Undoubtedly DT was and still is the best player to ever come out of the ACC, he was incredible to watch , I know I grew up watching every game I could in the early 1970's. UNC fan
It is hard for me to believe it has been 40 years since State beat Marquette to win the National Championship. I was lucky enough to be in the Greensboro Coliseum that night. The Saturday game against UCLA is still burned in my memory. Trailing by 7 in the second overtime, DT led the Pack to an amazing victory. He is indeed the greatest player in ACC history, and honestly, it is not close.
@@troydixzon9771 Yes!! That's another immortal name on the campus of NCSU. Sidney Lowe and Dereck Whittenburg were DeMatha teammates that went on to help NC State & Jim Valvano bring home their second NCAA championship. And RIP to the great, and very humble Lorenzo Charles.
I met him when I was a kid in Charlotte. I had only heard stories of him from my dad and never saw him play personally. Even after meeting many Hornets and other NBA players, he has continued to stand out in my mind as the most professional, humble and welcoming player ever. If someone that didn't know him met him on the street, they'd never know that he had one of the highest verticles in basketball, competed in the slam dunk contest, and introduced Michael Jordan at the Hall of Fame ceremony.
I've seen a lot of great college basketball players over the years; I'm not an NC State fun, but I consider David the best and still my favorite. Astonishing skills - including 3-point range befoe there was an arc.
I've seen them all too and I disagree....Bill Walton, Patrick Ewing, or Laettner out of Duke are the greatest college players...OTHER than pistol Pete. To say otherwise is just wrong
@@borismcgillicutty3042 ...They said the best collage player out of the ACC, and only one name you mentioned , Christian Laettner is from the ACC, who's biggest asset is that he was tall and got a lot more publicity because of where he played. MJ turned out to be a better player in the pro's, and yes, no one compares to the pistol when it comes to all time greats in collage.
@@Tboy439 You were almost right. Laettner's biggest asset in college was he had no real weaknesses. He could do it all... and he did. Yes, he did play in the perfect system that had _at that time_ the best NCAA coach... that cannot be denied. But his unbelievable skills were his biggest asset. The exact opposite happened in the NBA though.... 1) banished to the hinterlands of Minnesota, and 2) especially because there were far more powerful professional big men.
First time I saw DT play was on UHF channel 44 Chicago in early 70's against Purdue (I think) saw this guy (DT) soar high in the air, get an offensive rebound and dropped it through the hoop with two hands. If dunking would have been allowed then I am sure we would have seen some fantastic highlights from David Thompson!!
I saw him play a little as a freshman for N. C. State, when they came to Charlottesville and played the UVa freshmen team. :) From out of nowhere, this very dark player just shot up in the air. Even if you had never heard of him, you couldn't believe that anyone could jump that high that quickly. We'll never know what could have been. Did he have a problem with alcohol while in college? Maybe he could have been even better. And what if there had been a 3-point line and dunking had been allowed? He might have averaged 40 as a senior, not 30. But I don't think he was able to carry N.C. State's team his senior year, after Burleson left, which shows you how great Burleson was. Burleson may have been the best big man to ever play in the ACC! That includes Sampson and Laettner!
David Thompson was the best ever in the ACC. And maybe the best ever in the college game. Just too many greats to name just 1 in college. But no one was better than he.- so hes tied for first no metter what
Kareem (aka Lew Alcindor back then) is college basketball's greatest player. But I put DT in my top 5, along with Bill Russell, Bill Walton & Oscar Robertson.
@@johntompkins5379 I still think David Thompson is the best college basketball player . Better than Lew. Every game in the ACC was a war. Now Lew accomplished more than David in Titles, jBut he had the teammates and program to do that. David states the NC State Legacy. And David played in more tougher games or competition than Lew ( The Pac 8 was a weak ass league ) But No Disrespect to Lew- Great Great Basketball Player
@@johntompkins5379 ...First of all, the claim was he was the beat ACC player of all time, and all those names you mentioned were not ACC. The best collage player of all time was Pistol Pete, who averaged over 44 points a game for 3 years because freshman where not allowed to play back then. His scoring record will never be touched. The best guard I ever played with was Jerry West. The best guard I've ever played against was Oscar Robinson. The best guard I've ever seen is Pete Maravich Elgin Baylor And he coached the Pistol with the New Orleans Jazz. so he knaw how good he was.
This video should have been sent to the producers at ESPN .. Can you believe they chose Michael Jordan as the greatest college player ever, by doing a mock, co-ed type of bracket format .. Russell, Wilt, Oscar, West, Alcindor, Maravich, Walton, Austin Carr, Thompson, Sampson & Ewing in my opinion were better collegiately.
