Believe it dude. If you had seen Thompson play, you would have been awestruck. The best college player I ever saw- no one else not even close. He ran up and down the court better than anyone else. So smooth and effortless. And the 48 vertical? Yep. It was a fact.
DT had serious hops, which is what he's remembered for. But he was a great all-around player. Would have been top 10 all-time if not for the drug problem
wow, that's me holding the d.t. poster with my dad looking up at me (bald head) this was the only game he and i ever went to together (he wasn't much of a sports fan)...it was a playoff game against the phoenix suns...i was friends with the ball boy and gave him the poster to take into the locker room to get signed...unfortunately, someone stole it off the gatorade cart before that ever happened...incredibly odd and special to see this after all these years...sorry to bore some with this post
For all the young buttheads that think what happened in the last 5 years only matters, I actually saw DT play and yes he could touch the top of the backboard. In the 1970's & 1980's NBA, there are only 3-4 guys per team as athletic as todays players, but DT would have been great in any era. Players now are better dunkers but not better players. Passing, defense, screens and fundamentals are not part of their game. Watching Melo for 8 years, he has yet to take a charge. The Dunk is overrated
This was the jordan before jordan, if he came along 5 to 10 years later, he would be known as one of jordans greatest competitors. he was washed up right when jordan entered.
you guys are idiots. In a basketball game, you dont try to jump as high as you can when you defend... it isnt a game up jumping. Otherwise, your air time would allow the opponent to drive past you... He is a basketball great, if he was a fraud, people would've called him out already.
@b1346 Well said. Dave is the real deal. They didn't call him Skywalker Thompson for nothing. A lot of the slam and defense moves that you see in these highlights, he started and you see todays players doing it. Kobe's go to the rim and around it to slam trademark/signature move can be seen in this video. And the block that Lebron is known for can be seen here too where he chased down the player. Dave could jump that high. Check out the pay where he blocked Bill Walton from a stand still jump.
David Thompson would be a incredible athlete in any era. Alot of players today do have his leaping ability but not many have the combination of a amazingly quick first step and speed to go along with that leaping ability.
I saw Thompson literally jump over Artis Gilmore on a dunk and then do a 360 dunk a few minutes later on a fast break. All these idiots that are trying to compare Blake Griffin to these guys that started the whole power dunk style don't know a thing.
@norkaalum Trust, those that are talking shit are young with no clue of NBA history. Todays players would get owned because they lack fundamentals. Most are just athletes. I'd put a early 1980's Lakers up against any of todays players and they'd loose.
Bear in mind David was only 6'4".His vertical was beast. Thompson led North Carolina State to the NCAA Championship in 1974. In 1978, he scored 73 points the last game of the season, trying to take the NBA scoring title. George Gervin played later the same night knowing what he would need to beat David, and went for 63 to win the crown. Amazing.
@emmettk while I couldn't agree more that Thompson was a human highlight film, the fact is he was actually just a little over 6'2 - you notice he's never able to palm the ball, had small size hands, he depended on his incredible timing and unreal hang time to dunk over taller players - if anything, the fact he could score so easily in the paint is all the more incredible-plus he was also an excellent outside shooter, ballhandler and passer-one of the unappreciated all time greats, The Skywalker
@GarrettCOOP there are plenty of guys in the N.B.A. and college that can. dont get me wrong for his era he was a incredible athlete, but by today standards he is just another one in the bunch. still a great dunker and decent player.
@GarrettCOOP I'd like some evidence of this. I came here hearing the dude could touch the top of the backboard, but for some reason these vids only show his head touching the net. He'd prob need to put his chin on the rim to get close to the backboard, I smell a turd...
@epics7 Lol I want to think he can jump that high! If I told you I could dunk but you have seen me struggle to touch the net, would you believe me? I have the utmost respect for older generations of players, but I just haven't seen the guy even come close to hitting his head on the rim.
Even if he could hit his head on the rim, he'd still be a foot short of touching the top of the backboard!
skywalker i remember seeing him play when i was a kid for the nuggets my boys. I'am sorry his drug use got in the way ,otherwise he would have been in th hof.
The original sky walker. Back in the days you did not want to be in the key when David Thom[son had the ball. There was good chance you were going to be part of his poster collection.
@MrSquirrelsmith Um Dave actually did have a 48 vert. He was the first to start the vert leap in the game. No you don't see it in here. But there are videos that back that up. M.J. his idol mentioned that leap in one of his interviews that can be found on here. You must be young. Those that played against him can back that up and would know better than us because they played against the man.
@archaenadek David actually had that type of vert leap. Many payers from his era can back that up. My old man use to watch those 1970's games, Dave Thompson came up more than once in topic. The height thing is the first thing that both him and my cousin would talk about. The late Boston Celtics player Dennis Johnson said that when he played against him, Dave jump so high for a rebound at the rim, his head went past it. Jordan, his idol talked about his hops.
"Look how high he is, his hand is up in the rim, his head is almost touching the net".... Haha.... Nowadays their heads are up to the rim!!!!! He couldn't touch the top of the backboard, that's ridiculous. He could get the top of the square maybe...
