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 June 23, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 15 years in the NBA. Most of his career was spent with the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers.
Thompson was 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 245 pounds. He played as a center and power forward. After retiring as a player, he became an assistant coach. He coached for the Charlotte Bobcats and the New York Knicks.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
College Years
LaSalle Thompson was nicknamed "Tank" when he played at Texas. He became the school's all-time leader in rebounds. He grabbed 1,027 rebounds in just three years. This record stood for 21 years!
Time with the Kings
In 1982, the Kansas City Kings picked Thompson fifth overall in the 1982 NBA draft. This made him the highest-drafted player from Texas until 2006.
During the 1984 NBA playoffs, Thompson played very well. He averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. This was his best playoff performance. In the 1989–1990 season, he averaged 13.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. While with the Kings that season, he scored a career-high 31 points in one game.
Playing for the Indiana Pacers
For much of his early career, Thompson was a regular starter. But in the 1992–1993 season, he took on a new role. He became a key veteran player coming off the bench. He helped the Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1994. This was a big achievement for the team.
Other NBA Teams
After the 1994–1995 season, Thompson joined the Philadelphia 76ers. He played there for one year. Then, he moved to the Denver Nuggets. He finished his playing career back with the Indiana Pacers. He played nine more games for them after a trade.
After His NBA Career
After his playing days, Thompson became a general manager and head coach. He led the San Diego Wildfire in the American Basketball Association for one season (2000–2001).
He also co-owns a car sales company called Prime Time Motors in California.
In 2008, Thompson became an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats. He worked under head coach Larry Brown, who used to coach Thompson when he played for the Pacers. He stayed with the Bobcats until December 2010.
Later, in 2012, Thompson became an assistant coach for the New York Knicks. He worked with head coach Mike Woodson, who was his teammate on the Kings. He coached for the Knicks for two seasons.
LaSalle Thompson has a son named Nickolas. Nickolas plays basketball for Jonesboro High School. He also has a daughter named Ruby. Ruby plays volleyball for Evanston Township High School and a club team.
See also
In Spanish: LaSalle Thompson para niños
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
