@mobydoug I think John Wooden protested the dunk shot in the early 70's had he not David Thompson would have posterized plenty of players including HIS SON BILL WALTON!!!!!!!
Love it. Thompson had a 48" vertical hop......perhaps the greatest in NBA history. But why didn't Walton go for the dunk? Were dunks still discouraged in college ball back then?
In this same game Walton has the ball underneath the left side of the basket with Thompson on him .. Walton's layup is pinned on the glass with Walton getting the ball back and going right back up where Thompson pins the ball again .. Walton again rebounds his blocked shot but this time he passes the ball out of the paint. I came on here to locate that play but I don't see it. Walton is 6'11" , Thompson is 6'4"
Too bad for the Bruins that DT ruined that play for them. Would have been a nice little wrap-around dish for the assist. Notice also that had DT not blocked it, Burleson would have. Good thing for UCLA that State was ineligible in '72-'73 or they'd have one fewer Nat'l Championships. Not like they wouldn't still have enough anyway, LOL.
Hi to any doubters. I played a few pickup games with David, saw him break the ACC triple jump record and attended about 30 live games.
David played when frosh weren't eligible, and there were no dunks or 3-point shots (and David had range).
In 1974, verticals were estimates. David once kicked me in the lower neck during a pickup game. I'm 5' 11", so his feet had to have been at least 50" off the ground.
If only dunking and 3-pointers had been allowed in 74!!
David Thompson was exciting. Today, the Lakers have Shannon Brown who is comparable to Skywalker in leaping ability, but who, in the long run will be a true superstar. SB is just getting started.
As for this horseshit vertical leaping ability, all I can say is that my baby brother is 5'7" and had a 42" vertical leap. He could dunk with a volleyball. So, these tall guys don't have shit on my bro, the Great Goose.....
@ripperduck --- This can't be overstated. You can see a perfect example of it in this very clip. Walton was significantly taller than DT, and he catches the pass and is almost immediately going up with it. Despite DT jumping about a half second later and being probably 6or7" shorter, he still gets up and blocks it (and he doesn't just get a piece of it, it's a strong block). Notice he also keeps the ball in play...right to Spence who starts the break.
there is no disgrace getting blocked by David Thompson. Uhhh I thing his vertical was 44" or more; at 6'4 do the math. He was a great great player and just didn't use his God given talent he worked hard to improve on what God gave him.
I remember seeing that game and thinking he's (David Thompson) even more fantastic that I thought. If you notice Walton goes up well before Thompson blasts off like a rocket and slaps it back. I used to see his NC State teams face off against great Maryland teams at Cole Field House and David would get about 38 (with no 3 point shot line at that time) and he made several from what would have been threes.
His best dunk, th one he would do in warm ups sometimes ... cradle the ball in his left elbow, jump up and put it over the rim and punch it through the net with his right fist coming down like a hammer ...
Thompson at NC State was the greatest player I ever saw on any level--he was like Superman out there on the court!! You had to have seen him play during this era to appreciate how phenomenal he was.
david thompson has his chance to prove his greatness,,in 1974 first game of season against ucla at a nuetral site,,ucla smashes unc st by 30,,walton outplays burlson easily,,,keith wilkes totally outplays david thompson,,,in the ncaa final that year,,game at unc st new arena,,inaugral event,,20,000 hometown fans,,triple overtime,,horrible officiating,,burlson drapped on walton all nite ,no calls,,,thompson and teammates never deserved the national title,,best team ucla proved it on nuetral site
have no problem giving Jordan credit where its due! However< when you start comparing apples to oranges Jordan was a habitual cheater in his married life not to mention a wife beater and womanizer!
No way in hell does David Thompson become a better player than Michael Jordan. Everyone says this shit about Thompson, Bias, all these guys were it not for injuries, drugs, blah blah blah... it's all revisionist history at it's worst. MJ was the best bc he was the best, no ifs ands buts or maybes
i got to see nc state play that year in '74 a friend of mine went to maryland,anyway he caught john lucas from behind on a breakaway layup blocks the shot ! he came out of NOWHERE ! he was an awesome player !
Look at this play carefully. Due to Walton's close proximity to the basket, a greater arc would have resulted in a miss. Again, had Walton leaped higher, due to the proximity, he still would have missed. Once again, did you notice Walton's shot had passed its apex when Thompson blocked it. However, the greatness of what Thompson achieved in this play was not in how high he jumped, but in how quickly he got off his feet.
Both Walton and Thompson were amazing in college - I read a story about how back then they only allowed the league tourney champion to go the NCAA tourney, and NC State won like a triple OT game in 1974 vs Maryland in what sounds like an amazing game. Did David Thompson have injury trouble in the pros? He could jump higher than anyone it sounded like from what I've read about him.
You heard right...that ACC Final would've been a regional final or Final Four with a 64 team format. That Maryland team had John Lucas, who would be drafted #1 overall and Len Elmore, the very good analyst for ESPN's college basketball. It has been shown on ESPN Classic...great great great game. And David Thompson had some injury problems, but it was more drugs that hindered what should've been a GREAT professional career
david thompson was an amazing player. but by the time michael jordan was a junior, he was the quickest guard in the world, quicker than thompson, & his moves were much sharper than david thompson's. i think david thompson jumped higher though.
Too true. If DT had stayed off the drugs then the best NBA player in history would've gone by a different name. It is an absolute travesty not to have this guy be more well known after the skills he showcased at NCSU. I mean no 3's, no dunks and no freshman year, and he is still one of the all time scoring leaders in the ACC.
dunking was banned in 1967 because of Alcindor. it was reinstated in 1976. Bill Walton played at UCLA from 1971-1974. also Thompson only had one dunk in college during a break away blow out of some team. he then received a technical and went to the bench.
Walton was a Great College Player and was a great PRO who would have been better without all of the injuries. Thompson was incredible also and would have been one of the best Pros ever if not for injuries and drugs. They were both 2 of the best college players ever and both should be considered with more respect than some of the comments here.
@decodan908 - Walton and Thompson never did as well as I thought they would as pros. David because he was into coke and Walton due to his feet. Both really fantastic college players but HOF honors should be based on merit not potential. Walton as one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time is a joke.