@chezkenny I AM SORRY BUT ARE U BLIND?HIS HEAD IS MUCH HIGHER THAN FORM THR NET(1.16).RHOMPSON HAD VERTICAL LEAP 48 INCHES WHEN CARTER AND LEBRON HAS 43!THAT WAS 35 YEARS AGO WITHOUT TRAINING FACILITIES AND STEROIDS!
@AdreasTheGreat I'm sorry but are you DEF? Listen to the commentary and maybe you'll understand what quotes are used for... "without training facilities and steroids" and accurate vertical jump test... haha
@chezkenny ALL I SAY IS THAT THERE WERE MANY PLAYERS WITH ATHLETIC ABILITIES BACK THEN AND THE POINT THAT NOW THEY HAVE BETTER LEAPING ABILITY IS A FAIRY TALE!UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THE PLAYERS HAVE ONLY ATHLETISISM BUT NO OTHER SKILLS...
@UR2H ACTUALLY IN ALL SITES I FOUND 44-48 AND DRJ WHO FACED HIM SAID THOMPSON HAD 48!BUT MY POINT WAS THAT THERE WERE MANY ATHLETIC PLAYERS BACK THEN THAT WOULD BE EVEN MORE ATHLETIC WITH TODAY'S TRAINING TECHNIC!MANY YOUNG GUYS THINK THAT ATHLETISISM WAS ''BORN'' IN 00'S AND THAT IS JUST STUPID!
@chezkenny I AM SORRY BUT ARE U BLIND?HIS HEAD IS MUCH HIGHER FORM THE NET(1.16).RHOMPSON HAD VERTICAL LEAP 48 INCHES WHEN CARTER AND LEBRON HAS 43!THAT WAS 35 YEARS AGO WITHOUT TRAINING FACILITIES AND STEROIDS!
I like the bit at the end when the commentator says "Look how high he is; his hand is in the rim and his head is almost touching the net!" Ha! Wow his hand is in the rim! Old school commentators are so cute!
David Thompson came to my HS- Nathan Hale(1988), to speak when he was going through his drug problems.
He was also at the time in a relationship with a Seattle woman- Donna, who was my friend's(Donald) mother and lived in a house rightdown from the Rainier Vista Projects on MLK Way...
@maintenance55 a prime david thompson is easily an overall much better player by leaps and bounds compared to shannon brown though. a prime david thompson, mixed in with today's weight training could probably play on the same level as d wade easily.
@miserycitytexas Thats a good point, talking about today weight training...truthfully i never saw too much of thompsons game...the vertical is crazy for that height though....
david thompson could jump and is a highlight type player,,,,but he couldnt carry bill waltons shoes,,,,bill walton high school undefeated 3 yrs,,,college ,,should have won all three ncaa titles,,,north carolina state and thompson met ucla at nuetral site,,first game of season,,ucla won by 30 points and keith wilkes totally ouplayed thompson,,,ncaa title game,,triple over time,,ucla loses,,,20,000 fans,1st game at new n carolina st arena,burlson drapped on walton whole game ,no calls,,bullshit
Trying to find the video where his foot hits a Pitt players shoulder, and he busted his head on the floor. His next best play was outjumping Bill walton on a tip off.
Remember, he had to drop the ball in the basket in college when they alley-ooped him.......Monte Towe forever.
@cavemanhookers Glad you reminded me about that. Younger fans may not know because of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar ), the NCAA had outlawed dunking. That robbed us of seeing Skywalker throw it down until he entered the NBA. The other dominant college player in his time was Bill Walton. Like Kareem, he had to develop inside shots that couldn't be disallowed as dunks.
I remember oh too well Mr. Thompson being a UCLA fan back then. The Wolfpack upset the Greatest UCLA team ever assembled, Bill Walton & Co. coached by the Wizard of Westwood in perhaps the greatest ncaa game of all time. Like a Big Cat what he want he gets on both ends of the floor.Stunning is the right adjective for this legendary player
Probably caught it 'cuz I was watching this vid late one night..your mind tends to play tricks at night when you're all alone. But it was still funny... dude got clowned by some sports announcer or evil fan.
haha his head almost touching the net alot of people could do that now. but it was good for his day cause they wouldnt lift so much weights and they didnt know so much about jumping
he is a great dunker and so is MJ and so is Dominique, but what do people argue about this, when everyone should agree that Vince Carter is the best dunker of all time. Best game dunker and best slam dunk contest dunker, hands down!
Did you not read my comment? Surely it wasn't hard to deduce my logic from it. The reason I said Shaq was because Shaq has probably gotten as many points just off of dunks as VC has scored total in his whole career.
I think dude was and still is overrated ppl say he could touch the top of the backboard but where is the footage? have you seen it? i havent tired of ppl overexaggerating the guy could jump but top of the backboard I doubt it. in the highlights he was barely over the rim sometimes
As for the top ten plays of Thompsons career,that is bull.The NBA should get off their lazy behinds and dig up the real footage because the humble Mr. Thompson would never insist on it.But for your sake,I will tell you of one game against the Pacers when the Skywalker was going for an alley hoop and hit his hip on the bottom of the backboard and the game had to be stopped to put the goal back in its original position.
