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Mychal George Thompson (born January 30, 1955) is a Bahamian sports commentator and former professional basketball player. He was the first player born & raised in the Bahamas to make the NBA[1]. The top overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, Thompson played the center position for the University of Minnesota and center and power forward for the National Basketball Association's Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers. Thompson won two NBA championships with the Lakers during their Showtime era in the 1980s. He is the father of basketball players Klay Thompson and Mychel Thompson and baseball player Trayce Thompson.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Thompson was born to a Catholic family in Nassau, Bahamas,[2] where he grew up playing pickup basketball on the local courts and fostered his love for the game.[3] In his teens, he moved to the United States in order to compete at a higher level. Settling in Miami, Florida, Thompson attended Miami Jackson Senior High School and played for its athletic team the Generals. In Thompson's senior year in 1974, he was part of a basketball starting lineup nicknamed the "Jackson 5" featuring himself, three other Bahamians and a Cuban; the Generals mowed through the regular season that year, beating opponents by an average of 30 points per game en route to a 33–0 record and winning the Class 4A state championship over Winter Park High School. Miami Jackson's team won the title with four key ineligible players due to falsified birth records, including Thompson.[4] Thompson then attended the University of Minnesota where he had a standout collegiate career.

NBA career

[edit]

The Portland Trail Blazers selected Thompson with the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, making him the first foreign-born player to be selected first.[5]

Thompson was in the Portland lineup for eight years, where he started at both power forward and center positions. He was named to the 1978 All-Rookie team, and had arguably his statistically best season in 1981–82, where he averaged 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. In the 1987 off-season, Thompson was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for center/forward Steve Johnson.

Thompson played only half a season with the Spurs, before he was traded again, February 1987, this time to Los Angeles for center/forward Frank Brickowski, center Pétur Guðmundsson plus a 1987 first-round draft pick and their 1990 second-round draft choice, along with an undisclosed amount of cash. Thompson was acquired as a back-up center and power forward. This gave the Pat Riley-coached Lakers a team that had four players who were overall #1 selections in the NBA draft, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969), Magic Johnson (1979), and James Worthy (1982). The trade proved valuable to the 1986–87 Lakers, who went on to defeat Boston for the 1987 NBA title. Thompson thrived as Abdul-Jabbar's backup. In Game six of the 1987 NBA Finals, he had 15 points and nine rebounds and played 37 minutes, as the Lakers won the series.[6]

Thompson appeared in 193 of a total of 197 regular season Laker games from the time of his acquisition through the 1988–1989 season, nine of them as a starter. He proved to be a reliable backup during 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons for the aging Abdul-Jabbar (and later Vlade Divac) and power forward for A.C. Green. The Lakers won another title in 1988, beating the Detroit Pistons, and reached the Finals in 1989, falling to Detroit, and again, in 1991. He retired later that year.

As of 2022, Mychal and his son Klay are one of five father-son duos to have each won an NBA Championship as a player; the others were (in chronological order of completing the feat) Matt Guokas, Sr. and his son Matt Guokas, Jr., Hall of Famer Rick Barry and his son Brent Barry, Hall of Famer Bill Walton and his son Luke Walton, and Hall of Famer Gary Payton and his son Gary Payton II. The Thompsons, along with the Waltons, are also the only father-son tandems to have each won at least two championships, with the Thompsons being the only tandem to each win in two consecutive years.

