WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas will have heart surgery Thursday.

Thomas missed the start of training camp after a routine physical revealed an abnormality. After further evaluation, the team announced Wednesday that surgery would be required to repair a leak of the aortic valve.

The Wizards said they won't comment on Thomas' condition until after the surgery is completed.

The 29-year-old Thomas has played only for the Wizards during his six-year NBA career and is the team's longest-tenured player. He was drafted No. 12 overall by Dallas out of Syracuse in 2000, but didn't play for the Mavericks because of a toe injury. He was traded to Washington in a multiplayer deal in February 2001.

Thomas started a career-high 32 games last season, averaging 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while splitting playing time with Brendan Haywood. Thomas and Haywood were expected to compete for the starting job again this season, but a cardiac test on the eve of the Oct. 2 start of training camp showed an irregularity. Thomas has since undergone more tests to determine the cause.

Thomas also is known as a community activist and poet. He released a book of poems titled More Than An Athlete in 2005 and is active with the Boys and Girls Club, the Democratic National Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Congressional Black Caucus and Rock the Vote.

Thomas was about to begin the fourth year of a six-year, $38 million contract he signed during the summer of 2004. The contract was the result of the Wizards matching an offer sheet from the Milwaukee Bucks when Thomas was a restricted free agent.

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