LaSalle Thompson
Encyclopedia
LaSalle Thompson III is an American
former professional basketball
player, who spent most of his 15-year career with the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings
and Indiana Pacers
. The 6'10", 245-pound Thompson spent time at both the center and power forward positions during his playing career. He later served as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats
, during head coach Larry Brown
's tenure.
as the school's all-time leader in rebounds with 1,027, despite the fact he played only three years. The record would stand for 21 years until it was broken by James Thomas
in 2004.
Thompson was drafted by the Kings with the fifth overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft
, making him the highest Texas player taken until LaMarcus Aldridge
was selected second overall in 2006
. In 1989-90, he averaging 13.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while spending a half-season in Sacramento and the other half in Indiana.
A regular starter for most of the first part of his career, in 1992-93 Thompson moved to a role as the tough-nosed veteran off the bench, as Rik Smits
and Dale Davis
started every game in which they played. Thompson was a key reserve on the first Pacers team to reach the Eastern Conference Finals series, in 1993-94.
After the 1994-95 season, Thompson signed with the Philadelphia 76ers
, playing there for a year before going to the Denver Nuggets
. He ended his career with nine more games in a Pacers uniform, following the trade-deadline deal that also brought Mark Jackson
back to Indiana.
in the American Basketball Association
in the 2000-01 season, which would be the only season of the Wildfire's existence.
Currently, he is co-owner of Prime Time Motors, an automobile sales firm in California
. http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/lasalle_thompson.html
On May 30, 2008, Thompson accepted an offer from Larry Brown
and the Charlotte Bobcats to become an assistant coach. http://www.charlotte.com/bobcats/story/646146.html
Has one son (Nickolas) who currently (as of 2011) plays basketball at Jonesboro High School in Arkansas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, who spent most of his 15-year career with the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. The 6'10", 245-pound Thompson spent time at both the center and power forward positions during his playing career. He later served as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
, during head coach Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
's tenure.
Playing career
Nicknamed "Tank", Thompson finished his career at TexasUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
as the school's all-time leader in rebounds with 1,027, despite the fact he played only three years. The record would stand for 21 years until it was broken by James Thomas
James Thomas (basketball)
James D. Thomas, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. A 6'8" forward from the University of Texas at Austin, Thomas was the recipient of the 2004-05 NBA Development League Rookie of the Year. He played in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and...
in 2004.
Thompson was drafted by the Kings with the fifth overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft
1982 NBA Draft
The 1982 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1982 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.-Key:-Draft:-Other picks:-External links:**...
, making him the highest Texas player taken until LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge is an American professional basketball player with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. He is a , 240-pound power forward/center and is one of Portland's two team captains, with the other being Brandon Roy....
was selected second overall in 2006
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
. In 1989-90, he averaging 13.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while spending a half-season in Sacramento and the other half in Indiana.
A regular starter for most of the first part of his career, in 1992-93 Thompson moved to a role as the tough-nosed veteran off the bench, as Rik Smits
Rik Smits
Rik Smits is a retired Dutch professional basketball player who spent his entire professional career with the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association. The 7'4" center was drafted by the Pacers out of Marist College with the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft...
and Dale Davis
Dale Davis (basketball)
Elliott Lydell Davis is a former American professional basketball player who played center and power forward. He is 6'11" and weighs 252 pounds....
started every game in which they played. Thompson was a key reserve on the first Pacers team to reach the Eastern Conference Finals series, in 1993-94.
After the 1994-95 season, Thompson signed with the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, playing there for a year before going to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. He ended his career with nine more games in a Pacers uniform, following the trade-deadline deal that also brought Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson (basketball)
Mark A. Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He played point guard for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets in the NBA in a career...
back to Indiana.
Post-NBA career
Thompson served a stint as general manager and head coach of the San Diego WildfireSan Diego Wildfire
The San Diego Wildfire was an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. The team played in the San Diego Sports Arena starting in the fall of 2000. The team played only the 2000-2001 ABA season....
in the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
in the 2000-01 season, which would be the only season of the Wildfire's existence.
Currently, he is co-owner of Prime Time Motors, an automobile sales firm in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/lasalle_thompson.html
On May 30, 2008, Thompson accepted an offer from Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
and the Charlotte Bobcats to become an assistant coach. http://www.charlotte.com/bobcats/story/646146.html
Has one son (Nickolas) who currently (as of 2011) plays basketball at Jonesboro High School in Arkansas.
External links
- LaSalle Thompson Bio @ Basketball-Reference.com