Mychal Thompson facts for kids
Thompson in 2014
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1955 Eleuthera, The Bahamas |
| Nationality | Bahamian / American |
| High school | Jackson (Miami, Florida) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 216 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Minnesota (1974–1978) |
| NBA Draft | 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Pro career | 1978–1992 |
| Career history | |
| 1978–1986 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1986–1987 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1987–1991 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1991–1992 | Juvecaserta Basket |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 12,810 (13.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 6,951 (7.4 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,073 (1.1 bpg) |
Mychal George Thompson (born January 30, 1955) is a Bahamian sports commentator and a former professional basketball player. He was the very first player picked in the 1978 NBA draft. Thompson played as a center for the University of Minnesota. In the National Basketball Association, he played center and power forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Thompson won two NBA championships with the Lakers during their famous "Showtime" era in the 1980s. He is also well-known as the father of three talented athletes: basketball players Klay Thompson and Mychel Thompson, and baseball player Trayce Thompson.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Thompson was born in Nassau, Bahamas. He grew up playing basketball on local courts. This is where he first fell in love with the game.
As a teenager, he moved to the United States to play at a higher level. He settled in Miami, Florida, and went to Miami Jackson Senior High School. In his final year, 1974, his basketball team was called the "Jackson 5." They had an amazing season, winning all 33 of their games. They also won the Class 4A state championship.
After high school, Thompson went to the University of Minnesota. He had a fantastic college basketball career there.
Mychal Thompson's NBA Career
The Portland Trail Blazers chose Mychal Thompson as the first player in the 1978 NBA draft. This made him the first player born outside the U.S. to be picked first overall.
Playing for the Portland Trail Blazers
Thompson played for the Portland Trail Blazers for eight years. He played both power forward and center. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie team in 1978. One of his best seasons was in 1981–82. During that year, he averaged 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
In 1987, Thompson was traded to the San Antonio Spurs.
Joining the Los Angeles Lakers
Thompson played only half a season with the Spurs. In February 1987, he was traded again. This time, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were a very strong team at that time. They had other top players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy. All of them were also first overall picks in their drafts.
Thompson became a valuable backup center and power forward for the Lakers. He helped the team win the 1987 NBA title against the Boston Celtics. In Game 6 of the 1987 NBA Finals, he scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The Lakers won the series.
Thompson continued to be a reliable player for the Lakers. He helped them win another championship in 1988. They beat the Detroit Pistons that year. The Lakers also reached the NBA Finals in 1989 and 1991. Thompson retired from playing basketball in 1991.
Father-Son NBA Champions
As of 2025, Mychal Thompson and his son Klay Thompson are one of only five father-son duos to have both won an NBA Championship as players. The other duos include Matt Guokas, Sr. and Matt Guokas, Jr., Rick Barry and Brent Barry, Bill Walton and Luke Walton, and Gary Payton and Gary Payton II.
The Thompsons and the Waltons are also the only father-son pairs to have each won at least two championships. Mychal and Klay Thompson are the only father-son duo to each win championships in two years in a row.
Life After the NBA
After his basketball career, Thompson and his family moved back to Portland in 1991. He worked in local sports radio there. In 2003, he moved back to Los Angeles. He got a job as a color commentator for the Lakers' radio broadcasts.
Thompson is currently a radio color commentator for the Lakers. He works alongside John Ireland.
Mychal Thompson's Family Life
Mychal Thompson married his wife Julie in 1987. They have three sons: Mychel, Klay, and Trayce.
- Mychel briefly played in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Klay is a shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks. He has won four NBA championships.
- Trayce is an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox.
Thompson is sometimes called "sweet bells." This nickname comes from another basketball player, Walt Bellamy, who was called "bells." A documentary about Mychal Thompson's life, called "Trailblazer: The Mychal Thompson Story," was shown in 2013.
In 2015, a street in Nassau, Bahamas, was named "Mychal Thompson Boulevard" in his honor. This street leads to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.
Images for kids
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Thompson in 2014
See also
In Spanish: Mychal Thompson para niños