@decodan908 --Thompson was always compared to Dr J--shame he didnt have much of a pro career. Walton at least was able to win a title with Portland. That team ws something to watch.
Bill Walton is one of the 5 best college players of all time. Get a clue you hack. 3 time player of the year. Not even close, Thompson couldn't carry his jock.
thompson was a beast..BILL WALTON WAS/IS THE MOST OVERRATED PIECE OF SHIT to ever play professionally...and to hear him talk, hes a hall of famer because he was actually good.....he was good....for a dr j highlight....or this highlight right here of MR david thompson..
One of the best basketball players that ever was. My 3 year old sons name is David Thompson from Charlotte NC. His dad and granddaddy are also David Thompson's too. Someday, I will tell him about this great basketball legend
Dunking was legal then...the NCAA only outlawed it to make sure that Alcindor couldn't dunk. Once their prettyboy Walton became a star, they allowed dunking again. This is why Walton never was in Alcindor's league, either in college or the pros.
Thompson, Walton and Alcindor were all GREAT college players, BUT the best collegiate player ever was LSU's Pete Maravich-still, I believe, the most prolific scorer in ncaa history-AND on an average(at best) team, unlike Walton and Alcindor....
Thompson is 6'4". I played ball at his parents home in Shelby, NC (shout out to the Golden Ridge community). My 1st cousin and his niece, Charlotte Smith is 6'2" and he is taller than her. David's nephew and Charlotte's brother use to jump out of the gym just like David when we played ball. Big ups to Shelby, NC
I'm a Carolina fan. Grew up there. Went to school there. And I'm still objective enough to say that our arch-rival Thompson was one of the 2 or 3 best all-around college players I ever saw. EVER. Only Alcindor and Walton equalled Thompson's ability at the college level. No one surpassed it.
I used to LOVE college ball in the 1970s & living in Raleigh I was a HUGE Wolfpack fan (had a crush on Monte Towe), never missed a game on TV or radio. David T. was just awesome, All-American for 3 yrs., it's a shame he got into drugs while playing pro ball. I still consider the 73-74 State team one of the best ever. State was out for blood during this game as UCLA had beaten them the previous Dec. We HATED the Bruins, they were so good! But they didn't win the NCAA in 1974--State did!
I have the picture of the block framed on my wall. It was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Part of the DT legend is him taking a quarter off the backboard - nobody who ever saw him play would challenge that.
You need to refresh your weak knowledge of the rules, peanut. Walton's shot wasn't even close to being on the way down. "Big Bill" got stuffed...accept it and move on.
Thompson was LISTED at 6'4"... he was prolly close to an inch shorter than that. He could stick his elbow into the hoop with only one step! The man had one of the best combinations of vertical leap and basketball ability of all time. (Rumor had it at NC State that he could take a coin off the top of the backboard with a running start. that's 13'!!)
Yeah, plenty have done it..but at Citadel basketball camp when I attended in the 70's after his last year at State, he and Tommy Burleson were All Star counselors and I not only saw him smash a backboard during a dunk exhibition, but I saw him jump, snatch a quarter off of the top of the backboard with his right hand and windmill his left arm up and place a dime where the quarter had been. Trust me, seeing is believing.
Dozens of people can do dunks and tricks but very few CAN ACTUALLY PLAY like the GREAT DAVID SKYWALKER. This guy is on a par with Kobe and Jordan and if you doubt me ask MJ who his favorite player was.
I agree. There wouldn't even BE an MJ or Kobe if it hadn't been for Thompson. Besides, I'd like to see MJ, Kobe and LeBron try to play well with those tiny basketball shorts on. Geez.
But this is a David Thompson oriented youtube post, thus the reference to Thompson instead of Erving. While I concede that Erving possessed magical skills, Thompson wielded enough influence on both to make me comfortable with my origianl statement.
I know it's a David Thompson Post,but saying there wouldn't be an MJ or Kobe without Thompson isn't completely accurate considering MJ played like the Doctor,alot of those aerial moves that MJ did were the Doc's moves,so referencing to Thompson is a matter of opinion,but it's not completely true,You make it sound as if Thompson is solely responsible,the true pioneers were doing these aerial moves when Thompson was in elementary school
Again, I stand by my original post. MJ and Kobe both have acknowledged that, without the influence of Thompson, neither would be the player they were/are. Jordan has stated that Thompson was his favorite player of all time. As for the 100% Rule, to use your criteria, using Dr. J's name isn't completely accurate either. It would be impossible to name every influence that would be necessary to achieve the 100% accuracy you espouse. Other than math, hardly any statement of fact is 100% accurate.
Besides, the observation is subjective rather than objective, as is our right to make. Another example would be you telling your Mother, "Gee Mom, you're the best Mom ever!"
I wouldn't quibble with you, even tho I might feel like MY mother was the best." When using absolutes, hyperbole occurs from time to time.
One big difference,tho, in the example I gave you, and that is that the statement "There wouldn't even have been a "tuzwol" without his Mom." IS, unless I'm mistaken, 100% accurate.
itzjoeymac if you asked jordan like they did in interviews the first name he always says is Dr J not David Thompson. Not taking anything away from him he was a cold blooded player but the shit you see today in terms of play and flair and dunks that is thanks to what Dr. J did. Dr. J was the michael, kobe, and lebron before they became who they were. All of them lebron included will give you the name Dr. J and for kobe and lebron they will give you MJ as well.
BTAKVE, MJ was a HUGE DT fan. I've never seen him mention Dr J before DT. Dr J wasn't hugely known before he was a pro, DT was. DT is the greatest ACC player ever, even MJ will tell you that, if not the greatest college player ever.
What? I was trying to stay out of this pissing contest, but MJ used to mention Dr. J ALL THE TIME, about him being an influence. I personally don't think either one of them "made" Michael Jordan...it was just the times. Dr. J definitely influenced everything, but being around then, I was as much an Iceman fan as I was Dr. J fan...they all brought it,in fact I'd say the ABA was the major influence, not one person.
