LaSalle Thompson facts for kids
Thompson, circa 1986
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 23, 1961 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| High school | Withrow (Cincinnati, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Texas (1979–1982) |
| NBA Draft | 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall |
| Selected by the Kansas City Kings | |
| Pro career | 1981–1997 |
| Coaching career | 2008–2014 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1982–1989 | Kansas City / Sacramento Kings |
| 1989–1995 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1996 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1996–1997 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1997 | Indiana Pacers |
| As coach: | |
| 2000–2001 | San Diego Wildfire |
| 2008–2010 | Charlotte Bobcats (assistant) |
| 2012–2014 | New York Knicks (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 7,806 (7.9 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 6,689 (6.8 rpg) |
| Blocks | 972 (1.0 bpg) |
LaSalle Thompson III, born on June 23, 1961, is a former American professional basketball player. He played for 15 years, mostly with the Sacramento Kings (who were also known as the Kansas City Kings) and the Indiana Pacers. Standing 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 245 pounds, Thompson played as a center and a power forward. After his playing career, he became an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats and the New York Knicks.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
College Basketball Years
LaSalle Thompson, also known as "Tank," was a star player at Texas. He became the school's all-time leader in rebounds with 1,027. He achieved this record even though he only played for three years. His record stood for 21 years until another player, James Thomas, broke it in 2004.
Time with the Kings
The Kansas City Kings picked Thompson as the fifth overall player in the 1982 NBA draft. This made him the highest-drafted player from the University of Texas until LaMarcus Aldridge was chosen in 2006. During the 1984 NBA playoffs, Thompson played very well. He averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game, which were his best playoff numbers.
In the 1989–1990 season, Thompson averaged 13.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He spent half of that season with the Kings and the other half with the Indiana Pacers. While still with the Kings that season, he scored a career-high 31 points in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Playing for the Indiana Pacers
For much of his early career, Thompson was a regular starter. However, in the 1992–1993 season, he took on a new role. He became a strong, experienced player coming off the bench. This was because Rik Smits and Dale Davis were starting most games. Thompson was a very important reserve player for the Pacers. He helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals in the 1993–1994 season.
Later Teams
After the 1994–1995 season, Thompson joined the Philadelphia 76ers. He played there for one year before moving to the Denver Nuggets. He finished his playing career by returning to the Indiana Pacers for nine more games. This happened after a trade that also brought Mark Jackson back to Indiana.
After His NBA Career
After retiring from playing, LaSalle Thompson became involved in other basketball roles. He served as the general manager and head coach for the San Diego Wildfire team. This team was part of the American Basketball Association during the 2000–01 season.
Thompson also co-owns Prime Time Motors, a company that sells cars in California.
On May 30, 2008, Thompson accepted an offer to become an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats. He worked under head coach Larry Brown, who he had played for during his time with the Indiana Pacers. Thompson stayed with the Bobcats until Larry Brown left the team in December 2010.
Before the 2012–13 NBA season began, Thompson became an assistant coach for the New York Knicks. He worked under Mike Woodson, who he had played with when they were both on the Kings. Thompson coached for the Knicks for two seasons until Woodson was no longer the coach in April 2014.
LaSalle Thompson has a son named Nickolas, who plays basketball at Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He also has a daughter named Ruby, who plays volleyball for Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois.
See also
In Spanish: LaSalle Thompson para niños
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