NBA career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1978–79 Portland 73 — 29.4 .490 — .572 8.3 2.4 .9 1.8 14.7
1980–81 Portland 79 — 35.3 .494 .000 .641 8.7 3.6 .8 2.2 17.0
1981–82 Portland 79 78 39.6 .523 — .628 11.7 4.0 .9 1.4 20.8
1982–83 Portland 80 80 37.7 .489 .000 .621 9.4 4.8 .9 1.4 15.7
1983–84 Portland 79 74 33.5 .524 .000 .667 8.7 3.9 1.1 1.4 15.7
1984–85 Portland 79 55 33.1 .515 — .684 7.8 2.6 1.0 1.3 18.4
1985–86 Portland 82 78 31.3 .498 — .641 7.4 2.1 .9 .4 14.7
1986–87 San Antonio 49 6 24.7 .436 1.000 .735 5.6 1.8 .6 .8 12.3
1986–87† L.A. Lakers 33 1 20.6 .480 .000 .743 4.1 .8 .4 .9 10.1
1987–88† L.A. Lakers 80 0 25.1 .512 .000 .634 6.1 .8 .5 1.0 11.6
1988–89 L.A. Lakers 80 8 24.9 .559 .000 .678 5.8 .6 .7 .7 9.2
1989–90 L.A. Lakers 70 70 26.9 .500 — .706 6.8 .6 .5 1.0 10.1
1990–91 L.A. Lakers 72 4 15.0 .496 .000 .705 3.2 .3 .3 .3 4.0
Career 935 454 29.7 .504 .083 .655 7.4 2.3 .7 1.1 13.7

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1979 Portland 3 — 40.3 .500 — .500 10.3 2.0 .7 1.7 19.7
1981 Portland 3 — 44.0 .608 — .722 7.7 1.3 1.0 3.0 25.0
1983 Portland 7 — 40.6 .471 — .658 8.0 5.6 .9 1.1 15.0
1984 Portland 4 — 30.3 .500 — .773 7.3 3.8 1.3 .8 15.3
1985 Portland 9 0 27.8 .490 — .673 8.0 1.6 .8 1.3 14.8
1986 Portland 4 4 35.0 .574 — .538 8.3 3.5 .3 .8 19.0
1987† L.A. Lakers 18 0 22.3 .453 — .680 4.9 .5 .4 .9 8.8
1988† L.A. Lakers 24 0 25.6 .513 — .581 7.1 .5 .7 .9 9.7
1989 L.A. Lakers 15 0 25.1 .508 — .683 5.1 .7 .4 .8 11.4
1990 L.A. Lakers 9 8 25.0 .477 — .615 4.3 .2 .2 1.4 6.4
1991 L.A. Lakers 8 0 5.3 .286 — — 1.1 .0 .0 .4 .5
Career 104 12 26.0 .501 — .648 6.0 1.2 .5 1.0 10.9

Post-NBA career

[edit]

Thompson and his family moved back to Portland in 1991 after his career. He worked on local sports radio in the area. He and his family relocated back to Los Angeles in 2003 when he was offered a job as a color commentator for the Lakers. He was first a co-host on the "Loose Cannons" radio show on KLAC AM570 in Los Angeles but was let go, due to the move of Lakers broadcasts from AM570 to KSPN AM710 for the 2009–10 season. With the move to KSPN AM710, he joined Andrew Siciliano as co-hosts on the "LA Sports Live" radio show on KSPN AM710 until the show was canceled on December 26, 2010. On June 4, 2015, it was announced that Thompson would be teaming up with Mike Trudell as co-hosts on the show "Thompson & Trudell" on KSPN AM710 until the show was canceled on October 19, 2017.

Thompson is currently employed as the Lakers radio color commentator. He first worked with Joel Meyers, then Spero Dedes, and is currently paired with John Ireland.

Personal life

[edit]

Thompson married his wife Julie in 1987,[7] and they have three sons, Mychel, Klay, and Trayce. Mychel briefly played in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Klay is a shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks and has won four NBA championships, and Trayce is an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox.

