College Basketball Legends:David Thompson

[Mike Barnes]

David Thompson holds the distinction, Of being one of the very best to ever play on the college basketbal circuit(In any era/LOL), David Thompson was one of the most respected cats to ever play in the ACC(Along with Phil Ford,Michael Jordan,Johnny Dawkins,Ralph Sampson,Lenny Bias,Etc), The 1974 NCAA Championship crew at North Carolina State, Featured, David

Thompson,Monte Towe,Moe Rivers(From Uptown/Harlem),Phil Spence,Tom Burleson(7'4 cat/LOL), Kenny Carr(DeMatha Highschool Product from Washington D.C),The 1974 North Carolina State crew that too it(Won the NCAA championship in 1974), Beat Marquette(Which was coached by Al

McGuire), The 1974 Marquette crew, Also featured cats, Such as, Butch Lee,Bo Ellis,Jerome Whitehead,Earl Tatum.LLoyd Walton,Etc, Al McGuire was thrown out of the 1974 NCAA championshop game against North Carolina State(The 1975 NCAA final were played at Reynolds Colisuem, On the campus of North Carolina state/LOL), Marquette was winning at the time that Al

McGuire was thrown out of the game(Because, Of a foul committed by Earl Tatum of Marquette, Against David Thompson(Who was mad over the box, When Earl Tatum Low-bridged him), North Carolina State was coached by Norm Sloan, Who was one of the most illegal coaches to ever coach in the game of college basketball(Along with Lefty Driesall,Jerry Tarkanian,Dana Kirk,Etc), Here's some more information on David Thompson.
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

David Thompson led North Carolina State University to an undefeated season (27-0) in 1973 (in which they were not eligible for the post-season), he led them to an NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1974, including vanquishing the reigning national champions, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). His nickname was "Skywalker" because of his incredible purported 48-inch vertical leap.[citation needed] The alley-oop pass, now a staple of today's high-flying, above-the-rim game was "invented" by Thompson and his NC State teammate Monte Towe, and first used as an integral part of the offense by NC State coach Norm Sloan to take advantage of Thompson's leaping ability.

NC State's game against the nationally 4th-ranked University of Maryland in the 1974 ACC Tournament finale, in an era in which only conference champions were invited to the NCAA Tournament, is considered one of the best, if not the greatest, college basketball games of all time. Thompson and teammate Tom Burleson led the #1-ranked Wolfpack to a 103-100 overtime win. Thompson and the Wolfpack would go on to win the National Championship that year while Maryland sat at home. Maryland's exclusion from the NCAA Tournament due to the loss despite their high national ranking would lead to the expansion of the NCAA Tournament the very next season to include teams other than the league champions.

In a league that included such talents as Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, Tim Duncan, Christian Laettner, and Len Bias, Thompson is widely considered the greatest player in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Thompson played basketball in a time in which the slam dunk was outlawed via the "Lew Alcindor" rule. In 1975, against University of North Carolina at Charlotte playing his final nonconference game at N.C. State, early in the second half Thompson drove the length of the court for his first and only dunk of his collegiate career, a goal that was promptly disallowed by technical foul. Head coach Norm Sloan removed Thompson, to thunderous applause. The ACC's most exciting player, who had performed for three years without ever performing the game's most exciting act, thus passed into history.

Michael Jordan who later grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina said that Thompson was his basketball role model, as a young man. At some of the basketball camps that Thompson ran, Jordan would often tell the campers, "He was the guy I looked up to when I was your age."

Thompson's 44 remains the only number NC State ever retired in Men's Basketball (although others have been "honored").

Professional career
Thompson was the No. 1 draft pick of both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association in the 1975 drafts of both leagues. He eventually signed with the ABA's Denver Nuggets. Explaining his choice between the establishment NBA and the ABA -- which offered less real money (but more "deferred" over the life of the contract) -- Thompson said when he met with the Hawks, the organization had seemed almost uninterested, to the point of treating him to a meal at McDonald's.

Thompson and Julius Erving were the finalists in the first ever Slam-Dunk Competition, held at the ABA All-Star Game at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver in 1976. The competition organizers had arranged the seedings to assure a final round pairing these two dynamic players. Erving won with the first ever foul-line dunk, to this day the standard for leaping and dunking prowess. Thompson, inexplicably, performed even more difficult dunks in warmups, but not in the competition itself -- including a dunk called the "cradle the baby" whereby he cradled the ball in the crook of his arm, raised it above the rim, and punched it through. (See Loose Balls by Terry Pluto)

Thompson made the NBA All-Star Game four seasons, and reached his peak in 1978 season. On April 9, 1978, the last day of the regular NBA season, Thompson scored 73 points against the Detroit Pistons in an effort to win the NBA scoring title (he barely lost the scoring title to San Antonio's George Gervin, who scored 63 points in a game played later that same day). He also led the Denver Nuggets to the NBA playoffs, but they lost to the eventual Western Conference champion Seattle Supersonics.

