David O'Neil Thompson (born July 13, 1954) 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
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 six players to score 70 or more points in an NBA game
He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996
Thompson was known for his exceptional leaping ability that enabled him to become one of the game's premier dunkers in the 1970s and earned him the nickname of "Skywalker"
Michael Jordan said, "The whole meaning of vertical leap began with David Thompson."
Bill Walton described Thompson as "Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and LeBron James rolled into one".
Thompson is one of the six players to score 70 or more points in an NBA game. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. Thompson was known for his exceptional leaping ability that enabled him to become one of the game's premier dunkers in the 1970s and earned him the nickname of "Skywalker". Michael Jordan said, "The whole meaning of vertical leap began with David Thompson. ". Bill Walton described Thompson as "Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and LeBron James rolled into one".