There are actually horror stories of this man stealing changes off the top of the back board and played in a dunkless era but soon after they seen the origal highriser that ruled was changed
Actually, well above it, his feet were up in Phil Spence ribcage area near his chest. The camera is pointing down, which makes it seem he wasn't that high. 1 full second airborne equals 48 inches altitude. He was airborne around 1.2 seconds on that play. I saw him in high school grab an offensive rebound with his chest rim high. And block 20 ft jumpshots in midnight.
Never herd anyone bring him up as the best besides fools at ESPN or other promotions. Regulars besides some obviously don't think he was the best in college, but definitely great. I think he's the greatest most incredible NBA player, but not college GOAT. Dean Smith's style didn't allow you to shine as much being focussed on team glory. Probably lost championships not letting his studs dominate. That's why they say the only person that was ever able to keep Jordan from scoring was Smith.
Undoubtedly DT was and still is the best player to ever come out of the ACC, he was incredible to watch , I know I grew up
watching every game I could in the early 1970's. UNC fan
JAY THACKERSON You got that right!
Jordan played in the ACC. There is no comparison in their careers. Jordan is the best player of all time.
@@estebanmorales6568Not in the ACC
MY GOD what a pure athlete AND great player....changed the game completely.
It is hard for me to believe it has been 40 years since State beat Marquette to win the National Championship. I was lucky enough to be in the Greensboro Coliseum that night. The Saturday game against UCLA is still burned in my memory. Trailing by 7 in the second overtime, DT led the Pack to an amazing victory. He is indeed the greatest player in ACC history, and honestly, it is not close.
Also he was the cousin of derrick whitburg the great tough as hell guard from Maryland
@@troydixzon9771
Yes!! That's another immortal name on the campus of NCSU. Sidney Lowe and Dereck Whittenburg were DeMatha teammates that went on to help NC State & Jim Valvano bring home their second NCAA championship.
And RIP to the great, and very humble Lorenzo Charles.
I met him when I was a kid in Charlotte. I had only heard stories of him from my dad and never saw him play personally. Even after meeting many Hornets and other NBA players, he has continued to stand out in my mind as the most professional, humble and welcoming player ever.
If someone that didn't know him met him on the street, they'd never know that he had one of the highest verticles in basketball, competed in the slam dunk contest, and introduced Michael Jordan at the Hall of Fame ceremony.
I've seen a lot of great college basketball players over the years; I'm not an NC State fun, but I consider David the best and still my favorite. Astonishing skills - including 3-point range befoe there was an arc.
I've seen them all too and I disagree....Bill Walton, Patrick Ewing, or Laettner out of Duke are the greatest college players...OTHER than pistol Pete. To say otherwise is just wrong
Your 100 % correct on Davis Thompson being the Best
@@borismcgillicutty3042 ...They said the best collage player out of the ACC, and only one name you mentioned , Christian Laettner is from the ACC, who's biggest asset is that he was tall and got a lot more publicity because of where he played. MJ turned out to be a better player in the pro's, and yes, no one compares to the pistol when it comes to all time greats in collage.
@@Tboy439
You were almost right. Laettner's biggest asset in college was he had no real weaknesses. He could do it all... and he did.
Yes, he did play in the perfect system that had _at that time_ the best NCAA coach... that cannot be denied.
But his unbelievable skills were his biggest asset.
The exact opposite happened in the NBA though.... 1) banished to the hinterlands of Minnesota, and 2) especially because there were far more powerful professional big men.
@@donarthiazi2443 ...Hey, watch it! I'm from that hinterlands of Minnesota. But I guess if your right your right.
Simply , the greatest college basketball
Player. Ever !!!!!!!!!!!
First time I saw DT play was on UHF channel 44 Chicago in early 70's against Purdue (I think) saw this guy (DT) soar high in the air, get an offensive rebound and dropped it through the hoop with two hands. If dunking would have been allowed then I am sure we would have seen some fantastic highlights from David Thompson!!
I love you, David!
I remember watching him as a kid. People said if you put a quarter on top of the backboard, David could grab it and leave you change.
DT led the Wolfpack to a 57-1 record over two years and a national championship over a great UCLA team. That's how good David Thompson was.
Me and my boy had his tennis shoes back in the day
Nice touch using the music from "The Right Stuff". I was fortunate to have been at State during Thompson's last three years.