After the 1978 season, Thompson signed a record-breaking contract for $4 million over five-years. That amount was more than any basketball player ever had previously been paid. However, from that point, injuries and persistent problems with substance abuse would trouble Thompson and to the significant detriment of the remainder of his NBA career, which came to an end after the 1983-84 season. He severely injured his knee getting "flanged" down the steps of the notorious Studio 54, epicenter of the New York party scene and antithesis of his humble beginnings. He did attempt a comeback in 1985, but it was unsuccessful.


[edit] Life after the NBA
Following his NBA career, Thompson continued to struggle with drugs and alcohol, his life declining to the point where he found himself jailed for a brief period of time. With encouragement from a pastor who visited the jail, he became a committed Christian and put his life back in order. Thompson now devotes his time to working with young basketball players, helping them to aspire to his achievements and avoid his mistakes. His autobiography, Skywalker, charts the highs and lows of his eventful life.

Thompson was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player on May 6, 1996.

Thompson eventually returned to school at North Carolina State, and in 2003 he finished his degree in sociology, for which he had been only 7 credits shy when he left to play professional basketball in 1975. He completed his studies during the first summer session of 2003, thus finishing before his daughter, Erika, who completed her coursework in arts applications in the second summer session of 2003.


Professional statistics
Thompson's first professional year (1975-1976) was spent in the ABA. The rest of his career he played in the NBA as the ABA and NBA had merged in 1976.




[edit] College highlights
Three-year letter winner (1973-1975)
The Sporting News national Player of the Year (1975)
USBWA College Player of the Year (1975)
Consensus First-Team All-America (1973, 1974, 1975) by Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Eastman Kodak, The Sporting News
AP National Player of the Year (1974, 1975)
UPI Player of the Year (1975)
Eastman Kodak Award (1975)
Naismith Award (1975)
Adolph Rupp Trophy (1975)
Coach & Athlete Magazine Player of the Year (1975)
Helms Foundation Player of the Year (1974, 1975)
National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year (1975)
United States Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year (1975)
Dunlop Player of the Year (1975)
Sullivan Award finalist (1974, 1975)
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year (1973, 1974, 1975)
ACC Athlete of the Year (1973, 1975)
All-ACC First Team (1973, 1974, 1975)
North Carolina State retired his jersey number 44 (1975)
Led North Carolina State to the 1974 NCAA championship (30-1 record), 76-64 over Marquette University
In national semi-final win over UCLA, scored 28 points
In championship game, scored 21 points against Marquette
Most Valuable Player (MVP), NCAA Tournament (1974)
Led Wolfpack to a 79-7 record during his final three season (freshmen were ineligible then) including 57-1 during his sophomore and junior seasons (27-0, 30-1), the best in ACC history. His senior year record was 22-6.
Scored 2,309 points (26.8 ppg) in 86 varsity games; including highs of 57 points as a senior, 41 as a junior and 40 as a sophomore
Averaged 35.6 ppg, including a 54-point high on the North Carolina State freshman team
Grabbed 694 rebounds (8.1 rpg) in 86 games
World University Games MVP (1973)
Enshrined in North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1982)
NCAA All-Decade Team of the 1970s

[edit] ABA/NBA highlights
The Sporting News ABA Rookie of the Year (1976)
ABA Rookie of the Year (1976)
All-ABA (1976)
MVP, ABA All-Star Game (1976)
Competed in first ever slam dunk contest during half time of the 1976 ABA All-Star Game, eventually taking second to Julius Erving
All-NBA First Team (1977, 1978)
Four-time NBA All-Star
MVP, NBA All-Star Game (1979)
Only player in history named MVP of both the ABA and NBA All-Star Games
Scored a career-high 73 points against Detroit (April 9, 1978)
Scored a then-NBA record 32 points in the second quarter against Detroit Pistons, a record that was broken by George Gervin (33 against New Orleans Jazz on the same day ) when Gervin won the 1978 scoring title with a 63-point output
The Nuggets retired his jersey number 33 (Nov. 2, 1992)
Colorado Professional Athlete of the Year (1977)
Scored 2,158 points (26.0 ppg) in the ABA
Scored 11,264 points (22.1 ppg) in the NBA
Atlanta's first pick in the 1975 NBA draft
Virginia's first pick in the 1975 ABA draft

[Fletch]

.....still can't believe this cat is 6-4!

