Jordan Picks Thompson for NBA Hall of Fame Induction

David Thompson, though a great basketball player in his own right, is a surprise choice. Most felt either Jordan's CHI coach Phil Jackson or former coach Dean Smith were the front-runners in the list of potential hosts to Jordan's induction.

David Thompson, although he spent a great deal of his career in the ABA, prior to the ABA - NBA merger, was a great basketball player. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame himself in 1996.

So why did David Thompson get the nod over other basketball players (such as Scottie Pippen) or Michael Jordan's coaches? Jordan aid that he wouldn’t have the player he was without Thompson, having seen him as a role model in Jordan's local area.

As I said, David Thompson played college basketball for North Carolina State, and is the only former NC State college player to have had his number retired. He also the nickname “Skywalker” due to his 48-inch vertical leap. In addition, David Thompson holds the NBA’s third highest single game scoring title with 73 points.