Thompson is nicknamed "sweet bells" after Walt Bellamy, who was nicknamed "bells."[8] Thompson's documentary about his life "Trailblazer: The Mychal Thompson Story" screened at Regal Cinemas at LA Live in Los Angeles on November 21, 2013.[9][10] Thompson's brother, Andrew (Andy) Thompson, was an executive producer of the Michael Jordan documentary mini-series The Last Dance.[11] Andy Thompson pitched Adam Silver the idea for the documentary while both were working for NBA Entertainment, knowing that Michael Jordan used to write his name as "Mychal Jordan" since he idolized Mychal Thompson.[12]

Thompson once implied he had interest in becoming Bahamian Prime Minister. Before he joined the NBA, some fans believed him to be the cousin of fellow NBA player (and basketball Hall of Fame member) David Thompson.[13] A street in Nassau leading to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre was named "Mychal Thompson Boulevard" in his honor during 2015.[14]

As of the 2025–26 season, Thompson is one of seven players born in The Bahamas to appear in an NBA game, and one of only five to be drafted.[15] Thompson was the first and only Bahamian NBA player until Ian Lockhart debuted in 1990 and appeared in only one career game.[15][16]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mychal Thompson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Mychal Thompson is a Bahamian-born American former professional basketball player, sports broadcaster, and the father of NBA star and MLB player . Born on January 30, 1955, in , Thompson moved to the as a youth and attended before starring at the from 1974 to 1978. There, he averaged 20.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game over 96 appearances, set school records with 1,992 career points and 956 rebounds, and earned consensus All-American honors in 1977 and 1978. Selected as the first overall pick in the by the —the first foreign-born player to achieve that distinction—Thompson enjoyed a 12-season NBA career spanning 935 regular-season games with the Trail Blazers (1978–1986), (1986–1987), and (1987–1991). He averaged 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field, and appeared in 104 playoff games averaging 10.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. Notable achievements include earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 1979 and winning back-to-back NBA championships with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988 as a key reserve alongside and . After retiring in 1991, Thompson transitioned to broadcasting, serving as a radio color analyst for the Lakers since the 2003–04 season—his 23rd as of the 2025–26 campaign—alongside play-by-play announcer . He previously worked as a television analyst for the and for other NBA teams, including the Trail Blazers and . Thompson also serves as a sports ambassador for the and resides in , with his wife, Julie; their sons include , a former NBA player and current Golden State Warriors video coordinator.

Early life and education

Childhood and high school

Mychal Thompson was born on January 30, 1955, in . Growing up in Nassau, he developed a passion for through pickup games on local courts, fostering his skills in a setting where the sport was gaining popularity. His family placed a strong emphasis on education alongside athletics, and when a coach recruited him to pursue higher-level competition in the United States, his father encouraged him to seize the opportunity for both academic and sporting advancement. At around age 16, Thompson moved to Miami, Florida, to attend high school and elevate his game. He enrolled at , where he played from 1971 to 1974. As a senior in the 1973–74 season, Thompson anchored the team's renowned "Jackson Five" starting lineup, helping lead the Generals to an undefeated 33–0 record on the court and the Florida Class AAA state championship, though the title was later vacated by the due to the use of ineligible players, including Thompson and three other Bahamians whose birth records were found to have been falsified, making them overage. His dominant play as a 6-foot-10 forward-center, including consistent double-digit scoring and rebounding, established him as one of the nation's top recruits and drew attention from major college programs. Following his high school success, Thompson transitioned to college basketball at the University of Minnesota.

College career

Thompson enrolled at the University of Minnesota in 1974, where he played basketball for the Golden Gophers from 1974 to 1978. As a 6-foot-10 center from the Bahamas, he started as a freshman and quickly became a dominant force, leading the team in scoring and rebounding in multiple seasons, including his sophomore year when he topped the Big Ten in rebounds. Over his four-year career, Thompson averaged 20.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game across 96 contests, showcasing his versatility as a scorer and rebounder with efficient shooting percentages that peaked at 60.6% from the field in 1976-77. Thompson's individual excellence earned him three First-Team All-Big Ten selections from 1976 to 1978 and consensus All-American honors, including second-team in 1977 and first-team in 1978. He led the Big Ten in scoring during his junior and senior seasons, averaging 22.0 points each year, and established several school records that still stand, such as 1,992 career points, 20.8 points per game, 823 field goals made, and 956 rebounds. These accomplishments highlighted his development into one of the program's all-time greats, culminating in the retirement of his No. 43 jersey in 1978. Under coach Jim Dutcher, the Golden Gophers achieved notable success during Thompson's tenure, including a 24-3 record in 1976-77 that featured a share of the Big Ten title, though the season was later vacated due to NCAA violations involving player eligibility. Thompson's contributions were central to the team's fast-break style and defensive intensity, setting school marks for scoring average and that season despite the eventual forfeitures. His leadership helped elevate 's profile in the conference, positioning him as the top prospect in the .

