David Thompson

The high-flying legend whose vertical leap redefined the game and anchored the Nuggets' early years.

David O'Neil Thompson, known universally as 'Skywalker', was an American professional basketball player who played for the Denver Nuggets in both the ABA and NBA. Born July 13, 1954, he led North Carolina State to its first NCAA championship in 1974 before joining the Nuggets, where his exceptional leaping ability made him a premier dunker of the 1970s. Thompson is one of only seven players to score 70 or more points in an NBA game and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. His career with Denver began after he chose the ABA over other offers, quickly becoming a fan favorite who averaged approximately 24.7 points in the 1976 ABA Finals.

Quick Facts

Born: 13 July 1954
Birthplace: Shelby, North Carolina, U.S.
High school: Crest (Shelby, North Carolina)
College: NC State (1972–1975)
Draft round: 1
Drafted by: Atlanta Hawks
Career position: Shooting guard
Career number: 33, 44

Lore & Background

Thompson's nickname 'Skywalker' was earned through his incredible vertical leap, a feat Michael Jordan described as the origin of the meaning of vertical leap. Bill Walton once called him 'Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and LeBron James rolled into one.' At NC State, he and teammate Monte Towe 'invented' the alley-oop pass to exploit Thompson's leaping ability under coach Norm Sloan. In college, he led the Wolfpack to a 30–1 season and the 1974 NCAA title, defeating UCLA in double overtime in the semifinals. One of his most famous collegiate dunks occurred in his final home game against UNC-Charlotte in 1975 but was disallowed by a technical foul due to the NCAA's dunk ban, which is distinct from the 'Lew Alcindor rule' (the latter specifically refers to goaltending regulations). In the professional ranks, he was named MVP of the 1976 ABA All-Star Game, receiving a credenza television set as his prize; however, he did not participate in the first-ever Slam-Dunk Competition at that game and was not a runner-up.

Reader's Guide

David Thompson's professional journey began when he was the No. 1 draft pick of both the ABA (Virginia Squires) and NBA (Atlanta Hawks) in 1975, though he signed with the Denver Nuggets. He played in the ABA for one season, winning Rookie of the Year, before continuing with the Nuggets post-merger where he made four NBA All-Star games. In 1982, the Nuggets traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics for Bill Hanzlik and a draft pick due to a scoring dip to 14.9 points. He experienced a brief revival in Seattle, averaging 15.9 points in 1982–83 before his career ended with a knee injury and subsequent retirement. Post-retirement, he returned to NC State in 2003 to complete his sociology degree, sharing the stage with his daughter Erika at graduation.

Did You Know?

Thompson scored 73 points on April 9, 1978, but lost the NBA scoring title by less than 0.1 points per game to George Gervin.
In 2023, Thompson was honored with a statue outside Reynolds Coliseum at NC State, joining Jim Valvano, who already had a statue there.
His career-ending knee injury occurred after he was shoved down a stairwell during a fight at Studio 54.