Celebrating the Greatness of David Thompson

Today we celebrate and honor the greatness of David "Skywalker" Thompson! A look back at where he came from and a chance to hear from other legends about what David Thompson has meant to so many on and off of the court.
#Skywalker | #GoPack

[@timjohnson5519]

Definitely one of a kind and the best player in ACC history.

[@wadesaleeby2172]

A comet that came through our universe one time! Nice Bill...

[@brendawilliams3197]

He's from my hometown! This makes me doubly proud!

[@kevinkanable8191]

My favorite player of all time.

[@nysaxman]

My idol growing up as a 16 year old in Southern Pines, NC back in 1974.

[@paulreese3071]

We will miss you Bill! Your respect for NC State defines true excellence and competition!!!

[@WilsonFlyer]

Love being the very first to say he was my basketball idol growing up and the greatest college player of all time. We called him simply "David" Somehow, it was enough.

[@otherworld11]

Also had an incredible jump shot, in addition to his leaping ability.

[@thomasbridges7323]

Very nice and he did change the game

[@walkecf]

To earn the praise and admiration of your teammates and coaches is one thing. But to earn that from your opponents is special. Len Elmore and Bill Walton both suffered bitter disappointments in large part due to David Thompson, but here they are praising him. Their effusive praise and respect for David shows not only how special David is, but how special they are as well.

[@ya-man2916]

Why did I go to NC STATE? Why is my favorite number 44? He made every Wolfpack fan proud! SKYWALKER!

[@ShunyamNiketana]

I like how elegantly simple his style was. I don't mean he was one- or two-dimensional; no, he was good at everything. But he wasn't complicated: face and rise for a shot without a dribble; make a quick fake and then drive around the defender--all the way or shoot after two-three dribbles; go back door for the alley-oop; change gears on a full court dribble drive. Not to mention blocking shots and grabbing offensive rebounds in the trees, rising for the follow-up before they have even planted their size 17 Keds. When I first read about David in SI when they headed for a rematch with UCLA, I didn't (want to) think he was "that great." But when he blocked Walton's shot and rose above Marques Johnson for a rebound and made that lovely jumper, I was convinced. And then, with Denver, he got better and better, and in a hurry.

[@brisonrohrbach4619]

Len Bias had the same vertical on his jump shot.

[@thomasbridges7323]

To fly

[@youtuber3328]

to be TOTALLY honest i did do and will SOMEWHAT like star david thompson

[@daviidtaplin1115]

This guy could get up great talent

[@wadesaleeby2172]

One year at summer basketball camp hosted by Monte Towe and Joe Cafferty, we enjoyed the practice and play with these two guys! Monte would play several scrimmage games back to back and always finish taking the last shot from half court....many times swishing the net. .. the next year at the Big Four Tournement in Greensboro after Joe had finished at NC State. .. I met him in the hallway while walking to get a drink....I said "hey Joe!" It had been almost a year since camp...and he said "wait a minute...hey Wade!" I thought that was pretty cool for him to remember my name after all the kids of various ages who attended summer camp! You rock Joe!

[@Cronellishways]

They had to outlaw the dunk because he would have destroyed the competition, an alley oop without a dunk will NEVER be more optically pleasing then a dunk. Even Jordan was inspired by DT.