Unstoppable
I saw him play a little as a freshman for N. C. State, when they came to Charlottesville and played the UVa freshmen team. :) From out of nowhere, this very dark player just shot up in the air. Even if you had never heard of him, you couldn't believe that anyone could jump that high that quickly. We'll never know what could have been. Did he have a problem with alcohol while in college? Maybe he could have been even better. And what if there had been a 3-point line and dunking had been allowed? He might have averaged 40 as a senior, not 30. But I don't think he was able to carry N.C. State's team his senior year, after Burleson left, which shows you how great Burleson was. Burleson may have been the best big man to ever play in the ACC! That includes Sampson and Laettner!
Hopefully in the past 4 years you've learned how ridiculous you were when you posted this utter bullshit 😒
David Thompson was the best ever in the ACC. And maybe the best ever in the college game. Just too many greats to name just 1 in college. But no one was better than he.- so hes tied for first no metter what
Kareem (aka Lew Alcindor back then) is college basketball's greatest player. But I put DT in my top 5, along with Bill Russell, Bill Walton & Oscar Robertson.
Pretty good group!
@@johntompkins5379 I still think David Thompson is the best college basketball player . Better than Lew. Every game in the ACC was a war. Now Lew accomplished more than David in Titles, jBut he had the teammates and program to do that. David states the NC State Legacy. And David played in more tougher games or competition than Lew ( The Pac 8 was a weak ass league ) But No Disrespect to Lew- Great Great Basketball Player
@@johntompkins5379 ...First of all, the claim was he was the beat ACC player of all time, and all those names you mentioned were not ACC. The best collage player of all time was Pistol Pete, who averaged over 44 points a game for 3 years because freshman where not allowed to play back then. His scoring record will never be touched.
The best guard I ever played with was Jerry West. The best guard I've ever played against was Oscar Robinson. The best guard I've ever seen is Pete Maravich
Elgin Baylor
And he coached the Pistol with the New Orleans Jazz. so he knaw how good he was.
@@stever1791 better than Oscar, Bill Russell, Pete Maravich, Austin Carr??, much less Alcindor or Walton? He was great but not better than those guys.
Yeah he was fun to watch
The baddest I ever saw in college hoops (DT, Walton, Jordan, Bias and Larry Johnson)
You never saw Pistol Pete play?
@@donarthiazi2443
I never saw the “Pistol” play in college
@@shermanmiller3203
Okay. That explains it then.
The Sky Walker
NO doubt this guy is MJ's rule model.
1:19 his head is almost rim level.
lol its a shame dunking was banned back then smh...i wonder why??
Because of Lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul Jabar.
@discoandherpes lol
Didn't have the rims that give away. Too many backboards would get shattered. Safety risk, expensive and delays to replace.
Laettner played on better teams and in a better program - DAVID THOMPSON took a good team and made it unbeatable.
This video should have been sent to the producers at ESPN .. Can you believe they chose Michael Jordan as the greatest college player ever, by doing a mock, co-ed type of bracket format .. Russell, Wilt, Oscar, West, Alcindor, Maravich, Walton, Austin Carr, Thompson, Sampson & Ewing in my opinion were better collegiately.
Agree. Jordan's the one their prime viewing audience identifies with the most. That doesn't make a player the greatest.
totally agree!!!
Agree, Jordan around 13th best.
There are actually horror stories of this man stealing changes off the top of the back board and played in a dunkless era but soon after they seen the origal highriser that ruled was changed
Wait. Why is there a nba 3 point line there.
ABA’s Carolina Cougars played then and there
DT
Lmao who gave this a thumbs down??
Bill Walton
Back when they banned dunking too. He had to adjust to not dunk. That’s a feat
And he played in the no dunk era…. Designed to store Kareem!!!!!!!
Wow, I never saw that horrible fall. He could have easily broken his neck. His head was near the rim level on that jump.
Actually, well above it, his feet were up in Phil Spence ribcage area near his chest. The camera is pointing down, which makes it seem he wasn't that high. 1 full second airborne equals 48 inches altitude. He was airborne around 1.2 seconds on that play.
I saw him in high school grab an offensive rebound with his chest rim high. And block 20 ft jumpshots in midnight.
Looks like Clyde Drexler
And......it was against the rules back then to dunk.
How is Jordan the goat college basketball player, and he wasn’t even better than this guy?
Never herd anyone bring him up as the best besides fools at ESPN or other promotions. Regulars besides some obviously don't think he was the best in college, but definitely great. I think he's the greatest most incredible NBA player, but not college GOAT. Dean Smith's style didn't allow you to shine as much being focussed on team glory. Probably lost championships not letting his studs dominate. That's why they say the only person that was ever able to keep Jordan from scoring was Smith.
@@brando4422
They say that about Dean Smith and Bobby Knight. They both held Jordan down instead of letting him explode.
Smh at the no dunking rule