Kenny Thomas Joins Albuquerque Youth Hoops Event

Former NBA great and New Mexico sports hall-of-famer Kenny Thomas took part in a community basketball event aimed at keeping local kids engaged.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a basketball player mid-drive on an indoor court, warm sunlight slanting across the floor. — Former NBA great Kenny Thomas joined local kids for three-on-three scrimmages at Albuquerque's Haunted Hoops event, hosted by City Councilor Dan Champine. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Albuquerque's Seasons of Non-Violence program hosted Haunted Hoops, an event where local kids played three-on-three scrimmages alongside NBA great Kenny Thomas. City Councilor Dan Champine hosted the event.

Why it matters

The event is part of an ongoing effort to prevent juvenile crime in the metro by giving kids a connection to their community and an outlet for their energy. It offers local youth direct access to a New Mexico sports figure.

No quantitative sports metrics were reported for the event. The source provides no attendance figures, scoring data, or program outcome statistics.

The players

Kenny Thomas

Kenny Thomas is a former NBA player and a New Mexico sports hall-of-famer who joined the event to play with local kids.

Dan Champine

Dan Champine is a Albuquerque City Councilor who hosted the Haunted Hoops event as part of the city's juvenile crime prevention efforts.

The details

Kids played three-on-three scrimmages during the Haunted Hoops event, which Councilor Dan Champine hosted. Kenny Thomas, an NBA great and New Mexico sports hall-of-famer, joined the event to play with local youth.

Saturday, October 2026: Haunted Hoops event held in Albuquerque.

Season Trajectory

The Haunted Hoops event is one activity within Albuquerque's Seasons of Non-Violence program, which runs ongoing outreach to prevent juvenile crime in the metro. The program uses sports and community contact as a deliberate alternative to street involvement for young people.

Local youth in the Albuquerque metro have the chance to attend community basketball events run through the Seasons of Non-Violence program. The event gives kids direct contact with a former NBA player in a structured setting.

The takeaway

Community sports programs can give young people a structured outlet and positive adult contact that competes with street involvement. Families interested in similar youth programs can contact their local city council office.