George Thompson (basketball)

George Thompson (November 29, 1947 – June 8, 2022) was an American professional basketball player. A 6'2" guard, he attended Erasmus Hall High School from which he graduated in 1965. He then attended Marquette University, where he played for coach Al McGuire. He held the Marquette scoring record for 40 years, and held the single season scoring record of over 20 ppg for 50 years before his record was broken by Markus Howard.

George Thompson
Personal information
Born(1947-11-29)November 29, 1947
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 8, 2022(2022-06-08) (aged 74)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolErasmus Hall (Brooklyn, New York)
CollegeMarquette (1966–1969)
NBA draft1969: 5th round, 66th overall pick
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career1969–1975
PositionPoint guard
Number25, 23, 24
Career history
19691972Pittsburgh Pipers / Condors
19721974Memphis Tams
1974–1975Milwaukee Bucks
1975–1978Flamengo
1979Club Municipal
Career highlights and awards
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points8,114 (18.6 ppg)
Rebounds1,457 (3.3 rpg)
Assists1,561 (3.6 apg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the fifth round of the 1969 NBA draft but began his career with the Pittsburgh Pipers of the upstart American Basketball Association. Thompson played five seasons (1969–1974) in the ABA, including two with the Memphis Tams, appearing as an All-Star three times. He then played one season with the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, in 1974–75. He scored 8,114 combined ABA/NBA career points.

Thompson holds the ABA record for free throws attempted in a single game with 30.[1]

Thompson was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.[2] Thompson is also in the Marquette Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Brooklyn New York Hall of Fame in October 2016. He died on June 8, 2022, of complications from diabetes.[3]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

ABA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1969–70 Pittsburgh 54-18.8.441.219.6771.71.4--13.0
1970–71 Pittsburgh 82-30.1.471.256.7153.52.5--18.5
1971–72 Pittsburgh 70-41.5.481.311.7795.03.7--27.0
1972–73 Memphis 80-36.6.456.274.7843.35.0--21.6
1973–74 Memphis 78-35.0.475.185.7903.55.11.50.319.2
Career 364-33.1.468.265.7603.53.71.50.320.1

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1974–75 Milwaukee 73-27.2.443-.7852.53.10.90.110.7
Career 73-27.2.443-.7852.53.10.90.110.7

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1966–67 Marquette 29--.500-.6587.2---18.0
1967–68 Marquette 29--.497-.6488.61.2--22.9
1968–69 Marquette 29--.465-.7257.91.9--20.2
Career 87--.487-.6787.91.5--20.4

References

  1. The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia. Villard Books. 1994. p. 209. ISBN 0-679-43293-0.
  2. A Hall of Fame night at the New York Athletic Club
  3. "Marquette's legendary player George Thompson passes away due to complications from diabetes". www.tmj4.com. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
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