NC State men’s basketball to honor program legend David Thompson with statue at Reynolds Coliseum
NC State men’s basketball will have a new statue outside Reynolds Coliseum, the program announced Monday afternoon. It’s the first honoring a former player, and the Wolfpack picked arguably the best player in NC State history: David Thompson.
The program will unveil Thompson’s statue at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6 ahead of the Wolfpack’s only game inside the storied building this season when NC State hosts Maryland Eastern Shore.
“This is such a deserved honor for the greatest basketball player to ever wear an NC State jersey,” NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan said in a statement. “He is one of the most iconic players to ever play in the ACC and our hope is that this statue will ensure that generations of NC State students and fans will always remember the legacy and contributions of David Thompson.”
Thompson was an integral part of NC State’s 57-1 stretch over the 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons, which culminated in the Wolfpack’s 1974 NCAA Tournament Championship over Marquette.
Thompson’s 29.9-point average during his senior season remains a single-season program record at NC State. His No. 44 jersey is the only retired number in NC State men’s basketball history.
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During his three-year career with the Wolfpack, Thompson was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1974, as well as the Associated Press’ National Player of the Year in 1974 and 1975 — one of five players to win it multiple times. He also was a three-time All-American and was named the ACC Player of the Year in three straight seasons.
Thompson finished his NC State career with 2,309 points in 86 games. He led the ACC in all three seasons he spent with the Wolfpack, and he graduated as the ACC’s leading scorer.
After his career in Raleigh ended, Thompson was the No. 1 pick in the 1975 NBA Draft as he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks, in addition to being the No. 1 pick in the American Basketball Association’s draft. He signed with the ABA’s Denver Nuggets and played with the team for eight years, some of which came after the ABA and NBA’s merger in 1978. He finished his NBA career with the Seattle SuperSonics.
During his professional career, Thompson was a four-time NBA All-Star, the 1979 NBA All-Star Game MVP and a two-time All-NBA First Team selection. He was also the ABA’s Rookie of the Year in 1976 and was named to the league’s All-Time Team. Thompson’s No. 33 jersey was retired by the Nuggets as well.