[Mike Barnes]

Fletch, One of the best dunks that i'e ever seen in my lifetime, Was in 1975, When David Thompson, Pole-Vaulted in the rim on Julius Erving,Larry Kenon,And Kim Hughes(All 3 cats jumped too/LOL),During a game between the/Denver Nuggets vs The New York Nets, Fletch, David Thompson's head was in the box my man(Me and my boys were sitting behind the basket at

The Nassau Colisuem, About 5 rows from the court), David Thompson's chest was at rim-Level my man, Fletch, The only cats that i've ever seen get up like that, Were Dominique Wilkens,Larry Nance,Tom Chambers(Fletch, Do you remember when Tom Chambers parachuted in the rim on Mark Jackson in the late 80's my man/LOL), A cat by the name of Edgar Jones(6'9 cat,Who used

To play For the New Jersey Nets),Darnell Hillman(6'9 cat, Who used to play for The Indiana Pacers in the ABA during the 70's),Etc, Fletch, Not to many cat that i've seen in my lifetime, Could get up there like David Thompson my man(WORD/LOL), Fletch, Do you remember when The Seattle Supersonics, Played the Denver Nuggets, In the 1977 Playoffs, My man, Cats still to this

Very day, Build about Dennis Johnson Holdin David Thompson to no Dribbles(Lockin a cat up to the ninth power/LOL), David Thompson just signed that mad large contract for 800'G's(The highest in the NBA at that time in 1977), Before the series with Seattle(Mad pressure to the ninth power), Along with everyone, But, Lenny Wilkens(Seattle's Head coach back then), Checking David Thompson, Everytime David Thompson inhaled some air to breath/LOL.
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[AK]

Who among us old heads can forget that last day of the season in '78 when DT dropped 73 and George Gervin came back with 63 to win the scroring title?

[Mike Barnes]

Alan, I most definitely remember David Thompson getting 78 and George Gervin getting 63 in 1978 my man/LOL, Alan, On the low, I heard David Thompson wanted to come out of the game, When he scored 78 points my man(Larry Brown,Former head coach of The Denver Nuggets, Back in the 70's, Wanted David Thompson to win the scoring title in 1978),David Thompson just wanted to win the game(Alan, I cannot remember the

Opponent that Denver played when David Thompson scored 78 points, I think it was The Detroit Pistons, But, If, I remember correctly, The Denver Nuggets Demo'd whoever they played that day to the ninth power, And, Larry Brown wanted David Thompson to win the scoring title in 1978), Alan, That 1978 Denver Nuggets crew was mad nice with their's my man, Cats like Anthoney Roberts(Who played for Oral Roberts University in the mid 70's, With my man Arnold Duggar from Clinton Highschool in the Bronx),Bobby Jones,Marvin

Webster(When he used to fetch cats shit With his/LOL),Ralph Simpson(6'5 cat in the backcourt),Monte Towe(We all remember this cat from North Carolina State/LOL),Bobby Wilkerson(Former Indiana University cat from the mid to late 70's),Etc, Alan, Larry Brown has coached some very nice teams in his career my man(New Jersey Nets/UCLA,Indiana Pacers,University of Kansas,Etc), But, Too me, The Denver Nuggets teams of the 70's(In the ABA as well as the NBA), Were the best teams that Larry Brown has ever coached in his career(Alan, We both remember how hard it was to advance in the NBA

Playoffs for alot of the teams playing in the NBA back in the 70's, Also, Alan, In that Greatest college basketball game of alltime, In The 1974 ACC Tournament Finals(At The Greensboro Coliseum, In Greensboro, North Carolina), Maryland had a crew my man/LOL, Maryland's crew featured:John Lucas,Tom McMillian(Former United States Senator out of Maryland),Brad Davis(6'3 cat in the backcourt who was nice with his),Moe Howard(Philadelphia cat inthe backcourt who was nice with his),Steve Sheppard

(Former Highschool All-American at Clinton Highschool in The Bronx from 1970-1974),Etc, David Thompson put in much work against Maryland(Though,Maryland had everbody, But, Lefty Driesall/Former head coach at Maryland during the 70's, Checking David Thompson, Along with Maryland employing a Box and 1 and Triangle and 2 defense, To stop David Thompson/LOL).
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[Tee Mallory]

Brother Mike I seem to remember an a slam dunk competition where Thompson got up to the top of the backboard to grab a quarter and came down with a dunk. Can you confirm this.

