Thomas last played with the Atlanta Hawks from 2010 until 2011, though, to date, he has not officially announced from professional basketball. Prior to the 2008 season, Thomas underwent open heart surgery after team doctors found he was suffering from an aortic valve that was leaking. Thomas published his first book, a collection of poetry, in 2005, called “More Than an Athlete: Poems by Etan Thomas”. Several of his poems spoke of his time in the NBA. He is active in several political events and was an outspoken supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential run in 2008.