I saw a guy jump all the way over a 10 foot rim/backboard not only that but he did a back flip. running no trampoline in a game he didn't dunk it he just dropped the ball from the sky like a little bomb into the basket.
I grew up in Colorado and was a huge David Thompson fan he gets no recognition and I am so glad to see MJ giving him a chance to be recognized and hopefully have people see him for what he was, an incredible basketball player!! And by the way he did not win the scoring title despite scoring 73 points in that final season game as an earlier posting had said, he lost the title to the "Iceman" who had 63 points in his final game of the season!!
DT would've been one of the best players in NBA history as well if he'd stayed out of drugs. This guy had NBA skills for 3 years of college ball. He is one of the all time ACC scoring leaders without being allowed to play his Freshman year, without being able to dunk, and without a 3 point line. This guy was absolutely amazing to watch and it is VERY classy for MJ to pick him. You only wish more people knew about the original SKYWALKER.
The only thing I remember about david thompson was he was a drug addict and an alcoholic. This is why most people haven't heard of him. He's a horrible role model for our children. The only role model I trust is Michael Jackson cause he's dead.
I understand how you feel but David Thompson is actually a great role model now. He spends a lot of time going to schools and speaking to kids everywhere about how drugs destroyed him and does all that he can to help them avoid the mistakes he made.
David Thompson scored 73 points in the final game of the 1978 (he played for the Denver Nuggets)to win to scoring title against George Gervin (Gervin scored 63 points the same night, David needed to score 69 or more to win) He also competed against Dr. J in the first ABA slam dunk competitions. This guy won NCAA championship, by himself, in 1974 with NC State. (Beating Bill Walton UCLA in the regionals). His nickname THE SKYWALKER. 6'4" and 48 inch vertical leap and deadly outside shooter.
I grew up on D.T.and believe me when I say that he was the truth before M.J.He was like water.Fluid and smooth,unpredictable and an offense that he could turn on that was as violent as tsunami.
DT had a 44" verticle. I'm was a big Dr. J fan, but David could do in different way do everything Doctor could do. Got a drug habit and then blew his knee out. If not for those things he would have been on NBA's 50th Greatest list.
maybe because he onlu played 9 seasons in the nba hes not in the hall of fame and he only had 4 seasons scoring 20+ points. But he should be given a bit more recognitiion
Now that i know who thompson is no im not suprised that he will present M.J.......m.j has thompsons game writting all over it,its like kobe mimmics jordans game,well we now know who jordan used to mimmic.THANKS TO THE GREAT MICHEAL JORDAN FOR ALL THA GREAT MEMORYS AND THEIR IS NO ONE MORE DESIRVING THAN HE!
True. No one will be able to replace him. This induction has helped to remind us how special Jordan was. He's bigger than numbers can say. DT was some athlete.
that might be a bit of a stretch there "NCSU187" with the idea that Towe and Thompson invented the ally oop
Dunking was banned in college basketball during the time that Thompson and Towe played together at NCSU
wwjarrett46 12 hours ago
the role model of Michael Jordan.
TheNDCtalent2010 3 days ago
How could you disrespect David Thompson he was Michale Jordans idle oh and he and monte towe invented the ally oop
NCSU187 2 weeks ago
Believe it dude. If you had seen Thompson play, you would have been awestruck. The best college player I ever saw- no one else not even close. He ran up and down the court better than anyone else. So smooth and effortless. And the 48 vertical? Yep. It was a fact.
mbpwrites 3 weeks ago
#1 Bobby Jones got pwned!
MrBennetzen 1 month ago
DT had serious hops, which is what he's remembered for. But he was a great all-around player. Would have been top 10 all-time if not for the drug problem
shizzy35 7 months ago
there is another skyyyywalkerrr.
JohnnyMarr03 7 months ago
wow, that's me holding the d.t. poster with my dad looking up at me (bald head) this was the only game he and i ever went to together (he wasn't much of a sports fan)...it was a playoff game against the phoenix suns...i was friends with the ball boy and gave him the poster to take into the locker room to get signed...unfortunately, someone stole it off the gatorade cart before that ever happened...incredibly odd and special to see this after all these years...sorry to bore some with this post
jhDteacher3 7 months ago
its not that he can jump high its just his arms are long
youdeadniqqa 7 months ago
@youdeadniqqa Idk...I think the reported 44 or 48 inch vertical leap MIGHT have had something to do with it too....
stevenashfan2313 7 months ago
@youdeadniqqa He was considered the guy with the highest verical leap ever to play the game trololololol
RicardoMonica19 7 months ago
@youdeadniqqa lol, he had one of the highest vertical leaps of anyone listed as a guard in NBA history. A recorded 48 inches in 1979.