Professional basketball career

Portland Trail Blazers

Mychal Thompson was selected by the as the first overall pick in the , becoming the first foreign-born player to achieve that distinction. He signed a multi-year contract with the team shortly thereafter and made his NBA debut on October 15, 1978, against the . In his rookie season of 1978–79, Thompson quickly adapted to professional basketball, averaging 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game across 73 appearances while shooting 49.0% from the field. His performance earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team, recognizing his immediate impact as a versatile forward capable of contributing on both ends of the court. Thompson's transition from college at the to the NBA highlighted his ability to handle the increased physicality and speed, leveraging his 6-foot-10 frame for rebounding and interior scoring. Over eight seasons with Portland from 1978 to 1986, Thompson established himself as a cornerstone of the frontcourt, appearing in 551 regular-season games and averaging 16.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He reached a career high in scoring during the 1981–82 season, putting up 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, which underscored his development into a threat. Known for his gifted mid-range shooting, high IQ, deft passing, and strong defensive presence, Thompson excelled as a versatile / who could guard multiple positions and facilitate plays from the post. His defensive prowess made him the franchise leader in blocks (768) and defensive rebounds (3,389) during his tenure, contributing to Portland's reputation for tough interior play. Thompson helped lead the Trail Blazers to the in six of his eight seasons, including first-round victories in 1983 and 1985, as well as a Western Conference Semifinals appearance in 1985. The team, coming off a Western Conference Finals run in 1978 just before his arrival, relied on his consistency to maintain competitiveness in a stacked Western Conference, though they struggled to advance deep into the postseason amid roster changes and injuries. In playoff games with Portland, he averaged 17.4 points and 10.0 rebounds, with a standout 25.0 in the 1981 postseason series. By the mid-1980s, Thompson's individual production began to dip amid team transitions and increased competition, with his scoring falling to 14.7 in the 1985–86 season. On June 20, 1986, Portland traded him to the in exchange for forward Steve Johnson, marking the end of his foundational years with the franchise.

San Antonio Spurs

In June 1986, the traded Mychal Thompson and to the in exchange for Steve Johnson. This move brought the 31-year-old veteran forward to a Spurs team looking to bolster its frontcourt depth amid a rebuilding phase. During the 1986–87 season, Thompson integrated into the Spurs' system under head coach , providing scoring and rebounding support as a key rotation player. He appeared in 49 games, starting six, and averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. Despite the team's overall struggles, finishing with a 28–54 record and last place in the Midwest Division, Thompson demonstrated his veteran experience through consistent production, including several double-digit scoring outings that highlighted his efficiency in the post. His rebounding efforts were particularly notable in select matchups, such as grabbing nine rebounds against his former team, the , on December 9, 1986, where he also scored 21 points in a 104–120 loss. Thompson's tenure with San Antonio ended abruptly on February 13, 1987, when the Spurs traded him to the in exchange for , Petur Gudmundsson, and a 1987 first-round draft pick, as the team sought to address ongoing performance issues. This transaction marked the conclusion of his brief, transitional stint with the Spurs, where he contributed to team dynamics but could not reverse the franchise's challenging season.

