DALLAS -- New York Knicks forward Kurt Thomas never thought he would last this long in the NBA.
A graduate of Dallas Hillcrest High School, Thomas is the oldest player in the league at age 40. The former TCU standout is in his 17th season and, of course, has heard more than his share of old man jokes, with many of them coming from teammate Jason Kidd.
"It changes every day,'' Thomas said before Wednesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. "They have some great one-liners for me.
"Today (Kidd) introduced me as the youngest guy in the league, so that’s how funny it is around here. But I have a ball. We have a lot of fun with it.''
Thomas was the 10th overall pick in the 1995 draft and has played for nine different teams. He played five games for the Mavs during the 1997-'98 season and is in his second stint with the Knicks.
The key to longevity in the NBA, Thomas said, is pretty obvious.
"Just continue to keep yourself in shape, continue to work on your game, and understand your strength and your weaknesses, '' Thomas said. 'And definitely try to avoid your weaknesses as much as possible.''
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