Sovnarkom 7 months ago
thompson got more ops them dr j and jordan
wilzusuki 7 months ago
look how high he is his hand is up in the rim and his head is almost at the net , not his best jump .
liamlivingston1 7 months ago
1:06, Regis Philbin talking??
blueshirtdude 8 months ago
For all the young buttheads that think what happened in the last 5 years only matters, I actually saw DT play and yes he could touch the top of the backboard. In the 1970's & 1980's NBA, there are only 3-4 guys per team as athletic as todays players, but DT would have been great in any era. Players now are better dunkers but not better players. Passing, defense, screens and fundamentals are not part of their game. Watching Melo for 8 years, he has yet to take a charge. The Dunk is overrated
Melo4Nuggets 8 months ago
where the lebron block originated number 4
jkweezy12 8 months ago
This was the jordan before jordan, if he came along 5 to 10 years later, he would be known as one of jordans greatest competitors. he was washed up right when jordan entered.
wizboy211 8 months ago
@wizboy211 yup. thompson was actually mj's idol growing up
TheShnag 8 months ago
@TheShnag yep, america really missed out on an amazing career.
wizboy211 8 months ago
you guys are idiots. In a basketball game, you dont try to jump as high as you can when you defend... it isnt a game up jumping. Otherwise, your air time would allow the opponent to drive past you... He is a basketball great, if he was a fraud, people would've called him out already.
b1346 8 months ago
@b1346 Well said. Dave is the real deal. They didn't call him Skywalker Thompson for nothing. A lot of the slam and defense moves that you see in these highlights, he started and you see todays players doing it. Kobe's go to the rim and around it to slam trademark/signature move can be seen in this video. And the block that Lebron is known for can be seen here too where he chased down the player. Dave could jump that high. Check out the pay where he blocked Bill Walton from a stand still jump.
epics7 8 months ago
he looks so damn basic
Ty33Budd 9 months ago
on #5 look where he took off from. sheesh!
borngreat00 9 months ago
David Thompson would be a incredible athlete in any era. Alot of players today do have his leaping ability but not many have the combination of a amazingly quick first step and speed to go along with that leaping ability.
DeeNice681 9 months ago
@DeeNice681 Ditto. And many of todays leapers lack the defense that he had. Most players now don't have a complete game.
epics7 8 months ago
I saw Thompson literally jump over Artis Gilmore on a dunk and then do a 360 dunk a few minutes later on a fast break. All these idiots that are trying to compare Blake Griffin to these guys that started the whole power dunk style don't know a thing.
norkaalum 9 months ago 11
@norkaalum Trust, those that are talking shit are young with no clue of NBA history. Todays players would get owned because they lack fundamentals. Most are just athletes. I'd put a early 1980's Lakers up against any of todays players and they'd loose.
epics7 8 months ago
@norkaalum preach preach!!!!
Bexly 7 months ago
on play #2 he kind of reminds me of clyde drexler (minus the head down)
imsljr420 9 months ago
Bear in mind David was only 6'4".His vertical was beast. Thompson led North Carolina State to the NCAA Championship in 1974. In 1978, he scored 73 points the last game of the season, trying to take the NBA scoring title. George Gervin played later the same night knowing what he would need to beat David, and went for 63 to win the crown. Amazing.
emmettk 10 months ago
@emmettk while I couldn't agree more that Thompson was a human highlight film, the fact is he was actually just a little over 6'2 - you notice he's never able to palm the ball, had small size hands, he depended on his incredible timing and unreal hang time to dunk over taller players - if anything, the fact he could score so easily in the paint is all the more incredible-plus he was also an excellent outside shooter, ballhandler and passer-one of the unappreciated all time greats, The Skywalker
juvserr 10 months ago
Comment removed
emmettk 10 months ago
i wish durant could jump this hight
wilzusuki 10 months ago
I see clearly WHY this guy was Michael Jordan's Idol......It is clear to see why now...
mrhowardb 10 months ago
Comment removed
GarrettCOOP 10 months ago
his heads almost touching the net!!! lol. he would be a average player and dunker in todays league.
K1LLaRoBOtFi5h 10 months ago
@K1LLaRoBOtFi5h if you knew david thompson he could touch the top of the backboard! name one player today that can do that!?!
GarrettCOOP 10 months ago
@GarrettCOOP there are plenty of guys in the N.B.A. and college that can. dont get me wrong for his era he was a incredible athlete, but by today standards he is just another one in the bunch. still a great dunker and decent player.
K1LLaRoBOtFi5h 10 months ago
@GarrettCOOP I'd like some evidence of this. I came here hearing the dude could touch the top of the backboard, but for some reason these vids only show his head touching the net. He'd prob need to put his chin on the rim to get close to the backboard, I smell a turd...
guapoalto049 9 months ago
@guapoalto049 The only turd that you're smelling is the one where you have your head up your ass. It's a fact, Dave could jump that high.
epics7 8 months ago
@epics7 Lol I want to think he can jump that high! If I told you I could dunk but you have seen me struggle to touch the net, would you believe me? I have the utmost respect for older generations of players, but I just haven't seen the guy even come close to hitting his head on the rim.
