David Thompson Net Worth

What Is David Thompson’s Net Worth?

David Thompson, a retired American professional basketball player, has an estimated net worth of $1 million. His career, marked by exceptional talent and unfortunately also by struggles, spanned from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

David Thompson’s Career Earnings and Contract Details

Thompson made a significant impact both in the ABA and NBA. In 1978, he signed a record-breaking contract for the time. The contract with the Denver Nuggets was worth $4 million over five years. To provide context, this sum equates to approximately $15 million in today’s dollars. This contract underscored Thompson’s value and standing in the league at the time.

During the 1977-78 season, Thompson had one of the most remarkable scoring seasons averaging 27.2 points per game. On April 9, 1978, Thompson scored 73 points in a game against the Detroit Pistons.

David Thompson’s Basketball Career

David Thompson’s basketball journey began at Crest High School in Shelby, North Carolina. He then rose to prominence during his college career at NC State. His jersey number 44 was retired to honor his achievements. In 1974, he led the Wolfpack to the NCAA Championship. That same year, he was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Moreover, he earned the title of college national player of the year in 1975. Thompson received the ACC Player of the Year award three times and was a consensus first-team All-American.

Thompson was drafted #1 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1975 NBA Draft. He was also the #1 pick in the ABA draft. Instead of playing for the Hawks, he signed with the Denver Nuggets of the ABA. He played with the Denver Nuggets from 1975 until 1982. After that, he was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. He played there from 1982 to 1984.

Hall of Fame and Post-Playing Career

David Thompson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. He was also inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. These honors recognize his significant contributions to the sport.

After retiring from professional basketball in 1984, Thompson faced personal challenges, including struggles with substance abuse. He has since become an inspiration to many by sharing his story and advocating for recovery. Thompson returned to North Carolina State in 2003 to complete his degree in sociology. The next year, he shot an autobiographical film titled Skywalker. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on May 6, 1996, and introduced Michael Jordan for the latter’s 2009 induction. Currently, he works as a motivational speaker and participates in events with the Hornets and Denver Nuggets.