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.
Hall of Fame appearancesHistorical basketball documentaries
你知道吗?
你知道吗?
1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.