Even if he could hit his head on the rim, he'd still be a foot short of touching the top of the backboard!
guapoalto049 8 months ago
Skywalker!
ciscopack 10 months ago
What makes David Thompson stand out from other dunkers is: he actually had a game to go along with his 'ups'.
gerardrbain1972 11 months ago
skywalker i remember seeing him play when i was a kid for the nuggets my boys. I'am sorry his drug use got in the way ,otherwise he would have been in th hof.
globug2000 11 months ago
Class of 1996....
@globug2000
titsonaritz 10 months ago
lebron traveled
DuceGProductions 11 months ago
It is important to note that he was only 6'4" and had a 44" vertical...
TheSRU45 11 months ago
dude lron cant jump the hight
wilzusuki 11 months ago
before players could fly.
wilzusuki 11 months ago
When this guy gets off the floor its over
dreaftermathem 11 months ago
The original sky walker. Back in the days you did not want to be in the key when David Thom[son had the ball. There was good chance you were going to be part of his poster collection.
frogca 11 months ago
"his head almost touches the net" :D:D:D
Freakadellekb 11 months ago
david thompson invented the alley oop
freddiego60 11 months ago
I feel like I see dunks like this every week on sportscenter.
kevin2fla 1 year ago
whats that song in the background ?
paddypatch 1 year ago
Absolutely no defense when he got the ball. The players stood there and watched him dunk the ball. Looks just like the modern NBA.
richktp1 1 year ago
i dont believe 48 inch vert for a second.
archaenadek 1 year ago 4
@archaenadek yeah if you have a 48" vertical it's really odvious and here it just isnt. looks more like 38 to me
MrSquirrelsmith 9 months ago
@MrSquirrelsmith Um Dave actually did have a 48 vert. He was the first to start the vert leap in the game. No you don't see it in here. But there are videos that back that up. M.J. his idol mentioned that leap in one of his interviews that can be found on here. You must be young. Those that played against him can back that up and would know better than us because they played against the man.
epics7 8 months ago
@archaenadek David actually had that type of vert leap. Many payers from his era can back that up. My old man use to watch those 1970's games, Dave Thompson came up more than once in topic. The height thing is the first thing that both him and my cousin would talk about. The late Boston Celtics player Dennis Johnson said that when he played against him, Dave jump so high for a rebound at the rim, his head went past it. Jordan, his idol talked about his hops.
epics7 8 months ago
I'm not hating but i swear number 3 was the slowest fastbreak I've seen in my entire life.
narutohearts99 1 year ago
1:13 LeBron James Signature Dunk.
MegaSouLKnight 1 year ago
Before there was MJ, there was DT!
lwmson 1 year ago
@lwmson Yup...Thompson was who Jordan patterned his game after.
UR2H 1 year ago
@lwmson Hence, the reason why MJ had DT introduce him when MJ was enshrined into the b-ball HOF.
lwmson 1 year ago
junk tap at :10
jimgaffiganfan2 1 year ago
"Look how high he is, his hand is up in the rim, his head is almost touching the net".... Haha.... Nowadays their heads are up to the rim!!!!! He couldn't touch the top of the backboard, that's ridiculous. He could get the top of the square maybe...
chezkenny 1 year ago
@chezkenny I AM SORRY BUT ARE U BLIND?HIS HEAD IS MUCH HIGHER THAN FORM THR NET(1.16).RHOMPSON HAD VERTICAL LEAP 48 INCHES WHEN CARTER AND LEBRON HAS 43!THAT WAS 35 YEARS AGO WITHOUT TRAINING FACILITIES AND STEROIDS!
AdreasTheGreat 1 year ago
@AdreasTheGreat I'm sorry but are you DEF? Listen to the commentary and maybe you'll understand what quotes are used for... "without training facilities and steroids" and accurate vertical jump test... haha
chezkenny 1 year ago
@chezkenny ALL I SAY IS THAT THERE WERE MANY PLAYERS WITH ATHLETIC ABILITIES BACK THEN AND THE POINT THAT NOW THEY HAVE BETTER LEAPING ABILITY IS A FAIRY TALE!UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THE PLAYERS HAVE ONLY ATHLETISISM BUT NO OTHER SKILLS...
AdreasTheGreat 1 year ago
@AdreasTheGreat Thompson had a 44" vertical leap.
UR2H 1 year ago
@UR2H IN WIKIPEDIA AND IN NBA OFFICIAL SITE SAYS THOMPSON HAD 48 VERTICAL LEAP AND I THINK THIS MUST BE RIGHT!
AdreasTheGreat 1 year ago
@AdreasTheGreat Actually NBA.com has his vertical leap listed at 44" and its Wiki that has it at 48".
nba.com/history/thompson_bio.html
UR2H 1 year ago
@UR2H ACTUALLY IN ALL SITES I FOUND 44-48 AND DRJ WHO FACED HIM SAID THOMPSON HAD 48!BUT MY POINT WAS THAT THERE WERE MANY ATHLETIC PLAYERS BACK THEN THAT WOULD BE EVEN MORE ATHLETIC WITH TODAY'S TRAINING TECHNIC!MANY YOUNG GUYS THINK THAT ATHLETISISM WAS ''BORN'' IN 00'S AND THAT IS JUST STUPID!