I like MJ but I'd still, to this day, take a young Dominique in a dunk contest
You don't know your basketball history. Dunking the ball was against the rules in college basketball in 1974. A player dunking the ball drew an automatic technical foul.
ariamaluum,,,,those are valid considerations,,but if they played at a nuetral site for championship,,still a ten plus victory for ucla,,more power to nc state,very forunate to have home game for semi
No complaint when UCLA won in 1968 and 1972 at the L.A Sports Arena and in 1975 in San Diego. N.C. State's best team was 1973 when they went 27-0 including the ACC tourney but was not allowed to play in the NCAA due to violations involving David Thompson's overnight visit to the campus.
most people at the game were UNC fans and they root for 2 teams, UNC , and whoever is playing NC STATE. NC STATE had the toughest schedule in the country. went undefeated in the ACC for 2 yrs running, not the easy PAC 8 or 10 teams
smoothaloe,,,i would have concurred with you about one week ago,,,until i took a real close look at jerry lucas,,ohio state,,his stats are unbelievable,,check him,,some bad decisions and his dislike for pro ball cost him some credibility
david thompson could jump and had longer arms,,but at least 100 players in college basketball history surpassed him in overall talent,,,,,on nuetral site ,first game of year in 74,,ucla/walton beat thompsons team by 27 points and keith/jamal wilkes outplayed him badly
Your comment might be one of the dumbest I've ever read on youtube Thomspon had phenominal talent and ranks amongst the very best players in college basketball history.
Walton outdid Tom Burleson in the St. Louis game. Walton said something that irked Burleson's fire just like Len Elmore during the season. At that time, N.C. State had two juco-transfers in Phil Spence and Moe Rivers who were getting adjusted to big time play. After that, they really jelled and Spence/Rivers play during the ACC and NCAA was the under-rated portion of the championship.
DT was selected by SI as one of the top 5 college players of all time.he is the only player to be MVP of the ABA and NBA all-star game.i saw him play from 73-75 while i went to NC STATE. read his autobiography and the foward by bill walton.bill says DT was the only opposing player john wooden ever mentioned in 3 years.bill concludes by saying david was so good,he could have played at UCLA. dr J said david was the best player he ever played against.
ferdinand lewis alcindor, jr was the best high school, college and pro player combined. 47 game win streak at power, lost 2 games in college (btw beat defending champs his first game as a freshman - vs the UCLA varsity!). rookie of year and nba champs 2nd yr w/ bucks. 6 time mvp. prolific scorer but more imp. a winner w/ titles.
Walton lead UCLA to 88 straight, the most in history. Walton was a better rebounder and defender. His 21 for 22 shooting against Memphis State in the 73 finals was the greatest NCAA Tourney game ever. John Wooden calls Walton (when healthy) the greatest center in the history of the game, but what would he know?
Whether he is or isn't (he's not), what's it matter? Who cares? Do you have some issues of your own with sexual orientation. Most homophobic biget's do, most recently the President of the National Evangelicals & a Colorado church. I'm fine with gay. I accept their right to be non-violently anti-gay, if they don't try and codify their phobia into law. I despise hypocracy. Someone who offers a non sequitor comment on Youtube about a basketball player, doth protest to much.
How's he gay if he's got a son? Well he might be but I figure he isn't since I havn't heard anything about it. He is the worst announcer ever though, EVER.
This was actually fairly historic. Understand UCLA's dominance then, and their star Walton being blocked by a 6'4" guy was certainly quite a shock. It was definitely not boring if you consider the context.
The Pistol was great but he is no where near the greatest college bball player. That honor goes to Kareem Adul Jabbar hands down. Here is the top five all time great college basketball players: 1. Kareem 2. Bill Walton 3. The Big O 4. Bill Russell. 5. Pistol. If you combine players high school, college and pro careers, these are the top five: 1. Kareem 2.Big O 3. Magic 4. Wilt 5. Israel Thomas.
Kareem and the Big O are the greatest players to play high school ball.
how do you know he wouldnt of sammy you are wack. pistol pete was one of a kind ahead of his time a great one. walton was great as well. its a shame thompsons drug abuse killed his career cuz he woulda had far superior numbers and possibly titles. great player when in his prime tho one of the alltime great hall of famers.
thompson probly really was the greatest college player ever in my opinion that ive seen. kareem i didnt see as much but hes a big man which is a completely different animal. i saw thompson tho he was great also in the aba and nba for a few years as well. best freshman ever is carmelo anthony what he did made history no freshman done that ever and never will again.
No doubt Kareem is the best college player. Wooden let him score 56 his 1st varsity game to show everybody but then he controlled all phases of the game. Where is the other 7'2 guy able to suspend himself in the air to go with incredible strength. Wilt had the finger roll but wasn't as agile.
Maybe the best college player ever...this clip showing him and Bill Walton is great! According to Wikipedia, Thompson seems to have gotten his life back together as he earned his NC State degree and now works in community relations and with young people on avoiding drug abuse.
Maravich put up some great numbers but he wasn't a better college player than Kareem. Kareem could have scored just as much as Pete but he had to sacrifice shots to win those three national championchips. Maravich didnt even win one.
Greatest college player Maravich? That title belongs to Oscar Robertson, only college player to average a triple double (read the last line again). Maravich one of the fifty greatest but not the best.
Yeah that is true about DT - he spoke to me and other kids at the Boys and Girls club in Greenville NC when i was a youngster about staying away from drugs.
Just think. If there had have been a little "toot" on the ball he would have inhaled it instead of blocking it with his hands! Unfortunately, many people have succumb to drug abuse. I am pretty sure that David Thompson got his life back together though.
I personaly saw David Thompson at a Denver Rockets (thats what the used to be called) jump up and take a quarter off the top of a regulation height backboard! I have never seen anyone that has been able to do this since!
The sad thing about David is his carrer was ended by the use of cocaine. And today he is no where to be found.
DT was the best college player I have ever seen. Oscar Robertson was before my time but DT was the truth. A monster...I think he averaged over 30 a game in 73 or 74...in the ACC!
