David Thompson at 70: From Skywalker’s Soaring Heights to a Quiet Redemption

Born in 1954 in Shelby, North Carolina, Thompson was a shy farm boy with an extraordinary gift: he could jump higher than almost anyone.

At North Carolina State University from 1972 to 1975, he became a college basketball legend.

He led the Wolfpack to their first NCAA championship in 1974, famously defeating the dominant UCLA Bruins in a thrilling double-overtime game.

Thompson earned the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award and back-to-back national player of the year honors in 1974 and 1975.

His college career was marked by jaw-dropping performances, including a 57-point game and a career average of 26.8 points per game.

Alongside teammate Monte Towe, he helped invent the alley-oop—a play that forever changed basketball.

His No.44 jersey remains the only one retired by NC State, and in 2023, a bronze statue was unveiled depicting him catching an alley-oop pass, immortalizing his impact on the game.

The professional leagues clamored for Thompson’s talents.

In 1975, he was the first overall pick in both the ABA and NBA drafts, ultimately signing with the ABA’s Denver Nuggets.

His rookie season was spectacular: he won ABA Rookie of the Year and was the MVP of the ABA All-Star Game in 1976.

When the ABA merged with the NBA, Thompson continued to shine, making the All-NBA First Team in 1977 and 1978, and winning the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1979.

One of his most remarkable feats came on the final day of the 1977-78 season when he scored 73 points in a single game—an elite milestone achieved by only ten players in NBA history.

Following that season, he signed a record-breaking $4 million contract over five years, cementing his status as one of basketball’s brightest stars.

Yet fame weighed heavily on Thompson.

Unlike many athletes who crave the spotlight, he was uncomfortable with the attention.

A cousin recalled that Thompson never sought stardom; he simply wanted to play great basketball.

The shy farm boy was unprepared for the pressures that came with being a superstar.

Thompson’s risk-taking nature shone on the court—he pioneered daring plays and dunks even when they were against the rules.

But that same personality made him vulnerable off the court.

The 1970s sports world was awash with drugs, and cocaine was pervasive.

During the grueling 1976 ABA Finals, Thompson tried cocaine for the first time, seeking relief from exhaustion after playing over 100 games in his rookie season.

He later admitted, “Once you break down and give in, it’s a lot easier to do it the next time.

Before you know it, it becomes a habit.”

The real trouble began in the 1979-80 season when a severe foot injury sidelined him.

Without the daily structure of basketball, his cocaine use spiraled into daily abuse, compounded by heavy drinking.

His behavior deteriorated: he was late to practices, missed team flights, and withdrew from teammates and coaches.

The Denver Nuggets’ performance suffered, and by December 1979, Thompson resigned as co-captain.

His wife Kathy’s desperation led her to involve the police, asking them to arrest his drug dealer in hopes of forcing Thompson to get clean.

Thompson’s college coach, Norm Sloan, observed that he had difficulty saying no to people, making him susceptible to bad influences.

The professional basketball environment at the time didn’t just tolerate drug use—it often encouraged it within certain social circles.

By the 1981-82 season, Thompson’s decline was stark.

His scoring average dropped to 14.9 points per game, and he lost his starting role.

Addiction took a toll not just physically but mentally, eroding his focus and effectiveness.

In June 1982, the Nuggets traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics, where he briefly revived his career, earning another NBA All-Star selection in 1983 and averaging 15.9 points per game.

But the battle with addiction was far from over.

His performance fluctuated with periods of sobriety and relapse.

He missed most of the 1983-84 season undergoing drug rehabilitation.

On March 10, 1984, his career ended abruptly after a severe knee injury sustained during a fight at New York’s Studio 54 nightclub—an incident occurring amid ongoing substance abuse.

Thompson attempted a comeback with the Indiana Pacers in 1985, but his addiction prevented a return.

Later that year, he was arrested for public intoxication.

His professional basketball career officially ended after just nine seasons.

Legal troubles followed.

In 1986, Thompson was convicted of domestic violence for assaulting his wife, receiving probation.

He violated probation and was sentenced to 180 days in minimum-security prison in 1987.

By then, he was spending $1,000 daily on cocaine.

These events illustrated how addiction progressively destroys lives, turning personal struggles into public crises.

Thompson entered rehab multiple times, including stints in Denver and Kirkland, Washington.

In 1987, a turning point came when a local pastor advocated for him, leading to his placement in a rehabilitation center instead of jail.

Two moments catalyzed his recovery.

Watching Julius Erving’s final game on TV, Thompson heard Erving call him his toughest opponent.

This recognition rekindled his sense of self-worth and desire to prove himself.

At the same time, a pastor’s message about God’s acceptance and forgiveness gave Thompson spiritual hope.

He described this decision as “the most important decision anyone could make.”

Since 1988, Thompson has remained sober—over 35 years free from drugs.

He repaired his rocky marriage, worked off significant debt, and emphasized the importance of self-forgiveness.

After jail, Thompson rebuilt his life.

In the early 1990s, Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn hired him as director of community relations.

Thompson became a motivational speaker, sharing his story as a cautionary tale and beacon of hope.

He told young audiences that he was once Michael Jordan’s hero, making his journey relatable and inspiring.

He returned to school, completing his sociology degree from NC State in 2003.

His life story was immortalized in the 2004 autobiographical film Skywalker: The David Thompson Story.

Despite a shortened career, Thompson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.

In 2009, Michael Jordan personally chose Thompson to present him at Jordan’s Hall of Fame ceremony, a testament to the lasting respect Thompson earned.

Thompson’s addiction was not unique.

The 1970s and 1980s NBA was rife with cocaine use.

Other stars like Spencer Haywood, Marvin Barnes, and Roy Tarpley faced similar struggles, and tragically, Len Bias died of an overdose shortly after being drafted.

Modern science now understands addiction as a chronic brain disease, not a moral failing, explaining how even disciplined athletes can succumb.

Recovery demands comprehensive support and profound personal transformation, not mere willpower.

At 70, David Thompson lives quietly, having found peace with his past.

Reflecting on his life, he says, “I don’t regret the past.

I’ve learned from the past.

You can’t do anything about it.

I’m happy with my career.

I did something that very few people ever did.

I had a good career, and it could have been better, but it wasn’t.”

Though the glory days are long gone, his story remains powerful—a legend who fell from the sky but found his way back from rock bottom.

His journey of redemption now speaks louder than any dunk ever could.