AdreasTheGreat 1 year ago
@AdreasTheGreat If you click on the "David Thompson :Touch the top of the backboard!" video, Michael Jordan even says Thompson's vertical was 44".
UR2H 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@chezkenny I AM SORRY BUT ARE U BLIND?HIS HEAD IS MUCH HIGHER FORM THE NET(1.16).RHOMPSON HAD VERTICAL LEAP 48 INCHES WHEN CARTER AND LEBRON HAS 43!THAT WAS 35 YEARS AGO WITHOUT TRAINING FACILITIES AND STEROIDS!
AdreasTheGreat 1 year ago
@chezkenny caz hes only 6'4 and he could probly get higher if he had a wide open dunk, and better takeoff.
slinkyk3wl 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@chezkenny caz hes only 6'4 and he could probly get higher if he had a wide open dunk, and better takeoff.
slinkyk3wl 1 year ago
the ORIGINAL Derrick Rose.lol.
chiladin 1 year ago
number 7 is fucn pwns xD
TheBladeozan 1 year ago
Según Jordan, el mejor salto vertical era el de Thompson
ebarrientos06 1 year ago
wheres his amazing putback dunk on two rockets?
aznpowerdaniel 1 year ago
DAMN THIS IS A REAL HOOP MISTA
RICK24BARRY 1 year ago
I like the bit at the end when the commentator says "Look how high he is; his hand is in the rim and his head is almost touching the net!" Ha! Wow his hand is in the rim! Old school commentators are so cute!
elfmastercool 1 year ago
@elfmastercool That's back when English was the official language of the US.
MrDarcyzPP 1 year ago
can anybody introduce the guy david thompson to those from the 90's just like me
jerjeremy 1 year ago
Skywalker........
David Thompson came to my HS- Nathan Hale(1988), to speak when he was going through his drug problems.
He was also at the time in a relationship with a Seattle woman- Donna, who was my friend's(Donald) mother and lived in a house rightdown from the Rainier Vista Projects on MLK Way...
Mackadoeshez 1 year ago
there was no 3point shoot
Moraud5386 1 year ago
skywalker and t-dup rule them all
STELIOS155 2 years ago
number 5 was huge.
wutwudino 2 years ago
this guy is the old skool shannon brown though shannon displays more height in most of his dunk and personally i think more athletic
maintenance55 2 years ago
@maintenance55 a prime david thompson is easily an overall much better player by leaps and bounds compared to shannon brown though. a prime david thompson, mixed in with today's weight training could probably play on the same level as d wade easily.
miserycitytexas 1 year ago
@miserycitytexas Thats a good point, talking about today weight training...truthfully i never saw too much of thompsons game...the vertical is crazy for that height though....
maintenance55 1 year ago
@miserycitytexas dwyane wade couldn't hold david thompson's jockstrap.
EastofForever 1 year ago
david thompson could jump and is a highlight type player,,,,but he couldnt carry bill waltons shoes,,,,bill walton high school undefeated 3 yrs,,,college ,,should have won all three ncaa titles,,,north carolina state and thompson met ucla at nuetral site,,first game of season,,ucla won by 30 points and keith wilkes totally ouplayed thompson,,,ncaa title game,,triple over time,,ucla loses,,,20,000 fans,1st game at new n carolina st arena,burlson drapped on walton whole game ,no calls,,bullshit
nastylefthook1 2 years ago
Trying to find the video where his foot hits a Pitt players shoulder, and he busted his head on the floor. His next best play was outjumping Bill walton on a tip off.
Remember, he had to drop the ball in the basket in college when they alley-ooped him.......Monte Towe forever.
cavemanhookers 2 years ago 11
@cavemanhookers Glad you reminded me about that. Younger fans may not know because of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar ), the NCAA had outlawed dunking. That robbed us of seeing Skywalker throw it down until he entered the NBA. The other dominant college player in his time was Bill Walton. Like Kareem, he had to develop inside shots that couldn't be disallowed as dunks.
emmettk 10 months ago
man.... so smooth like dr j but also explosive
SoCalTrojan 2 years ago 2
I remember oh too well Mr. Thompson being a UCLA fan back then. The Wolfpack upset the Greatest UCLA team ever assembled, Bill Walton & Co. coached by the Wizard of Westwood in perhaps the greatest ncaa game of all time. Like a Big Cat what he want he gets on both ends of the floor.Stunning is the right adjective for this legendary player
miamigreyhound 2 years ago 2
how tall is he?
jeffwater 2 years ago
Listed at 6"4 but actually 6"2 according to the late Dennis Johnson who was actually 6"4 himself.
spock3361 2 years ago
according to the bill simmons' book, 6'2" is more accurate.
brownoutmayng 2 years ago
dammmnnnn nice dunks
sileman15 2 years ago
Most underrated player of all time.
cheebateam 2 years ago
he has a 44-inch vertical leap.