NCSU would've won in 73(we were undefeated), but the team was banned from postseason play because we paved DT's driveway to influence him to come to NCSU :P
Throw it Down Walton, THROW IT DOWN
FootballRob2010 1 month ago
The dunk wasn't legalized in NCAA hoops until the '76-77 season.
mobydoug 2 months ago
@mobydoug I think John Wooden protested the dunk shot in the early 70's had he not David Thompson would have posterized plenty of players including HIS SON BILL WALTON!!!!!!!
dal4018 3 weeks ago
Love it. Thompson had a 48" vertical hop......perhaps the greatest in NBA history. But why didn't Walton go for the dunk? Were dunks still discouraged in college ball back then?
mobydoug 2 months ago
In this same game Walton has the ball underneath the left side of the basket with Thompson on him .. Walton's layup is pinned on the glass with Walton getting the ball back and going right back up where Thompson pins the ball again .. Walton again rebounds his blocked shot but this time he passes the ball out of the paint. I came on here to locate that play but I don't see it. Walton is 6'11" , Thompson is 6'4"
DeepSand4wheelin 2 months ago
0:16 Who's #24 in white?
danielchibulls 4 months ago
@danielchibulls Tommy Burleson, the 7'3" center for NC State. Later played with the Seattle Supersonics, when Bill Russell was their coach.
ddenuci 3 months ago
anyone with headphones on RIP
davidallenroth 5 months ago
DT was the greates in ACC history, no doubt.
shizzy35 7 months ago
thanks for the earrrrrrape
M08bballer 7 months ago 3
Too bad for the Bruins that DT ruined that play for them. Would have been a nice little wrap-around dish for the assist. Notice also that had DT not blocked it, Burleson would have. Good thing for UCLA that State was ineligible in '72-'73 or they'd have one fewer Nat'l Championships. Not like they wouldn't still have enough anyway, LOL.
wufpacker 10 months ago
HE SHOULD BE IN NBA JAM 2010
wilzusuki 10 months ago
Hi to any doubters. I played a few pickup games with David, saw him break the ACC triple jump record and attended about 30 live games.
David played when frosh weren't eligible, and there were no dunks or 3-point shots (and David had range).
In 1974, verticals were estimates. David once kicked me in the lower neck during a pickup game. I'm 5' 11", so his feet had to have been at least 50" off the ground.
If only dunking and 3-pointers had been allowed in 74!!
Duke alum.
blueschoker 11 months ago
David Thompson was exciting. Today, the Lakers have Shannon Brown who is comparable to Skywalker in leaping ability, but who, in the long run will be a true superstar. SB is just getting started.
As for this horseshit vertical leaping ability, all I can say is that my baby brother is 5'7" and had a 42" vertical leap. He could dunk with a volleyball. So, these tall guys don't have shit on my bro, the Great Goose.....
powerharp 1 year ago
It wasn't that David could get way up there, it was that he got up there so quickly! He was off his feet in a fraction of a second....
ripperduck 1 year ago
Comment removed
wufpacker 10 months ago
@ripperduck --- This can't be overstated. You can see a perfect example of it in this very clip. Walton was significantly taller than DT, and he catches the pass and is almost immediately going up with it. Despite DT jumping about a half second later and being probably 6or7" shorter, he still gets up and blocks it (and he doesn't just get a piece of it, it's a strong block). Notice he also keeps the ball in play...right to Spence who starts the break.
wufpacker 10 months ago
there is no disgrace getting blocked by David Thompson. Uhhh I thing his vertical was 44" or more; at 6'4 do the math. He was a great great player and just didn't use his God given talent he worked hard to improve on what God gave him.
tellthetruthg 1 year ago
I remember seeing that game and thinking he's (David Thompson) even more fantastic that I thought. If you notice Walton goes up well before Thompson blasts off like a rocket and slaps it back. I used to see his NC State teams face off against great Maryland teams at Cole Field House and David would get about 38 (with no 3 point shot line at that time) and he made several from what would have been threes.
320jsimpson1 1 year ago
6' 3" and a little bit
48+ inch vertical
Could touch the top of the backboard
Could get his armpit over the rim and hang there
His best dunk, th one he would do in warm ups sometimes ... cradle the ball in his left elbow, jump up and put it over the rim and punch it through the net with his right fist coming down like a hammer ...
rmillard919 1 year ago
@rmillard919
I've heard that story too, but I would need to see a video to believe it.
reddwarfposse 1 year ago
Thompson at NC State was the greatest player I ever saw on any level--he was like Superman out there on the court!! You had to have seen him play during this era to appreciate how phenomenal he was.
nyterpfan 1 year ago
@nyterpfan the greatest acc player ever! i told him that to his face a few years ago!
tonytarheel55 1 year ago
Great pass by Greg Lee. Couldn't dunk then either. Kudos to DT.
PrideSid 2 years ago
Thompson was closer to 6' 3".
whitethronebooks 2 years ago
00:02 Thompson's elbow nearly touches the rim! O_o
tedtrix 2 years ago
david thompson has his chance to prove his greatness,,in 1974 first game of season against ucla at a nuetral site,,ucla smashes unc st by 30,,walton outplays burlson easily,,,keith wilkes totally outplays david thompson,,,in the ncaa final that year,,game at unc st new arena,,inaugral event,,20,000 hometown fans,,triple overtime,,horrible officiating,,burlson drapped on walton all nite ,no calls,,,thompson and teammates never deserved the national title,,best team ucla proved it on nuetral site
nastylefthook1 2 years ago
Comment removed
aj31313 2 years ago
How are things at the concrete factory?
packfanstk 2 years ago
@nastylefthook1 just for the record, there is no unc st, there is unc and nc state
RedandWhite91 1 year ago 2
have no problem giving Jordan credit where its due! However< when you start comparing apples to oranges Jordan was a habitual cheater in his married life not to mention a wife beater and womanizer!
apr306 2 years ago
How bout that pass though?
10072018 2 years ago
No way in hell does David Thompson become a better player than Michael Jordan. Everyone says this shit about Thompson, Bias, all these guys were it not for injuries, drugs, blah blah blah... it's all revisionist history at it's worst. MJ was the best bc he was the best, no ifs ands buts or maybes
Majesticon 2 years ago
i got to see nc state play that year in '74 a friend of mine went to maryland,anyway he caught john lucas from behind on a breakaway layup blocks the shot ! he came out of NOWHERE ! he was an awesome player !
azbaldy5 2 years ago
Man he could JUMP!!
Flipper79able 2 years ago
@ Flipper: He (Thompson) had a 48 inch vertical leap.
tedtrix 2 years ago
Correct....you get a gold star on your coloring book. Ha ha ha.