Los Angeles Lakers

In February 1987, Mychal Thompson was acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers from the San Antonio Spurs in a multi-player trade that included forward Frank Brickowski, a future first-round draft pick, and cash considerations, primarily to serve as a reliable backup to aging center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This move bolstered the Lakers' frontcourt depth during the 1986–87 season, allowing Thompson to contribute immediately off the bench in 33 games, where he averaged 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. His arrival helped stabilize the team's rotation behind the Magic Johnson-led "Showtime" offense, emphasizing his defensive versatility and rebounding prowess against tough opponents like the Boston Celtics. Thompson thrived in a key sixth-man role during the 1987–88 season, providing scoring punch, rebounding, and leadership from the bench as the Lakers dominated the league. In the , he played a pivotal part in the championship-clinching Game 6 victory over the , logging 37 minutes with 15 points and nine rebounds in a 106–93 win that secured the title. The following year, the Lakers repeated as champions, defeating the in the , with Thompson averaging 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds across 18 playoff games while earning praise for his defensive contributions and veteran presence that supported stars like Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar. Over his full seasons with the team, he averaged approximately 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in limited minutes, often under 25 per game, focusing on efficient play rather than high-volume scoring. As Thompson transitioned into backing up younger center in later years, his minutes and production declined due to age and roster evolution, culminating in his release by the Lakers after the 1990–91 season following four full campaigns. Despite the reduced role—averaging just 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15 minutes that final year—his tenure solidified his legacy as a two-time who enhanced the Lakers' dynasty during their Showtime era.

International career

Following his release from the Los Angeles Lakers in October 1991, Mychal Thompson, then 36 years old, signed a one-year contract with Juvecaserta Basket (also known as Phonola Caserta) of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A for the 1991–1992 season, marking his only professional stint outside the NBA. This move allowed Thompson to continue his playing career abroad after 13 NBA seasons, where he had sought opportunities to extend his time on the court amid diminishing roles in the league. In the Italian League, Thompson averaged 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, showcasing his veteran scoring and rebounding prowess while leading the team in scoring during several months of the season. His contributions helped Juvecaserta secure an 8th-place finish in the 30-game regular season with a 15–15 record, qualifying for the in a competitive field. Thompson also appeared in the FIBA European Champions Cup, averaging 15.4 across group stage matches as the team finished 8th overall with a 3–11 record. Thompson retired from professional at the end of the 1991–1992 season, concluding his playing career after this brief but productive overseas chapter.

Career statistics and achievements

Regular season and playoff statistics

Mychal Thompson's NBA regular season career averages were 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game across 935 , shooting 50.5% from the field and 65.7% from the free-throw line.

Portland Trail Blazers (1978–1986)

During his time with the , Thompson appeared in 551 games, averaging 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 64.6% from the free-throw line.
SeasonGPMPFG%FT%TRBASTBLKPTS
1978-797329.4.490.5728.32.41.814.7
1980-817935.3.494.6418.73.62.217.0
1981-827939.6.523.62811.74.01.420.8
1982-838037.7.489.6219.44.81.415.7
1983-847933.5.524.6678.73.91.415.7
1984-857933.1.515.6847.82.61.318.4
1985-868231.3.498.6417.42.10.414.7

San Antonio Spurs (1986–1987)

Thompson played 49 games for the , averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.6% from the field and 73.5% from the free-throw line.
SeasonGPMPFG%FT%TRBASTBLKPTS
1986-874924.7.436.7355.61.80.812.3

Los Angeles Lakers (1987–1991)

With the , Thompson suited up for 335 games, averaging 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 52.3% from the field and 67.8% from the free-throw line.
SeasonGPMPFG%FT%TRBASTBLKPTS
1986-873320.6.480.7434.10.80.910.1
1987-888025.1.512.6346.10.81.011.6
1988-898024.9.559.6785.80.60.79.2
1989-907026.9.500.7066.80.61.010.1
1990-917215.0.496.7053.20.30.34.0
Thompson's playoff career averages were 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game over 104 games, with a of 50.7% and percentage of 64.8%. In the , he averaged 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds across 6 games. In the , he averaged 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds over 7 games.

