Offensive Game
One of the greatest scorers of his era. 73-point game in 1978. Four-time All-Star whose supernatural athleticism and skill made him virtually unstoppable at peak.
Career Journey
Denver Nuggets
1975-1982
David O'Neil Thompson, commonly known by the nickname "Skywalker", is an American former professional basketball player. He played with the Denver Nuggets of both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as the Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA before drug problems cut short his career. He was previously a star in college for North Carolina State, leading the Wolfpack to its first NCAA championship in 1974. Thompson is one of the eleven players to score 70 or more points in an NBA game. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.
Offensive Game
One of the greatest scorers of his era. 73-point game in 1978. Four-time All-Star whose supernatural athleticism and skill made him virtually unstoppable at peak.
Defensive Game
Active, engaged defender who used his athleticism to create turnovers and contest shots. Capable of elite defensive performances when engaged.
Intangibles
Elite scoring intelligence and ability to read defenses. His career arc suggests his IQ and skill were fully formed — personal struggles cut short a historically great career.
All articles
Before Michael Jordan, many considered David Thompson the most gifted shooting guard the sport had ever seen. His 44-inch vertical leap, his 73-point game, and his 1974 national championship defined an era — and why #33 belongs in the Ball Arena rafters.
Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
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Seattle SuperSonics
1982-1984
Personal Life & Family
Status
Married
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
NC State alumni programs
North Carolina youth basketball
Did You Know?
Thompson scored 73 points in the final regular season game of 1977-78 in an attempt to win the scoring title over George Gervin — the fourth-highest single-game total in NBA history at the time.
His vertical leap was measured at 44 inches, one of the highest in basketball history, earning him the Skywalker nickname that captured his ability to seemingly float above defenders.
Thompson led NC State to the 1974 national championship over an undefeated UCLA team that had won 88 consecutive games — considered one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history.
He was widely considered the most talented player in the world in the late 1970s before personal struggles derailed a career that many believe could have been historically great.
Career Honors
NBA All-Star (1977, 1978, 1979, 1982)
1974 NCAA Champion (NC State)
Naismith Award (1975)
ABA All-Star (1976)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1996)
Denver Nuggets #33 retired
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