Flipper79able 2 years ago 2
Thompson just got the nod from Jordan... As he will be the one introducing Jordan on friday during his hall of fame induction.
mysteriousnyc 2 years ago
Look at this play carefully. Due to Walton's close proximity to the basket, a greater arc would have resulted in a miss. Again, had Walton leaped higher, due to the proximity, he still would have missed. Once again, did you notice Walton's shot had passed its apex when Thompson blocked it. However, the greatness of what Thompson achieved in this play was not in how high he jumped, but in how quickly he got off his feet.
eandjeastman 2 years ago
David Thompson just made the greatest block in the history of Western civilization!...LOL
MantaRay3 2 years ago 5
The only thing people notice on this is the block, but just for the record, that was one helluva pass by Greg Lee.
IU90 2 years ago 3
Both Walton and Thompson were amazing in college - I read a story about how back then they only allowed the league tourney champion to go the NCAA tourney, and NC State won like a triple OT game in 1974 vs Maryland in what sounds like an amazing game. Did David Thompson have injury trouble in the pros? He could jump higher than anyone it sounded like from what I've read about him.
gopher3737 2 years ago
You heard right...that ACC Final would've been a regional final or Final Four with a 64 team format. That Maryland team had John Lucas, who would be drafted #1 overall and Len Elmore, the very good analyst for ESPN's college basketball. It has been shown on ESPN Classic...great great great game. And David Thompson had some injury problems, but it was more drugs that hindered what should've been a GREAT professional career
cbaldwinjr 2 years ago
Comment removed
walhallafive 2 years ago
if "cocaine" counts as an injury, then yes, thompson had pounds of injury trouble once he went pro.
jordan was nothing compared to what thompson could have been had he not fucked around with drugs.
but being a state fan, its incessant "could haves, would haves, and should haves," since 1983, at least.
adsfo 2 years ago 2
ok jordan wasnt "nothing," but i think thompson could have been remembered as the best ever.
jordan seriously considered state, too.
god damn unc
adsfo 2 years ago
david thompson was an amazing player. but by the time michael jordan was a junior, he was the quickest guard in the world, quicker than thompson, & his moves were much sharper than david thompson's. i think david thompson jumped higher though.
idster7 2 years ago
Too true. If DT had stayed off the drugs then the best NBA player in history would've gone by a different name. It is an absolute travesty not to have this guy be more well known after the skills he showcased at NCSU. I mean no 3's, no dunks and no freshman year, and he is still one of the all time scoring leaders in the ACC.
rollinsox007 2 years ago
dunking was banned in 1967 because of Alcindor. it was reinstated in 1976. Bill Walton played at UCLA from 1971-1974. also Thompson only had one dunk in college during a break away blow out of some team. he then received a technical and went to the bench.
nghuskies87 2 years ago
Walton was a Great College Player and was a great PRO who would have been better without all of the injuries. Thompson was incredible also and would have been one of the best Pros ever if not for injuries and drugs. They were both 2 of the best college players ever and both should be considered with more respect than some of the comments here.
decodan908 2 years ago 17
@decodan908 - Walton and Thompson never did as well as I thought they would as pros. David because he was into coke and Walton due to his feet. Both really fantastic college players but HOF honors should be based on merit not potential. Walton as one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time is a joke.
320jsimpson1 1 year ago
@decodan908 --Thompson was always compared to Dr J--shame he didnt have much of a pro career. Walton at least was able to win a title with Portland. That team ws something to watch.
loyaldude10 1 year ago
@loyaldude10 Walton also won a title with the Celtics in 1986..one of the greatest NBA teams ever.
eaglesyz 1 year ago
@eaglesyz ---right. He did play an important role on a few Celtic teams---was it in 1984 or 86 that they beat lakers for title?
loyaldude10 1 year ago
@loyaldude10 The Celtics beat the Lakers in 1984 in a 7 game series. Walton did not play on the 84 team.
The Lakers beat the Celtics in 1985 & 1987. Celtics won 3 titles in the 80's (81, 84 & 86). In 1981 & 1986
the Celtics beat the Rockets, both series going 6 games. The Lakers took 5 titles in the 80's. Merry Christmas loyaldude.
eaglesyz 1 year ago
Bill Walton is one of the 5 best college players of all time. Get a clue you hack. 3 time player of the year. Not even close, Thompson couldn't carry his jock.
hankwithum 2 years ago
thompson was a beast..BILL WALTON WAS/IS THE MOST OVERRATED PIECE OF SHIT to ever play professionally...and to hear him talk, hes a hall of famer because he was actually good.....he was good....for a dr j highlight....or this highlight right here of MR david thompson..
trublu227 2 years ago
One of the best basketball players that ever was. My 3 year old sons name is David Thompson from Charlotte NC. His dad and granddaddy are also David Thompson's too. Someday, I will tell him about this great basketball legend
peaceandsoul1969 2 years ago
Very well said. Thompson was the most underrated and Walton the most overrated college players of all time.
dave4248 2 years ago 2
David Thompson was a monster on the court.
babazarr 2 years ago
over rated and over hyped play because back then dunking was not legal. If Walton had been able to dunk, he would have slammed it through the hole.
Borjack58 2 years ago
Dunking was legal then...the NCAA only outlawed it to make sure that Alcindor couldn't dunk. Once their prettyboy Walton became a star, they allowed dunking again. This is why Walton never was in Alcindor's league, either in college or the pros.
drwood04 2 years ago 2
Wow, nothing like using completely incorrect data to back up a venomous bias.
TBlake34 2 years ago
might have been a goaltend?
HOPFreak 2 years ago
damn look at their shorts there like 6 inches smaller than what basketball players wear now
glaked23 2 years ago
That's because NBA is a league of all-gang-banger faggots
kirkmach32 2 years ago
Chris Jackson of LSU was the best
murda9779 2 years ago
That weak move by the big red head was "horrible"
OlGuyWicker 2 years ago
I wonder if Walton is still haunted by this.
I also wonder what would have happened if Thompson would have never gotten into drugs.
YeahThatJimmyWhy 2 years ago
That IS the question.
kirkmach32 2 years ago
And it was clean, no foul, no goaltend....
sdfeinstein 3 years ago 3
omfg amazing
rumenthebest 3 years ago
i met him todayy!! hes pretty cool!! :]
wendys15 3 years ago
Greatest COLLEGE basketball player of all time.
duzing4ever 3 years ago
Thompson is better than Walt and Jordan, hands down. GO PACK!