Awards and honors

Mychal Thompson's professional basketball career was marked by several significant accolades that highlighted his versatility as a and , as well as his contributions to team success. Selected as the first overall pick in the by the , Thompson became the first Bahamian and the first foreign-born player to achieve this distinction, paving the way for international talent in the league. This milestone underscored his raw potential and athletic prowess, which were evident from his dominant college performances at the . In his season with Portland during the 1978-79 campaign, Thompson earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team, recognizing his immediate impact with averages of 14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while anchoring the team's frontcourt defense. This honor affirmed his status as one of the top newcomers, reflecting his smooth scoring ability and rebounding tenacity that helped stabilize the Trail Blazers amid roster transitions. Later in his career, Thompson's role as a key reserve for the culminated in two NBA championships in 1987 and 1988, contributing to the franchise's "Showtime" dynasty alongside stars like and . His defensive presence and efficient scoring off the bench—particularly in limiting opponents' interior scoring during playoff runs—were instrumental in securing these titles, solidifying his legacy as a reliable winner in high-stakes environments. Beyond his NBA achievements, Thompson was inducted into the University of Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame in 1993, honoring his stellar college tenure where he averaged 20.8 points and 10.0 rebounds over four seasons (96 games), earning consensus All-American honors in 1978. These recognitions collectively illustrate Thompson's enduring influence, from trailblazing international representation to providing championship-caliber support in a 13-year NBA tenure.

Post-playing career

Broadcasting roles

After retiring from professional basketball in 1991, Mychal Thompson transitioned into broadcasting, beginning with television color analyst duties for the Seattle SuperSonics during the 1992–93 season. He later worked as a television color analyst for the Portland Trail Blazers, Vancouver Grizzlies, and Minnesota Timberwolves, including two seasons as the Timberwolves' TV analyst from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, Thompson joined the Los Angeles Lakers as their radio color commentator, a role he has held continuously, entering his 22nd season in 2024–25 alongside play-by-play announcer John Ireland on ESPN LA 710. His playing experience with the Lakers during their 1987 and 1988 championship teams provides unique credibility to his analysis of the franchise's history and strategies. From 2010 to 2017, he co-hosted the "Thompson & Trudell" radio show on , offering daily discussions on Lakers games, NBA news, and player development until the program ended in October 2017. Known for his ebullient style blending humor, historical insights, and a distinctive Bahamian perspective on international talent, Thompson has covered multiple Lakers playoff runs, including appearances in 2009, 2010, and 2020. Colleagues praise his unselfish and collaborative approach, making him a reliable partner in live broadcasts. As of 2025, Thompson continues his Lakers radio duties under a multi-year extension announced in August, providing analysis for the 2024–25 season amid roster changes like Klay Thompson's move to the . He has made guest appearances on podcasts such as the Showtime Podcast and ESPN shows, commenting on topics including his son Klay's career transition and Lakers expectations.

Philanthropy and other activities

In the 2010s, Mychal Thompson co-founded the Thompson Family Foundation with his wife Julie and their sons, establishing it in 2017 to enrich the lives of youth in the United States and through programs emphasizing fitness, education, and . The foundation's mission supports children from diverse backgrounds by promoting through athletics and encouraging educational pursuits beyond sports, with Thompson serving as a actively involved in its initiatives. Key foundation efforts include scholarships for Bahamian youth to advance their education and athletic opportunities, as well as support for underprivileged athletes through access to sports resources and mentoring. Community events have featured holiday toy drives distributing over 1,000 toys to children in Oakland, Thanksgiving meal giveaways providing hundreds of meals to families in West Oakland, and wildfire relief efforts that raised $35,000 for communities in California and Oregon, including Portland-area support via the Oregon Community Foundation. Additional programs, such as Klay's Corner, have gifted nearly 1,000 tickets to Golden State Warriors games for Bay Area youth and families, fostering sports engagement among Bay Area youth and families. He has also conducted occasional coaching clinics and visited youth basketball camps in the Bahamas, such as the 2024 Jeff Rodgers Summer Camp in Nassau, to mentor young athletes. Thompson advocates for Bahamian sports development, making frequent trips to his hometown to bolster infrastructure and highlighting the nation's emerging talent pool in international competitions. These philanthropic and entrepreneurial endeavors have earned Thompson recognition for advancing multicultural basketball heritage, particularly as a Bahamian pioneer who inspires global youth participation in the sport.