Time3to3fly9488 2 years ago
These are great dunks. but I want what the announcers are smoking. "Look how high he is! His head's almost touching the net!".
MVPacMan23 2 years ago
His head almost was touching the net, though.
KOKING313 2 years ago
at 5 he is like AIR JORDAN
Ousvec 2 years ago
he was the most EXPLOSIVE JUMPER in basketball history.
azbaldy5 2 years ago
What about pro dunkers?
MVPacMan23 2 years ago
he was jsut as explosive as a pro as he was in college. Not even MJ could jump like that.
azbaldy5 2 years ago
"he dunked it wit 2 hands unbelieveable"
haha funny sheit man i cant spell lol
suhi40 2 years ago
Too bad they didn't have any of his ABA highlights
3SCboy 2 years ago
Awesome vid! One of the greatest natural athletes in NBA history.
Campbewc 2 years ago
So, why is this video not 5 stars??....
jrzy49 2 years ago
they used to dunk without traveling?
hooperX101 2 years ago 51
lmao those were the days
TheDan14 2 years ago
Probably caught it 'cuz I was watching this vid late one night..your mind tends to play tricks at night when you're all alone. But it was still funny... dude got clowned by some sports announcer or evil fan.
MusicFeen1 2 years ago
haha his head almost touching the net alot of people could do that now. but it was good for his day cause they wouldnt lift so much weights and they didnt know so much about jumping
homeworksuks 2 years ago
Anyone else hear that evil laugh when Bibby got blocked and fell?? (1:38)
MusicFeen1 2 years ago
yes how did u catch that. i didnt hear it the first time
homeworksuks 2 years ago
forget about his head and arms and how close they are to the rim, look at the feet and high they are off the floor.
kennyb50 2 years ago
he is a great dunker and so is MJ and so is Dominique, but what do people argue about this, when everyone should agree that Vince Carter is the best dunker of all time. Best game dunker and best slam dunk contest dunker, hands down!
coltmil034 2 years ago
Shaq is the best game dunker because he does it all the time and no one has ever been able to stop him.
DuckwalkSupreme 2 years ago 2
not over VC...he's the best of all dunkers
Obi226 2 years ago
Did you not read my comment? Surely it wasn't hard to deduce my logic from it. The reason I said Shaq was because Shaq has probably gotten as many points just off of dunks as VC has scored total in his whole career.
DuckwalkSupreme 2 years ago
yeah....wright
Obi226 2 years ago
That isn't the right "right" for your intended usage.
DuckwalkSupreme 2 years ago
I'm gonna say ir the way I want to,so stfu moron
Obi226 2 years ago
So, you admit your ignorance in the proper usage of a very, very simple word?
DuckwalkSupreme 2 years ago
You fucking idiot,can you just stop writing comments,cuz you're so annoying,ok?
Obi226 2 years ago
No, you're still the idiot for not knowing how to spell.
DuckwalkSupreme 2 years ago
Shut up and blow nerd
Obi226 2 years ago
Shut up, but I'm not talking. And blowing nerds is gay and I don't do that.
DuckwalkSupreme 2 years ago
I think dude was and still is overrated ppl say he could touch the top of the backboard but where is the footage? have you seen it? i havent tired of ppl overexaggerating the guy could jump but top of the backboard I doubt it. in the highlights he was barely over the rim sometimes
MrSkinny25 2 years ago
I cant say there is, but i have seen pics of his hand being just above the top of the square before dunking
bigdaddyofaz 2 years ago
As for the top ten plays of Thompsons career,that is bull.The NBA should get off their lazy behinds and dig up the real footage because the humble Mr. Thompson would never insist on it.But for your sake,I will tell you of one game against the Pacers when the Skywalker was going for an alley hoop and hit his hip on the bottom of the backboard and the game had to be stopped to put the goal back in its original position.
spock3361 2 years ago
I saw a guy jump all the way over a 10 foot rim/backboard not only that but he did a back flip. running no trampoline in a game he didn't dunk it he just dropped the ball from the sky like a little bomb into the basket.
Adammmm124 2 years ago
i wish i watched this man play! thanks mj
Jacaryel 2 years ago
David Thompson....you were amazing!