PhillyGarver 3 years ago
Not only did he have hops, but just a phenomenal player...best all-around college basketball I've ever seen.
SnoreBear44 3 years ago 11
Mind boggling clip.....best jumper of all-time!!!
Salvianow 3 years ago
LEGENDARY NC State team.
McCall72 3 years ago
Whats amazing is that Thompson jumped AFTER Walton did, and still blocked it.
Chessboxer09 3 years ago 2
nice
correct7rocks 3 years ago
Walton was the greatest of this time but OMG OWNED!!! THOMPSON!
I was there!
kirkmach32 3 years ago
Thumper Newman was the best college player I ever saw
ababb4life 3 years ago
and still is the best to this day
Melo15xSTAT1 3 years ago
umm have you heard of pistol pete? larry bird?
liljit720 3 years ago 2
dude its a joke! i know pistol and bird.
thumper newman was the fat guy from space jam...(if u didnt know)
Melo15xSTAT1 3 years ago 2
wow haha.. i havent seen that movies in years...
liljit720 3 years ago
Thompson, Walton and Alcindor were all GREAT college players, BUT the best collegiate player ever was LSU's Pete Maravich-still, I believe, the most prolific scorer in ncaa history-AND on an average(at best) team, unlike Walton and Alcindor....
sknyrd77 3 years ago 2
I think DT was the 4th best basketball behind 1 jordan 2 magic and 3 bill russel
sinakholghy 3 years ago
The greatest b-baller of all-time? Why, Mike Smrek, of course. He led the Lakers to back-to-back titles in '87 & '88.
Gerkinstock 3 years ago 2
Thompson is 6'4". I played ball at his parents home in Shelby, NC (shout out to the Golden Ridge community). My 1st cousin and his niece, Charlotte Smith is 6'2" and he is taller than her. David's nephew and Charlotte's brother use to jump out of the gym just like David when we played ball. Big ups to Shelby, NC
mellosmooth7 3 years ago
thompson was really only about 6'2 and a half, not even 6'3. he was 6'3 with shoes on
acrandy2002 3 years ago
I'm a Carolina fan. Grew up there. Went to school there. And I'm still objective enough to say that our arch-rival Thompson was one of the 2 or 3 best all-around college players I ever saw. EVER. Only Alcindor and Walton equalled Thompson's ability at the college level. No one surpassed it.
mythcrusher 3 years ago 2
I used to LOVE college ball in the 1970s & living in Raleigh I was a HUGE Wolfpack fan (had a crush on Monte Towe), never missed a game on TV or radio. David T. was just awesome, All-American for 3 yrs., it's a shame he got into drugs while playing pro ball. I still consider the 73-74 State team one of the best ever. State was out for blood during this game as UCLA had beaten them the previous Dec. We HATED the Bruins, they were so good! But they didn't win the NCAA in 1974--State did!
wlhardy 3 years ago
That was really cool Watching Loud Mouth Walton get blocked. Dose he still do Comentary for the NBA he is really annyiong.
Wehategod 3 years ago 3
I have the picture of the block framed on my wall. It was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Part of the DT legend is him taking a quarter off the backboard - nobody who ever saw him play would challenge that.
Golf0396 3 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Goaltending.
TempletonFacePeck 3 years ago
You need to refresh your weak knowledge of the rules, peanut. Walton's shot wasn't even close to being on the way down. "Big Bill" got stuffed...accept it and move on.
Ssummers104 3 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Big Bill would of broke Thompson's hand had they been able to dunk in college hoops then :)
ktrain115 3 years ago
Get that soft shit out of their Bill Walton!!!!!!!
Deckloaded 3 years ago 2
"THROW it down big fella!"
Damn he couldn't even take his own advice back then.
alexwilsonNC 3 years ago 2
off the vert. amazing
bigbuzin555 4 years ago
DT repping my home town. you gotta check out his nephew dion malachi. Has a vertical just like his uncle.
jayyoung704 4 years ago
Thompson was LISTED at 6'4"... he was prolly close to an inch shorter than that. He could stick his elbow into the hoop with only one step! The man had one of the best combinations of vertical leap and basketball ability of all time. (Rumor had it at NC State that he could take a coin off the top of the backboard with a running start. that's 13'!!)
westhoff0407 4 years ago
yes he could, but others have been able to do it also. Its an amazing task but dozen of people have proven they can do it.
vengence723 3 years ago
true others have been able to do the backboard trick.
but others who were that short?
and that could shoot lights out and handle the ball like a point guard?
sorry haha Skywalker is one of my favorite players (as you can see)
westhoff0407 3 years ago
Yeah, plenty have done it..but at Citadel basketball camp when I attended in the 70's after his last year at State, he and Tommy Burleson were All Star counselors and I not only saw him smash a backboard during a dunk exhibition, but I saw him jump, snatch a quarter off of the top of the backboard with his right hand and windmill his left arm up and place a dime where the quarter had been. Trust me, seeing is believing.
Ssummers104 3 years ago
AGain i understand and respect the post,but statements like that should be 100% accurate,you got to tell the whole story and not part of it
tuzwol 3 years ago
Dozens of people can do dunks and tricks but very few CAN ACTUALLY PLAY like the GREAT DAVID SKYWALKER. This guy is on a par with Kobe and Jordan and if you doubt me ask MJ who his favorite player was.
itzjoeymac 3 years ago
I agree. There wouldn't even BE an MJ or Kobe if it hadn't been for Thompson. Besides, I'd like to see MJ, Kobe and LeBron try to play well with those tiny basketball shorts on. Geez.
Ssummers104 3 years ago
Not exactly, there wouldn't be MJ or Kobe without Dr.J,and there wouldn't be a Dr.J without Connie Hawkins and Elgin Baylor
tuzwol 3 years ago 3
But this is a David Thompson oriented youtube post, thus the reference to Thompson instead of Erving. While I concede that Erving possessed magical skills, Thompson wielded enough influence on both to make me comfortable with my origianl statement.
