How much of David Thompson's legendary vertical leap was due to the thin mountain air in Denver?

[taterguy]

Thompson was just an average college player. Only even made it to the NCAA Tourney one time. Had the easiest draw in history: A pair of games on his home court and two in Greensboro, 100 miles away.

Once he got to Denver he became ALL-WORLD Superstar, so-called 'Skywalker.'

I think it was just because of the air in Denver. Added about 6 inches to his hang-time.

What say you?

I know there's a Sports Forum but those dickwads don't know a damn thing about atmospherics.

[Name removed]

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[LeftyFingerPop]

3. All State undefeated high school wrestling.

Dumbass.

[taterguy]

4. Which therefore makes you an expert on basketball

:eyes:

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. I'm not sure that I know what you mean here.

[taterguy]

15. I mean that you don't know a god damn thing about basketball

[LeftyFingerPop]

16. I'm sorry, taterguy. Yes, you are correct. n/t

[taterguy]

17. Apology accepted

:hug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Not just less atmospheric pressure pushing down on him, less gravity pulling him down as well.

Normal gravity at sea level is 9.807 m/s/s

At Denver's elevation it's 9.796 m/s/s

A difference of 0.011 m/s/s

[rug]

6. The Rocky Mountains add inches to everybody.

[MilesColtrane]

19. Now I know where I'm going to honeymoon if I ever get married.

[abq e streeter]

7. Just an average college player..Oh.....Kay

College career (from wikipedia)

After leading North Carolina State University to an undefeated season (27-0) in 1973, he led them to an NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1974, including vanquishing the reigning national champions, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His nickname was "Skywalker" because of his incredible purported 48-inch vertical leap. The alley-oop pass, now a staple of today's high-flying, above-the-rim game was "invented" by Thompson and his NC State teammate Monte Towe, and first used as an integral part of the offense by NC State coach Norm Sloan to take advantage of Thompson's leaping ability.

NC State's game against the nationally 4th-ranked University of Maryland in the 1974 ACC Tournament finale, in an era in which only conference champions were invited to the NCAA Tournament, is considered one of the best, if not the greatest, college basketball games of all time. Thompson and teammate Tommy Burleson led the #1-ranked Wolfpack to a 103-100 win in overtime. Thompson and the Wolfpack would go on to win the National Championship that year while Maryland sat at home. Maryland's exclusion from the NCAA Tournament due to the loss despite their high national ranking would lead to the expansion of the NCAA Tournament the very next season to include teams other than the league champions.

Thompson is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, among such talents as Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, Tim Duncan, Christian Laettner, and Len Bias.

Thompson played basketball while the slam dunk was outlawed by the "Lew Alcindor" rule. In 1975, against University of North Carolina at Charlotte playing his final non-conference game at N.C. State, early in the second half Thompson drove the length of the court for his first and only dunk of his collegiate career, a goal that was promptly disallowed by technical foul. Head coach Norm Sloan removed Thompson, to thunderous applause. The ACC's most exciting player, who had performed for three years without ever performing the game's most exciting act, thus passed into history.

Michael Jordan who grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina said that Thompson was his basketball role model, as a young man. At some of the basketball camps that Jordan later ran, Jordan would often tell the campers, "He was the guy I looked up to when I was your age." For this reason, Thompson was asked by Jordan in 2009 to introduce him to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Thompson's 44 remains the only number NC State ever retired in Men's Basketball (although others have been "honored").
Season Points/G Rebounds/G FG %
1972-73 24.7 8.1 .569
1973-74 26.0 7.9 .547
1974-75 29.9 8.2 .546
I guess you're right---senior season of 30 points per game, with over 8 rebounds too, and in the ACC to boot... capped by a national championship...Yup---pretty much just an average player.

I recall reading about him and his vertical leap when he was still a freshman ...whatever advantage the mile high air may (and may not) have given him with his vertical leap, that's more than balanced by the extra air it takes to breathe up here. Try running up and down a basketball court for 48 minutes at a mile high compared to sea level, and then you can talk about the advantage of playing in Denver.

[taterguy]

8. Oh for fuck's sake

When he was a senior they didn't even make it to the NCAA Tourney.

Get your facts straight.

[abq e streeter]

10. For fucks sake yourself, in what way does this refute the fact that Thompson

was a legendary college player , and in what way does that negate one word of that article or the statistics on his career? Excuse the livin' fuck outta me for saying senior instead of final season...Can't argue with his bio or stats so make sure to find a distraction instead...I'll worry about getting the details right when you get your head out of your ass .

[taterguy]

12. His senior season was his final season and they didn't make the Tourney

:hide:

He only played three years because freshmen weren't eligible at the time.

[many a good man]

9. In Denver he had spiders in his shoes

The locker room had lots of spiders.

[NoGOPZone]

11. What were the Mountaineers doing in Denver?

I thought they played in Morgantown.

[taterguy]

13. The Mountaineers play in Boone

They're coached by Jordan's old roommate.

[retread]

18. This is just silly. Only Thompson was aided by Denver air? He took the air with him on away games?

“I built my talents on the shoulders of someone else’s talent,” Jordan wrote in his 1998 autobiography, “For the Love of the Game.” “I believe greatness is an evolutionary process that changes and evolves era to era. Without Julius Erving, David Thompson, Walter Davis, and Elgin Baylor, there would never have been a Michael Jordan. I evolved from them.” --Michael Jordan

Of all sports and basketball figures, past and present, Michael Jordan chose David Thompson to present his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

I think I'll go with Michael Jordan's opinion on this one.

[taterguy]

20. Thompson grew up in the mountains so his body adjusted quickly

As for the impact on away games: Denver's air give him confidence and a mental edge.

Jordan knew all about that. If Fred Brown didn't throw that pass to James Worthy, Jordan would be just another Walter Davis: One of many above-average UNC players.

And in case you hadn't noticed, Jordan is a sorry evaluator of talent.

Kwame Brown?

Wasting a draft pick on Adam Morrison?

Picking Raymond Felton over Chris Paul?

Get the fuck out of here.

[retread]

21. "Get the fuck out of here." Later hater. n/t

[taterguy]

22. Don't be an agitator