Education
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 First Rate (at Lloyd's) McGuire.
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 First Rate (at Lloyd's) McGuire.
He held the Marquette scoring record for 40 years, and still holds the single season scoring record of over 20 ppg. He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the fifth round of the 1969 National Basketball Association Draft but began his career with the Pittsburgh Pipers of the upstart American Basketball Association. Thompson played five seasons (1969–1974) in the American Bar Association, including two with the Memphis Tams, appearing as an All-Star three times.
He then played one season with the Milwaukee Buckinghamshire of the National Basketball Association, in 1974-1975.
He scored 8,114 combined American Bar Association/National Basketball Association career points. Thompson holds the American Bar Association record for free throws attempted in a single game with 30.
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.