Ssummers104 3 years ago
I know it's a David Thompson Post,but saying there wouldn't be an MJ or Kobe without Thompson isn't completely accurate considering MJ played like the Doctor,alot of those aerial moves that MJ did were the Doc's moves,so referencing to Thompson is a matter of opinion,but it's not completely true,You make it sound as if Thompson is solely responsible,the true pioneers were doing these aerial moves when Thompson was in elementary school
tuzwol 3 years ago
Again, I stand by my original post. MJ and Kobe both have acknowledged that, without the influence of Thompson, neither would be the player they were/are. Jordan has stated that Thompson was his favorite player of all time. As for the 100% Rule, to use your criteria, using Dr. J's name isn't completely accurate either. It would be impossible to name every influence that would be necessary to achieve the 100% accuracy you espouse. Other than math, hardly any statement of fact is 100% accurate.
Ssummers104 3 years ago
Besides, the observation is subjective rather than objective, as is our right to make. Another example would be you telling your Mother, "Gee Mom, you're the best Mom ever!"
I wouldn't quibble with you, even tho I might feel like MY mother was the best." When using absolutes, hyperbole occurs from time to time.
One big difference,tho, in the example I gave you, and that is that the statement "There wouldn't even have been a "tuzwol" without his Mom." IS, unless I'm mistaken, 100% accurate.
Ssummers104 3 years ago
itzjoeymac if you asked jordan like they did in interviews the first name he always says is Dr J not David Thompson. Not taking anything away from him he was a cold blooded player but the shit you see today in terms of play and flair and dunks that is thanks to what Dr. J did. Dr. J was the michael, kobe, and lebron before they became who they were. All of them lebron included will give you the name Dr. J and for kobe and lebron they will give you MJ as well.
BTAKVE 3 years ago
BTAKVE, MJ was a HUGE DT fan. I've never seen him mention Dr J before DT. Dr J wasn't hugely known before he was a pro, DT was. DT is the greatest ACC player ever, even MJ will tell you that, if not the greatest college player ever.
Pacfanweb 3 years ago
What? I was trying to stay out of this pissing contest, but MJ used to mention Dr. J ALL THE TIME, about him being an influence. I personally don't think either one of them "made" Michael Jordan...it was just the times. Dr. J definitely influenced everything, but being around then, I was as much an Iceman fan as I was Dr. J fan...they all brought it,in fact I'd say the ABA was the major influence, not one person.
I like MJ but I'd still, to this day, take a young Dominique in a dunk contest
unlvrebelx 3 years ago
i dont think they were aloowed to dunk then
lakerfan2416 4 years ago
That's horrrrrrrrrrrrrible. Throw it down, big man.
blitzhawk311 4 years ago
You don't know your basketball history. Dunking the ball was against the rules in college basketball in 1974. A player dunking the ball drew an automatic technical foul.
tellusorbit 4 years ago
That i knew, I just wanted to type A bill Walton impression. Still took it up weak though...horrrrrible.
blitzhawk311 4 years ago
Yeah Because Of Lew Alcindor Or Kareem Abdul Jabbar
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alexovechkinboy8 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Top 5 Dunkers
1. Dominique wilkins
2.Vince Carter
3.Michael Jordan
4.Julius Erving
5.David Thompson
isaacd35 4 years ago
are you talking about In-Game dunkers or dunk contest dunkers?
gp2042 4 years ago
Bill went up real soft anyway
Chowan30 4 years ago
looks just like his memphis state game. i'd like to see you one on one against DT
rorygg1 4 years ago
ariamaluum,,,,those are valid considerations,,but if they played at a nuetral site for championship,,still a ten plus victory for ucla,,more power to nc state,very forunate to have home game for semi
nastylefthook 4 years ago
No complaint when UCLA won in 1968 and 1972 at the L.A Sports Arena and in 1975 in San Diego. N.C. State's best team was 1973 when they went 27-0 including the ACC tourney but was not allowed to play in the NCAA due to violations involving David Thompson's overnight visit to the campus.
Ariamaluum 4 years ago
most people at the game were UNC fans and they root for 2 teams, UNC , and whoever is playing NC STATE. NC STATE had the toughest schedule in the country. went undefeated in the ACC for 2 yrs running, not the easy PAC 8 or 10 teams
rorygg1 4 years ago
smoothaloe,,,i would have concurred with you about one week ago,,,until i took a real close look at jerry lucas,,ohio state,,his stats are unbelievable,,check him,,some bad decisions and his dislike for pro ball cost him some credibility
nastylefthook 4 years ago
David Thompson.The ORIGINAL Skywalker!
firepower782 4 years ago
david thompson could jump and had longer arms,,but at least 100 players in college basketball history surpassed him in overall talent,,,,,on nuetral site ,first game of year in 74,,ucla/walton beat thompsons team by 27 points and keith/jamal wilkes outplayed him badly
nastylefthook 4 years ago
Your comment might be one of the dumbest I've ever read on youtube Thomspon had phenominal talent and ranks amongst the very best players in college basketball history.
Maxx61 4 years ago
Walton outdid Tom Burleson in the St. Louis game. Walton said something that irked Burleson's fire just like Len Elmore during the season. At that time, N.C. State had two juco-transfers in Phil Spence and Moe Rivers who were getting adjusted to big time play. After that, they really jelled and Spence/Rivers play during the ACC and NCAA was the under-rated portion of the championship.
Ariamaluum 4 years ago
DT was selected by SI as one of the top 5 college players of all time.he is the only player to be MVP of the ABA and NBA all-star game.i saw him play from 73-75 while i went to NC STATE. read his autobiography and the foward by bill walton.bill says DT was the only opposing player john wooden ever mentioned in 3 years.bill concludes by saying david was so good,he could have played at UCLA. dr J said david was the best player he ever played against.
rorygg1 4 years ago 3
DT has an autobio out? I gotta get a copy of that. Where did you get yours?
JellyBean2144 4 years ago
David Thompson was THE greatest college basketball player EVER! If not for cocaine, Jordan would still be looking up at Thompson.
xtrm1 4 years ago
did you see david t get up there! far much better that mj in college
willistheman9503 4 years ago
My top five collegiate players are as follows: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pete Maravich, Oscar Robertson, Bill Walton, and David Thompson.
