Billy Thompson (basketball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Billy Thompson

No. 55
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Personal information
Born	(1963-12-01) December 1, 1963 (age 61) Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
High school	Camden (Camden, New Jersey)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College	Louisville (1982–1986)
NBA Draft	1986 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th overall
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
Pro career	1986–1998
Career history
1986–1988	Los Angeles Lakers
1988–1991	Miami Heat
1992	Golden State Warriors
1993–1994	Rapid City Thrillers
1994	San Miguel Beermen
1994	Fenerbahçe
1994–1997	Hapoel Jerusalem
1997–1998	Peñarol de Mar del Plata
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (1987, 1988) All-CBA Second Team (1994) NCAA champion (1986) 2× First-team All-Metro Conference (1985, 1986) McDonald's All-American (1982) First-team Parade All-American (1982) Third-team Parade All-American (1981)
Career NBA statistics
Points	2,566 (8.6 ppg)
Rebounds	1,615 (5.4 rpg)
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  United States Summer Universiade Silver 1985 Kobe National team

Billy Thompson (born December 1, 1963) is a former American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and other leagues. Billy spent five years playing for teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat.

Early Basketball Days

High School Success

Billy Thompson played basketball at Camden High School in New Jersey. He was a top player, named an All-American twice. In 1982, his team won the state championship. Many people thought he was the best high school player in the country.

College Championship

Billy chose to play college basketball at the University of Louisville. His team, the Cardinals, made it to the national semi-finals in his first year. In his junior year, he was the team's leader in points, rebounds, and assists. In his senior year, the Cardinals won the 1986 NCAA national championship.

Playing in the NBA

Joining the Lakers

In the 1986 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks picked Billy as the 19th player overall. However, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on the same day. He was a reserve player for the Lakers. This means he came off the bench to help the team.

Winning NBA Titles

Billy was part of the Lakers teams that won two NBA championships in a row. They won in the 1986–87 and 1987–88 seasons. He is one of only five players to win both an NCAA championship and an NBA championship in back-to-back seasons. The other players are Bill Russell, Henry Bibby, Earvin Johnson, and Christian Braun.

Time with the Miami Heat

After his second season with the Lakers, Billy was chosen by the Miami Heat in the 1988 NBA expansion draft. He was a starter for the Heat's very first game. In that first season, he averaged 10.8 points per game. The next year, he averaged 11 points per game as a part-time starter. He also took part in the 1990 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Playing Around the World

CBA Experience

In the 1993–94 season, Billy played for the Rapid City Thrillers. This team was part of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He was recognized as one of the best players in the league that year.

Success in Israel

In 1994, Billy went to play professional basketball in Turkey for Fenerbahçe. After that, he played in Israel for Hapoel Jerusalem from 1994 to 1997. With his teammate Adi Gordon, Billy helped Hapoel win two State Cup titles. This was a big deal because they beat the strong team Maccabi Tel Aviv both times. Billy Thompson is still remembered as one of the most liked foreign players in Israel.

Life After Basketball

Billy Thompson is a Christian and now works as a pastor. He leads the Jesus People Proclaim International Church in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He is married to Cynthia, and they have five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

See also

In Spanish: Billy Thompson (baloncestista) para niños