To me he's not white magic. He can't really move. But he shoots like Dirk. Passes like very few I've seen in the post. And is so thick that he can be like Mark Eaton. Immovable. Very mechanical but also doesn't seem to make mistakes. I can see how people overlook him.
That is also what is so unique about the guy, you ask 20 people what player he reminds them of, you will get 20 different answers, and all answers are of great players.
I believe he was the player that stopped ucla's run of national titles in the 70's. Great score, great leaper. A little before my time but vaguely recall him toward end of his NBA career. My dad was a big fan.
he was. Like 1974 or something. NC State. Was Michael Jordan's idol. Dunno why Jordan didn't go there. Thompson played for the Denver Rockets of the ABA. Forced to change their name when the NBA already had Houston. I was too young, but apparently his career was derailed by drugs and his NBA part of his career was short lived. Julius Erving stayed clean and was able to play in NY and Philly. Both giving him much longer and larger media exposure. Denver was much less. But everything Dr J was? David Thompson was all that and more. Just about every high flying dunk or attack to the rim you see today was originated by him. When you see his highlight reel you say "oh, that's nice, but guys today do all that" What you dont realize is they do because they saw hundred of people before them show them, teach them, make it possible. David Thompson just like. DID IT. So the fact he's doing all this stuff. Imagine no one ever really seeing anyone fly like that and and then see him do it. It's hard to look back and realize but if anyone did that today they'd blow up the internet daily.
White Magic should have been MVP this year.
David Thompson was Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan was Michael Jordan. He was Julius Erving with a much worse press agent.