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barryWhitemusic 4 years ago
ferdinand lewis alcindor, jr was the best high school, college and pro player combined. 47 game win streak at power, lost 2 games in college (btw beat defending champs his first game as a freshman - vs the UCLA varsity!). rookie of year and nba champs 2nd yr w/ bucks. 6 time mvp. prolific scorer but more imp. a winner w/ titles.
mannerheimline 4 years ago
Walton lead UCLA to 88 straight, the most in history. Walton was a better rebounder and defender. His 21 for 22 shooting against Memphis State in the 73 finals was the greatest NCAA Tourney game ever. John Wooden calls Walton (when healthy) the greatest center in the history of the game, but what would he know?
Anna596 4 years ago
still Bill Walton is really ghay.....
DALSU 4 years ago
Whether he is or isn't (he's not), what's it matter? Who cares? Do you have some issues of your own with sexual orientation. Most homophobic biget's do, most recently the President of the National Evangelicals & a Colorado church. I'm fine with gay. I accept their right to be non-violently anti-gay, if they don't try and codify their phobia into law. I despise hypocracy. Someone who offers a non sequitor comment on Youtube about a basketball player, doth protest to much.
Anna596 4 years ago
dood..... I ain't saying it's a bad thing that Bill "the Fogboy" Walton is ghay or not just saying he is and it effected his play on the court
DALSU 4 years ago
How's he gay if he's got a son? Well he might be but I figure he isn't since I havn't heard anything about it. He is the worst announcer ever though, EVER.
stevenash2300 4 years ago
blah blah blah BORING
robbiemo10 4 years ago
This was actually fairly historic. Understand UCLA's dominance then, and their star Walton being blocked by a 6'4" guy was certainly quite a shock. It was definitely not boring if you consider the context.
Hallonsylt 4 years ago
I agree with you 100% that he was the all-time best high school, college and pro player combined. No was as dominate as he was at all 3 levels.
Jude1068 4 years ago
Yep, even Wilt Camberlain said he presented him for the first time a player who he needed help to guard. You can't get higher praise than that.
smoothALOE 4 years ago
Fwiw, David Thompson AKA the "skywalker" was way better than Jordan in college. Named to the first team ALL TIME all Acc team...Jordan wasn't.
IdahoInvader 4 years ago
you got that right! and i'm a carolina fan too! i told david that to his face about 10 years ago.
tonyt55 4 years ago
Kareem is great,but he didnt average the 44 points per game that pistol did,the numbers dont lie.
NAMTRIP 4 years ago
The Pistol was great but he is no where near the greatest college bball player. That honor goes to Kareem Adul Jabbar hands down. Here is the top five all time great college basketball players: 1. Kareem 2. Bill Walton 3. The Big O 4. Bill Russell. 5. Pistol. If you combine players high school, college and pro careers, these are the top five: 1. Kareem 2.Big O 3. Magic 4. Wilt 5. Israel Thomas.
Kareem and the Big O are the greatest players to play high school ball.
anthony81860 4 years ago
Israel Thomas?
Jordan23c 4 years ago
My bad. Isiah Lord Thomas III
anthony81860 4 years ago
how u gonna rank pistol 5 he is a definit 1or2. Bill walton is horrible come on.
Lisko15 4 years ago
how do you know he wouldnt of sammy you are wack. pistol pete was one of a kind ahead of his time a great one. walton was great as well. its a shame thompsons drug abuse killed his career cuz he woulda had far superior numbers and possibly titles. great player when in his prime tho one of the alltime great hall of famers.
gocelts34n7 4 years ago
thompson probly really was the greatest college player ever in my opinion that ive seen. kareem i didnt see as much but hes a big man which is a completely different animal. i saw thompson tho he was great also in the aba and nba for a few years as well. best freshman ever is carmelo anthony what he did made history no freshman done that ever and never will again.
gocelts34n7 4 years ago
No doubt Kareem is the best college player. Wooden let him score 56 his 1st varsity game to show everybody but then he controlled all phases of the game. Where is the other 7'2 guy able to suspend himself in the air to go with incredible strength. Wilt had the finger roll but wasn't as agile.
LeatherShorts 4 years ago
Maybe the best college player ever...this clip showing him and Bill Walton is great! According to Wikipedia, Thompson seems to have gotten his life back together as he earned his NC State degree and now works in community relations and with young people on avoiding drug abuse.
jman1960 4 years ago
Pete Maravich was the best college player ever. I think he is even the best NBA player ever too.
SammyJr3 4 years ago
Maravich put up some great numbers but he wasn't a better college player than Kareem. Kareem could have scored just as much as Pete but he had to sacrifice shots to win those three national championchips. Maravich didnt even win one.
jaydub114 4 years ago
maravich would have scored 54 PPG with a 3pt line...
SammyJr3 4 years ago
thats nice but he still wouldn't win a national title.
jaydub114 4 years ago
because of his injury.
SammyJr3 4 years ago
Greatest college player Maravich? That title belongs to Oscar Robertson, only college player to average a triple double (read the last line again). Maravich one of the fifty greatest but not the best.
Prop 4 years ago
Yeah that is true about DT - he spoke to me and other kids at the Boys and Girls club in Greenville NC when i was a youngster about staying away from drugs.
otisthetowndrunk 4 years ago
Just think. If there had have been a little "toot" on the ball he would have inhaled it instead of blocking it with his hands! Unfortunately, many people have succumb to drug abuse. I am pretty sure that David Thompson got his life back together though.
MTXSHO9732vV8SHO 4 years ago
david thompson had a 50 inch vert
pistolpooper 4 years ago
check his head when he jumped..its as high as the board..and that without momentum!
bandypaul 4 years ago
I personaly saw David Thompson at a Denver Rockets (thats what the used to be called) jump up and take a quarter off the top of a regulation height backboard! I have never seen anyone that has been able to do this since!
The sad thing about David is his carrer was ended by the use of cocaine. And today he is no where to be found.
tatersgravy 4 years ago
What could've been. Perhaps he could be George Rogers at USC now. Fuckin awesome, cummin atcha yourn from Upstate South Carolina.
hollywood911949 4 years ago
DT was the best college player I have ever seen. Oscar Robertson was before my time but DT was the truth. A monster...I think he averaged over 30 a game in 73 or 74...in the ACC!
excelerant 4 years ago
NCSU would've won in 73(we were undefeated), but the team was banned from postseason play because we paved DT's driveway to influence him to come to NCSU :P
Harrisonmon 4 years ago