DeltaBluesClassics 2 years ago
I grew up in Colorado and was a huge David Thompson fan he gets no recognition and I am so glad to see MJ giving him a chance to be recognized and hopefully have people see him for what he was, an incredible basketball player!! And by the way he did not win the scoring title despite scoring 73 points in that final season game as an earlier posting had said, he lost the title to the "Iceman" who had 63 points in his final game of the season!!
mncolo 2 years ago
i see why jordan modeled after this guy amazing before his time
biggonyou 2 years ago
the original skywalker
Bigturns33 2 years ago
DT would've been one of the best players in NBA history as well if he'd stayed out of drugs. This guy had NBA skills for 3 years of college ball. He is one of the all time ACC scoring leaders without being allowed to play his Freshman year, without being able to dunk, and without a 3 point line. This guy was absolutely amazing to watch and it is VERY classy for MJ to pick him. You only wish more people knew about the original SKYWALKER.
rollinsox007 2 years ago
David was the original sky walker, in college he could touch the top of the backboard and he was just 6' 4"
They meaured his vertical at 48"
sghdr1 2 years ago
He was like the micheal jordan of the 70"s....... so cool micheal is going to hall of fame tonight
TheMRLUV1 2 years ago
david thompson and michael jordan owned the skies
krayzi3bone 2 years ago
wow now I understand what jordan saw thompsan was before his time
johnny6744 2 years ago
so many white players lol
AxelPRC 2 years ago
Who was that he posterized on that last dunk.
labro361 2 years ago
Bobby Jones one of the best 6th men of the era
bbuckley777 2 years ago
The only thing I remember about david thompson was he was a drug addict and an alcoholic. This is why most people haven't heard of him. He's a horrible role model for our children. The only role model I trust is Michael Jackson cause he's dead.
yobuttin 2 years ago
So if Micheal Jackson was alive you would let him watch your kids at night? Would they sleep in his bed or sleep on his couch?
Joeysabala 2 years ago
I understand how you feel but David Thompson is actually a great role model now. He spends a lot of time going to schools and speaking to kids everywhere about how drugs destroyed him and does all that he can to help them avoid the mistakes he made.
yostanker 2 years ago
David Thompson scored 73 points in the final game of the 1978 (he played for the Denver Nuggets)to win to scoring title against George Gervin (Gervin scored 63 points the same night, David needed to score 69 or more to win) He also competed against Dr. J in the first ABA slam dunk competitions. This guy won NCAA championship, by himself, in 1974 with NC State. (Beating Bill Walton UCLA in the regionals). His nickname THE SKYWALKER. 6'4" and 48 inch vertical leap and deadly outside shooter.
GOMEZJUAN12 2 years ago 3
David Thompson was he the truth before Jordan because he too could switch speeds, elevate, and play defense. Wow...wow...wow!!!
myvisionownsme 2 years ago 3
I grew up on D.T.and believe me when I say that he was the truth before M.J.He was like water.Fluid and smooth,unpredictable and an offense that he could turn on that was as violent as tsunami.
spock3361 2 years ago
@spock3361
never knew this guy till ive seen this vid..and i believe you..
vhingster 2 years ago
Yeah,
DT had a 44" verticle. I'm was a big Dr. J fan, but David could do in different way do everything Doctor could do. Got a drug habit and then blew his knee out. If not for those things he would have been on NBA's 50th Greatest list.
ShangoDC 2 years ago
scottie pippin should have been the 1 introducing michael jeffrey jordan .....
swsdkng 2 years ago
lmaooo
MellowMadnessRMX 2 years ago
now I know why they call him the "Jordan before Jordan"
India1986 2 years ago
I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND , where when why havent i ever seen this David Thompson ,
OggyFX51 2 years ago
1. Because people can't get over the fact that he had drug and alcohol problem to remember how great he was.
2. Probably a little bit before your time =]
reboundmc1 2 years ago 2
maybe because he onlu played 9 seasons in the nba hes not in the hall of fame and he only had 4 seasons scoring 20+ points. But he should be given a bit more recognitiion
AxelPRC 2 years ago
he was inducted into hall of fame in 1996
kennyb50 2 years ago
oh yea sorry scratch that my bad
AxelPRC 2 years ago
now i know where the moves of jordan came from..
owsreally2 2 years ago
Now that i know who thompson is no im not suprised that he will present M.J.......m.j has thompsons game writting all over it,its like kobe mimmics jordans game,well we now know who jordan used to mimmic.THANKS TO THE GREAT MICHEAL JORDAN FOR ALL THA GREAT MEMORYS AND THEIR IS NO ONE MORE DESIRVING THAN HE!
babiboi75 2 years ago
Number 5 is sickest dunk. He jumped so high man. And I think he was like only 6"2!!
ATLKing132 2 years ago
Can you believe he will presente Jordan for the hall of fame?
chaise2b 2 years ago
those short shorts give you some extra bounce. i wish my coach will add them to our uniform this season.
hhieu23 2 years ago 8
awsome! DT, MJ just awsome love for the game man!
aglimpseoftruth 2 years ago
gmargxf;lgfma;wlgma
jorjio58 2 years ago
This is why Kobe and James cannot replace MJ. His airness respect and honors his idols.
criticaltinker 2 years ago 3
True. No one will be able to replace him. This induction has helped to remind us how special Jordan was. He's bigger than numbers can say. DT was some athlete.
villamilkyway 2 years ago
DAVID THOMPSON = JORDAN...
"=" Resulting to not equal
machoptics 2 years ago
I can see how Jordan was influenced... and Jordan took it to the next level. That's just amazing.
HomedudePedroski 2 years ago
those last 2 dunks were ferocious. hahaha
prowla33 2 years ago