Personal life

Marriage and immediate family

Mychal Thompson married Julie Leslie in 1987, shortly after meeting her at a gym while he was playing for the . The couple wed in the same year Thompson was traded to the , marking the beginning of their shared life in . Julie Thompson, née Leslie, grew up in , where she excelled in and volleyball during high school. She played college volleyball for two years at the before transferring to the , where she earned a in . The Thompsons raised their three sons—Mychel (born June 1, 1988), Klay (born February 8, 1990), and Trayce (born March 15, 1991)—in the Los Angeles area during Mychal's tenure with the Lakers from 1987 to 1991. All three boys were born in , and the family later settled in south Orange County, where Julie primarily managed the household and the sons' demanding sports schedules while Mychal traveled for his NBA career and later broadcasting commitments. The couple placed a strong joint emphasis on education and athletics in raising their family, enrolling the boys at in Orange County and encouraging their pursuit of higher education alongside . Mychel attended , Klay played at , and Trayce committed to UCLA before signing a contract. This balanced approach helped foster the sons' development as athletes while maintaining family stability amid Mychal's career transitions, including his decision to remain connected to the Lakers organization post-retirement as a radio .

Extended family and legacy

Mychal Thompson's sons have carved out notable paths in , embodying a legacy of athletic excellence across and . The eldest, , born on June 1, 1988, excelled at , where he concluded his college with 1,413 points, ranking 14th in school history, and appeared in a record 128 games. After a brief stint in the NBA with the in 2011-12, where he played five games, Mychel pursued a professional overseas, including time in Italy and with the in the NBA Development League. Klay Thompson, born February 8, 1990, has achieved stardom in the NBA as a sharpshooting guard, winning four championships with the in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. In July 2024, Klay signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the after leaving the Warriors, a move that drew mixed family reactions; Mychal expressed disappointment that his son did not join the , citing the close emotional ties to the franchise where he himself won titles. The youngest son, , born March 15, 1991, has established himself as a Major League Baseball outfielder, debuting with the in 2015 and later playing for the , among other teams. With the Dodgers from 2017 to 2023, Trayce appeared in 217 games, batting .223 with 32 home runs and 87 RBIs, contributing to their championship. Mychal and Klay form one of only five father-son duos in NBA history to each win championships as players, with Mychal securing titles in 1987 and 1988 alongside the Lakers' "Showtime" era, and Klay adding four with the Warriors. This milestone underscores their shared legacy in professional basketball. In 2025, the family faced a poignant loss when Klay's beloved English bulldog, , passed away at age 13 in May; Mychal shared the news publicly on Los Angeles radio, highlighting the pet's role as a cherished family member. The Thompsons' multi-sport achievements—spanning NBA and MLB—promote a model of family-driven excellence, while their Bahamian-American heritage, rooted in Mychal's Nassau origins, fosters pride through initiatives like the Thompson Family Foundation, which supports youth fitness and education in the U.S. and .

