go to the training camp is going to feel great. I’m sure Randy (Ayers) is going to be able to tell me my role, and maybe my role will change. My biggest focus was, if I came back here, I wanted the ball a little bit more. I think we’re going to try and get that done. I’m still going to rebound and do the stuff that I need to do, but I just want the ball, too.”
“Once I get the ball, I don’t have to shoot. I’m a great passer, and I find my teammates open. When I got the opportunity to have the ball, I did that. I can also score.”
“I talked to Randy a little bit, and he was asking me where I feel comfortable getting the ball. I told him off the box, on the left or right hand side. Just trying to get to the basket will be my thing.”
On his transition from Houston to Philadelphia
“Coming from a Rudy Tomjanovich to a Larry Brown system is totally different. Rudy is laid back, and Larry is really aggressive. Larry brought out the best of me as far as playing hard. I wanted to please him because he was a Hall of Fame coach. To have his respect, that felt good, but now Larry is gone. Randy can come here and do a good job."
Sixers President and General Manager Billy King
On re-signing Kenny Thomas
“ My No. 1 priority after the season was to re-sign Kenny Thomas, and we are here today to sign him. It’s somebody who we’ve been trying to acquire, and now we’re keeping him here in Philadelphia. What the fans were able to see is that towards the end of the season Kenny is in a state to build on, and I’m excited to have Kenny back. He’s a great addition (to the team). This was our No. 1 priority, and I feel good to get that accomplished on the first day.”
Kenny Thomas
On re-signing with the Sixers
“I’ve been waiting for this day for the past 25 years. I’m 25 right now, and I’ll actually be 26 in six days. To be able to play in the NBA, this is a dream come true. To be able to come back to Philadelphia, and now this is going to be my home, to be able to bring up my 3-year-old son and my fiancé-- it just feels good. I’m going to come back to Philadelphia and just play hard like I did all season.”
“I consider this (Philadelphia) home, and when I came here, they accepted me with open arms-- all the players and the staff. It was really hard for me to begin because I was at a place for three and a half years and had just bought a home, but that’s all behind me now. Now I’m in Philadelphia, and I just have to accept this role and come here and play hard.”
On his role as a 76er
“I’m trying to come here in the best shape of my life. I’ve changed my body in the last three and a half years I’ve been here. It’s amazing the opportunity you can get when you come out here and work hard. To be able to go to the training camp is going to feel great. I’m sure Randy (Ayers) is going to be able to tell me my role, and maybe my role will change. My biggest focus was, if I came back here, I wanted the ball a little bit more. I think we’re going to try and get that done. I’m still going to rebound and do the stuff that I need to do, but I just want the ball, too.”
“Once I get the ball, I don’t have to shoot. I’m a great passer, and I find my teammates open. When I got the opportunity to have the ball, I did that. I can also score.”
“I talked to Randy a little bit, and he was asking me where I feel comfortable getting the ball. I told him off the box, on the left or right hand side. Just trying to get to the basket will be my thing.”
On his transition from Houston to Philadelphia
“Coming from a Rudy Tomjanovich to a Larry Brown system is totally different. Rudy is laid back, and Larry is really aggressive. Larry brought out the best of me as far as playing hard. I wanted to please him because he was a Hall of Fame coach. To have his respect, that felt good, but now Larry is gone. Randy can come here and do a good job."
