Dijon Thompson facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| High school | Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UCLA (2001–2005) |
| NBA Draft | 2005 / Round: 2 / Pick: 54th overall |
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |
| Pro career | 2005–2018 |
| Career history | |
| 2005–2006 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2005–2006 | Albuquerque Thunderbirds |
| 2007 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2007–2008 | ALBA Berlin |
| 2008–2009 | Azovmash Mariupol |
| 2009–2010 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| 2010–2011 | Spartak St. Petersburg |
| 2011–2012 | ASVEL Basket |
| 2012–2014 | Nizhny Novgorod |
| 2014 | Saigon Heat |
| 2015 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
| 2016 | Petrolina AEK Larnaca |
| 2016–2017 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| 2017 | Nizhny Novgorod |
| 2017–2018 | Ferro Carril Oeste |
| 2018 | Levanga Hokkaido |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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Dijon Lynn Thompson (born February 23, 1983) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played for a short time in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Early in his career, he mostly played as a shooting guard. Later, when he played in Europe, he also took on the role of a small forward.
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College Basketball Star
Dijon Thompson was a very talented player at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He scored an average of 15.6 points per game during his college career. In his junior year, this average went up to 18.4 points. On February 10, 2005, he had an amazing game against Arizona State, scoring a career-high 39 points.
After his junior year, Thompson thought about joining the NBA draft. However, he decided to stay at UCLA for his senior year instead. In his final year, he helped lead the UCLA Bruins team to the NCAA Tournament. This was a big achievement, as the team had not been to the tournament for two years.
NBA Journey
Getting Drafted and Traded
In the 2005 NBA draft, Dijon Thompson was picked by the New York Knicks. He was the 54th player chosen overall, in the second round. Soon after being drafted, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. This trade involved him and another player, Kurt Thomas, moving to the Suns. In return, the Knicks received guard Quentin Richardson, the rights to draft Nate Robinson, and some money.
Playing in the NBA D-League
On November 4, 2005, the Suns sent Thompson to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. This team was part of the NBA D-League, which is like a minor league for the NBA. While playing for the Thunderbirds, he averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in just three games. Because of his strong performance, the Suns called him back to their team on November 26. He was the first player that season to be called up from the D-League. This happened after one of their players, Leandro Barbosa, got a knee injury.
Injury and Recovery
On March 10, 2006, Thompson had surgery on his right knee. This type of surgery is called microfracture surgery. Because of this, he could not play for the rest of the 2005–06 season. By June 23, the Suns decided not to keep him for a second season. This made him a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Trying Out for Other Teams
On October 2, 2006, the Golden State Warriors invited Thompson to their training camp. However, he was cut from the team just a week later, on October 11.
He then returned to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds on November 27, 2006. He quickly made a big impact, averaging 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in his first five games. On December 11, Thompson was recognized as the D-League Performer of the Week for his excellent play.
Brief Stint with the Atlanta Hawks
On January 6, 2007, the Atlanta Hawks signed Thompson to a 10-day contract. This happened while their forward, Josh Smith, was recovering from a hernia operation. The Hawks extended his contract for another 10 days on January 16. During his time with the Hawks, Thompson averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in six games.
After returning to the D-League, Thompson played in the 2007 NBA D-League All-Star Game. He scored 14 points in the game, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 19, 2007. He helped the Thunderbirds reach the playoffs that year, though they lost in the first round. For his great performance during the 2006–07 season, Thompson was named to the All-NBA Development League Honorable Mention Team.
Playing Overseas: European Career
After his time in the NBA and D-League, Dijon Thompson moved to Europe to continue his basketball career.
First European Teams
On July 27, 2007, Thompson signed a one-year contract with Alba Berlin, a team in Germany. He and the team decided to go their separate ways in May 2008.
On June 10, 2008, Thompson signed a contract with Azovmash Mariupol in Ukraine.
Then, on September 4, 2009, he signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel.
Playing in Russia and France
For the 2010–11 season, Thompson played for Spartak Saint Petersburg in the Russian Professional Basketball League.
In July 2011, he signed a one-year contract with ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne in France.
In September 2012, he joined Nizhny Novgorod, another team in the Russian Professional Basketball League. He was recognized for his excellent play in 2014 when he was named to the All-EuroCup First Team.
Later Career in Israel and Cyprus
On February 17, 2015, Thompson signed a half-year contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel.
On June 22, 2016, he signed a one-year contract with AEL Larnaca in Cyprus. He won the Cypriot Super Cup with this team in 2016.
Thompson continued to play professionally until 2018, playing for various teams around the world, including another stint with Hapoel Jerusalem and Nizhny Novgorod, and teams in Argentina and Japan.
See also
In Spanish: Dijon Thompson para niños