References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompmy01.html
  2. https://www.nba.com/lakers/broadcast/broadcasters
  3. https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-mthompson-html
  4. https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-baskbl-spec-rel-career-records-html.aspx
  5. https://www.nba.com/news/history-draft
  6. https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mychal-Thompson/Summary/49512
  7. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompmy02.html
  8. https://lakersnation.com/mychal-thompson-biography/
  9. https://www.thompsonfamily.foundation/new-page
  10. https://www.the-sun.com/sport/10603639/klay-thompson-mychal-foreign-born-player-drafted-no-1/
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1820327/2020/05/18/the-best-of-the-best-the-16-most-dominant-teams-in-south-florida-sports-history/
  12. https://bahamianology.com/policeman-who-pretended-to-still-be-in-high-school-to-play-basketball-1975/
  13. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/uncategorized/dream-team-6378922/
  14. https://www.startribune.com/mychal-thompson-university-of-minnesota-gophers-basketball-minnesota-sports-hall-of-fame/600254895
  15. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mychal-thompson-1.html
  16. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/minnesota/men/1977.html
  17. https://www.nba.com/player/78331/mychal-thompson
  18. https://www.landofbasketball.com/nba_players/mychal_thompson.htm
  19. https://www.nba.com/stats/player/78331/career
  20. https://www.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/03/trail_blazers_top_40_no_11_myc.html
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcvvhU0e2Aw
  22. https://www.blazersedge.com/2020/5/7/21249684/trail-blazers-all-time-top-players-list-countdown-mychal-thompson-22
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/20/sports/sports-people-thompson-to-spurs.html
  24. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1986_transactions.html
  25. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1987.html
  26. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompmy01/gamelog/1987/
  27. https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198612090SAS.html
  28. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-02-14-sp-3005-story.html
  29. https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson
  30. https://projects.latimes.com/lakers/player/mychal-thompson/
  31. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-03-sp-4342-story.html
  32. https://www.psacard.com/autographfacts/basketball/mychal-thompson/2943
  33. https://sportspundit.com/basketball/players/32505-mychal-thompson
  34. http://www.worldhoopstats.com/stats/lega-it/4624-thompson-mychal.html
  35. https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-league-Serie-A1_1991-1992.aspx?women=1
  36. https://www.proballers.com/basketball/league/40/italy-lba-serie-a/standings/1991
  37. https://www.fiba.basketball/es/history/112-fiba-mens-european-club-competitions-tier-1/2159/players/111269-mychal-thompson
  38. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompmy01/gamelog-playoffs/
  39. https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1978.html
  40. https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-rookie-teams
  41. https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-dec-23-la-sp-mychal-thompson-20131224-story.html
  42. https://www.espn.com/espnradio/losangeles/podcast/archive/_/id/8366805
  43. https://www.nba.com/news/mychal-klay-thompson-warriors-lakers-series
  44. https://www.dailynews.com/2008/02/22/media-lakers-mychal-thompson-counts-his-blessings/
  45. https://barrettmedia.com/2025/08/07/espn-la-announces-broadcasting-rights-extension-with-los-angeles-lakers/
  46. https://sportspyder.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/episodes/3836033
  47. https://www.thompsonfamily.foundation/
  48. https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/19/klay-thompson-on-his-golf-game-and-impact-he-hopes-his-foundation-provides/
  49. https://www.thompsonfamily.foundation/events
  50. https://ournews.bs/thompson-family-visits-jeff-rodgers-basketball-summer-camp/
  51. https://www.tribune242.com/news/2024/jul/11/mychal-sweet-bells-thompson-bahamas-is-in-golden-era-of-basketball-talent/
  52. https://heavy.com/sports/nba/golden-state-warriors/klay-thompson-mother-mom-julie/
  53. https://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/12/greg-jayne-mothers-day-mom-will-watch-klay/
  54. https://www.mlb.com/player/trayce-thompson-572204
  55. https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-thompson-erskine-20160811-snap-story.html
  56. https://pepperdinewaves.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/mychel-thompson/430
  57. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/mychal-thompson-savors-success-of-sons-with-warriors-dodgers
  58. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40483365/dad-disappointed-klay-thompson-picked-mavericks-lakers
  59. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomptr01.shtml
  60. https://www.nba.com/news/greatest-father-son-duos-in-nba-history
  61. https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/klay-thompsons-dog-rocco-dies-13
  62. https://magneticmediatv.com/2015/07/bahamas-honors-sports-greats-mychal-thompson-gets-a-boulevard/
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