David Thompson (183-PG, college: CWU) is a 183cm guard from Wisconsin that is playing in Germany this season for TVO Biggersee. He has previous pro experience in Belize. He began his basketball career at Whitefish Bay High School. He then played 2 seasons at Mt San Jacinto College (JUCO). He then played a season at Santa Clara University (NCAA). He finished at Central Washington University (NCAA2) averaging 14.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 85.1% in his senior year. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life
treating you?

Thank you guys for speaking with me. I am in Milwaukee, Wisconsin right now saying my goodbyes and things like that to my family and close ones. Basketball life has honestly been a blessing especially now with starting my professional career couldn’t ask for anything better.

Congrats on signing with German Regionalliga 2 team TVO Biggersee. This is your first job overseas.What are you most looking forward to with this opportunity?

Honestly first off just being given the opportunity to be a part of this club is a blessing in itself. I’m most excited about learning a new culture and to making a new family with my coaching staff and teammates. I have never been to Germany so this is a experience that I have never thought I would be a part of.

What do you know in general about Germany and it’s basketball? Have you known any guys that have played in Germany?

I know a little bit about German basketball have had a couple friends of mine play in some leagues in germany ( carlington love, and brad newman). Both of my friends loved Germany and told me that the basketball out their is one of the best they have experienced so with that being said im I’o excited to explore the talent they have told me about in this country.

Did you click right away with new head coach Maxi Steeb in the conversations? Talk a little about your first impression?

Coach Max!! Him and I believe we will have an amazing connection this year on and off the court. I believe him and I look at life and also basketball the same way which I think will be a huge advantage when the season starts.

How thankful are you to Ron Howard for helping you get this opportunity? What have you learned to appreciate most about him?

Coach Howard is literally an angel that fell from the sky. I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity he has given me especially us not being as close as we are now. He has allowed me to start my dream and get my foot in the door to be able to change my life and my families life forever and he will always be someone in my life that I will speak to and have love for. He is an amazing person and does everything out the kindness of his heart he isn’t looking for his cut or anything like that he honestly just wants to help young kids pursue the careers in the right directions and allow players he believes that have talent to go in and showcase it. An I am one of those guys he has believed in and with that being said I won’t let him down and honestly wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for him.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 183cm point guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

I think I’m more of a Kyrie Dam Lillard type of guard honestly

Talk a little about your game. You can fill the stat sheet with ease. Talk about your offensive
Strengths.

Well not to good at this haha but I’m blessed with being able to have been coached by some really talented coaches who have helped shaped me into the player I am now today. I am good a creating space and getting to my own shots and have the ability to score over bigger defenders and can pass the ball at a really high level. I believe I think what helps me the most is me knowing when to take my shots and when not to I tend to always get to my spots where I know I’m comfortable can shoot the deep ball at a really high clip when given the opportunity but most of all I think that I’m just an overall smart player

You have been sort of an up and down three point shooter. Talk a little about the development of your outside shot?

I believe at Santa Clara my shooting dropped due to just one my attempts and also didn’t play as much to get a rhythm but I am a really good shooter just lost confidence when I was at my division 1 but gained it back my following year.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you want to become?

I look at my defense as somewhat like Pat Beverly because I’m smaller but I play with a chip on my shoulder and believe that no one can score on me and if they do their going to have to use their best move everytime to make it happen.

On what part of your game are you working on most in the lab now so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?

Mostly my step back three from a far distance. I believe that will help me climb the ladder in the long run being able to shoot at a high clip will open up a lot more opportunities for me to play at the higher levels.

You finished school in 2022, but didn’t play last season. How tough was the transfer market? Was it more failed representation? You had had a good senior year.

Honestly just wasn’t connected with the right group of people at the time so things were tough for me and I was playing the waiting game a lot with a lot on opportunities and contacts so the market was tough but everything happens for a reason.
You got your first pro experience with Belize (Belize-United Cup) averaging 13.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.3apg, Steals- 4 (1.5spg), FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 72.7%. What positives could you take from it?

One of the best experiences of my life my stats were a little better than that when official stats were recorded but I loved it. It was my first time out the country playing against a whole new style of basketball but I really enjoyed myself made me really become more hungrier to get overseas and to play a real season across the water

You began your college career at Mt. San Jacinto College (JUCO). Every guy I have interviewed JUCO said it was a difficult experience but one they were glad they did. How was it for you?

Juco was a dog fight, only the strongest players came out of juco and that’s why I loved it. Being able to play against so many talented guys who were left off the radar and also having to prove yourself to get to the next level was all things I loved and it shaped me into the player I am now to this day and also helped me become a better person when on the basketbal court

In your last season there you averaged 17.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.6apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 46.5%, FT: 81.3%. How vital was head coach Patrick Springer for your basketball development?

Coach Springer is one of my favorite coaches ever he honestly made me into the player I am today. He was an old school hard coach that made sure you understood if you didn’t work for success or towards it you would never reach it he was really hard on me but in a way I am so thankful for he got me ready for the university level of basketball and I thank him so much for it love coach springer

You then were rewarded and joined Santa Clara University (NCAA) playing 28 games averaging 1.6ppg, 1.4apg. You only averaged 9,3 minutes per game. What positives could you take from it?

Santa Clara was an amazing experience got to play on ESPN and got to play against so many NBA guys and also high level skilled players that helped me turn into the player I am now to this day. Coach Sendik is a legend in the coaching world and taught me so much about real basketball and how to become a next level athlete. Santa Clara was a huge reason I am a pro now to this day,

You were teammates with Jalen Williams. He had a ok junior year but nothing spectacular. Then when you left he had a strong senior year, was a first round pick and had a strong rookie season in NBA. Did you see that potential when you were teammates?

Jalen was always a hard worker at a young age we were pretty much freshmen together but J was always a person that the sky was the limit for him which you can see he took it to his advantage. I always knew Jalen had the ability to be an NBA guard. I think everyone on our team did just me looking at him as a little brother. I’m just so happy he’s living his dream and doesn’t have to wait on his stipend checks anymore lol

You then finished at Central Washington University (NCAA2). How tough were the 2 years for you during Covid? You still produced good stats and reached 2 GNAC finals.

Covid was really hard people don’t know what we had to do behind closed doors with testing everyday and having to shoot by ourselves in practice and not being able to really hang around people it was a really tough experience honestly but it also made us more hungry and more grateful to be on the floor.

You had some great games against Alaska and MSUB but lost each game by 2 points. What was your fondest moment on the court?

Honestly just playing with my teammates cj, x, matt, and marcus we had a really fun season and did some amazing things. I think us making history that season through our record and also individual stats was my finest moment.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Shaden Knight?

Haha Shaden was my little homie. We always battled but im going to have to take the win on this one

Who was the best player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA?

Tyler Herro was from my hometown and we battled in high school but him or Jordan Poole

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Cj Hyder
Israel Farrington
Tahj Eaddy
Dj Mitchell
Xavier Johnson

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Allen Iverson , Kobe Bryant, Isaiah Thomas, Lebron James

Who is your GOAT and why?

I dont really have a GOAT but definitely respect and appreciate Lebron James success

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t the yhave left it alone?

I actually didn’t

Thanks David fort he chat.