Peace

Tee Mallory

[Mike Barnes]

Tee Mallory, I cannot confirm that David Thompson got up to the top of the backboard in a Dunk Contest(Maybe in the ABA during the 70's), To grab a Quarter, And, Came Down with a dunk(Now, Tee, I'm not building that David Thompson could not accomplish that feat, In regards to touching the top of the backboard, Nor, I'm i not building about this actually taking place), Tee,

I've heard many stories of Earl Manigualt/Rip, Taking quarters off of the Top of the backboard(Earl Manigualt was a little before my time in the early to mid 60's), Along with Jackie Jackson from Uptown/Harlem, Who claimed that he used to touch the top of the Backboard too, In the 60's(Jackie Jackson is 6'4 cat who used to play for the Harlem Globetrotters in the 60's), Tee, The only cat that i've ever seen come mad close to touching the top of the

Backboard, is a cat named Larry(The GrassHopper)McNeil, Who used to play for Clinton Highschool in the Bronx in the late 60's/Early 70's, Larry McNeil also played for Marquette University in the early 70's too, Larry McNeil was right up there(Mad close to touching the top of the backboard/LOL), Larry McNeil did this(Tried to touch the top of the backboard), Before a Pro game at IS8 in the mid 70's(IS8 Summer Pro league).
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[Fletch]

Tee Mallory, I cannot confirm that David Thompson got up to the top of the backboard in a Dunk Contest(Maybe in the ABA during the 70's), To grab a Quarter, And, Came Down with a dunk(Now, Tee, I'm not building that David Thompson could not accomplish that feat, In regards to touching the top of the backboard, Nor, I'm i not building about this actually taking place), Tee,

I've heard many stories of Earl Manigualt/Rip, Taking quarters off of the Top of the backboard(Earl Manigualt was a little before my time in the early to mid 60's), Along with Jackie Jackson from Uptown/Harlem, Who claimed that he used to touch the top of the Backboard too, In the 60's(Jackie Jackson is 6'4 cat who used to play for the Harlem Globetrotters in the 60's), Tee, The only cat that i've ever seen come mad close to touching the top of the

Backboard, is a cat named Larry(The GrassHopper)McNeil, Who used to play for Clinton Highschool in the Bronx in the late 60's/Early 70's, Larry McNeil also played for Marquette University in the early 70's too, Larry McNeil was right up there(Mad close to touching the top of the backboard/LOL), Larry McNeil did this(Tried to touch the top of the backboard), Before a Pro game at IS8 in the mid 70's(IS8 Summer Pro league).
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

I've said all along that Hakim Warrick of the Grizzlies can do it! But since he's a Syracuse man, I must be soupin' that head up!

[Mike Barnes]

Fletch, I would build about Red Bruin touching the top of the backboard(Or, At least, Get very close to the top/LOL), Before I would build about Hakim Warrick touchin the top of the backboard my man(WORD/LOL), Fletch, Hakim Warrick does not get up like that my man(Too touch the top of the backboard/LOL), Though, Money(Hakim Warrick),Can get up for a cat that's 6'10, I never seen Hakim Warrick get up like that to proclaim that he can

Touch the top of the backboard my Man/LOL, Fletch, Another cat that i feel could come close to touching the top of the backboard, Is, Eric Marbury(Stephon Marbury's oldest brother),Fletch, I've seen Eric Marbury get up over the box, Throwing it(Dunking/LOL), On the layup line(And, Slinging it on cats too/LOL), When, Eric Marbury played for Lincoln in the mid to late 70's my man(WORD/LOL), Another cat who could get mad close to touching the top of the backboard, Was Gary Springer from Uptown/Harlem

(WORD/LOL), Gary Springer used to play for Franklin HighSchool, With, Richie Adams,Walter Berry,Etc, At Franklin during the late 70's to 1980, Gary Springer is 6'7, And, Gary Springer could get up mad,Mad,High, When he was in highschool at Franklin(Gray Springer could get up just as high as Red Bruin

Who is 6'4), Fletch, Cats have been soupin that, Touchin the top of the backboard, Nonsense up for decades my man/LOL, Fletch, My thing is, Once a cat gets up there(To Touch the top of the backboard, What is a cat gonna do next(While a cats up there in the air/LOL).
Much Respect
Mike Barnes