Америкалық баскетболшы Билли Томпсонның өмірі мен мансабы

American basketball player

William Stansbury “Billy” Thompson (born December 1, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association and other leagues. He spent a 5 year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, and registered one minute of court time with the Golden State Warriors in late 1991.

Thompson played basketball at Camden High School in New Jersey, where he was a two time high school All American. During his time with the team, Camden took the group IV state championship in 1982. Thompson was considered the number one high school prospect in the land. He elected to play college basketball for Denny Crum at the University of Louisville. His team reached the semi finals of the national championship his freshman year, where they lost to the University of Houston. In his junior year he led the Cardinals in scoring, rebounding and assists. His senior season the Cardinals won the 1986 NCAA national championship. After an injury riddled sophomore season with the Lakers, he was then left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft and was selected by the Miami Heat, where he was a starter for the Heat's inaugural game and averaged 10.8 points per game in Miami's expansion season. As a part time starter in 1989–90, Thompson averaged 11 points per game. He also appeared in the 1990 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where he finished seventh out of eight participants.

In 1994 Thompson went to play professional basketball in Turkey for Fenerbahçe. He then played in Israel for Hapoel Jerusalem from 1994 to 1997. Along with Israeli star Adi Gordon, Thompson led Hapoel to two State Cup titles for the first time in Israeli history, defeating Israeli and European powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv both times. Thompson is one of the most favored foreign basketball players ever to play in Israel.

Thompson is a born again Christian and presently pastors Jesus People Proclaim Int'l Church in Deerfield Beach, Florida with his wife of 30 years, Cynthia. They have 5 children and 7 grandchildren, as well as 1 great grandchild.