# Mychal Thompson
**Mychal Thompson** (born 1955) is a Bahamian former professional basketball player, a 6-foot-10 center and power forward who was the first overall pick of the 1978 NBA Draft and won two NBA championships with the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-lakers) in 1987 and 1988 as the reserve behind [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kareem-abdul-jabbar).[1](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/78331/scoring) • [2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompmy01.html) • [3](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955, Nassau, Bahamas; 6'10" (2.08 m), 226 lb (103 kg)[1](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/78331/scoring) |
| Draft | First overall, 1978 NBA Draft, Portland Trail Blazers; the first non-US-born number one pick[2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompmy01.html) • [5](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-lakers-una-historia-de-traspasos-de-leyenda-n/) |
| College | Minnesota, 1976-78: three-time All-Big Ten, two-time All-American, 20.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game[6](https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-mthompson-html) |
| NBA career | 12 years; 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game[1](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/78331/scoring) |
| Championships | Two, with the Lakers (1987 and 1988)[3](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson) |
| Honors | NBA All-Rookie First Team (1978)[3](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson) |
| Post-career | Play-by-play radio commentator for the Los Angeles Lakers[4](https://staging-aws.sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-were-pursuing-him-heavily-140600149.html) |
## College career at Minnesota
Thompson came to the [University of Minnesota](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-minnesota) from [Nassau, Bahamas](https://www.edgepedia.org/nassau-bahamas), and became one of the most accomplished big men in the program's history. Across his three seasons he was a three-time All-Big Ten selection (1976-78) and a two-time All-American (1977 and 1978), averaging 20.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game for his career.[6](https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-mthompson-html) His college teammates included Kevin McHale, who later starred for the [Boston Celtics](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-celtics).[8](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/512299-nba-history-top-10-los-angeles-lakers-short-timers-contributing-to-title-teams)
With the first pick in the 1978 [NBA draft](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-draft), the [Portland Trail Blazers](https://www.edgepedia.org/portland-trail-blazers) selected Thompson, making him the first Gopher ever taken first overall.[6](https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-mthompson-html) The Spanish sports daily AS notes that he was also the first non-US-born player to be selected number one.[5](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-lakers-una-historia-de-traspasos-de-leyenda-n/)
## Portland years
In 1986 he was traded to the [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-antonio-spurs), where he did not want to stay.[5](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-lakers-una-historia-de-traspasos-de-leyenda-n/)
## The Lakers and two championships
**The trade.** In February 1987 the Lakers, whose path to a title ran through Boston and Kevin McHale, acquired Thompson from [San Antonio](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-antonio) in exchange for Frank Brickowski and Peter Gudmundsson, two role players of limited importance to the team.[5](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-lakers-una-historia-de-traspasos-de-leyenda-n/) The Lakers' official alumni page describes the move as a trade to back up center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then in the late stage of his career.[3](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson) Thompson appeared in 33 games for the 1986-87 Lakers, averaging 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 20.6 minutes.[3](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson)
**Defending McHale.** Thompson's value in the 1987 Finals against Boston came partly from familiarity: he had played with McHale at Minnesota and used tricks learned there to play effective defense on the Celtics star, helping the Lakers win the series.[8](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/512299-nba-history-top-10-los-angeles-lakers-short-timers-contributing-to-title-teams) The Los Angeles Times called the addition of Thompson, acquired in the trade with San Antonio, critical to the Lakers' title hopes that season.[9](https://projects.latimes.com/lakers/player/mychal-thompson/)
**The 1988 repeat.** In 1987-88 Thompson shared the center spot with Abdul-Jabbar, playing 80 games and averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds.[10](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1987-88) • [3](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson) The Lakers went 62-20, then came back from a 3-2 deficit in the Finals to beat the [Detroit Pistons](https://www.edgepedia.org/detroit-pistons) in Game 7, becoming the first repeat champions since the 1968-69 Boston Celtics.[10](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1987-88) Coach Pat Riley said Thompson had played a pivotal role in the consecutive titles.[11](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-24-sp-932-story.html) The Los Angeles Times described him as the glue of the championship teams, a luxury worker off the bench.[5](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-lakers-una-historia-de-traspasos-de-leyenda-n/)
Thompson remained with the Lakers through the 1990-91 season, his final year, in which he played 72 games and averaged 4.0 points in 15.0 minutes.[3](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson)
## Legacy and broadcasting
In 1996 Thompson was not named to the NBA's list of the 50 greatest players in league history.[7](https://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketballs_finest/2005/m_basketball_finest.pdf) • [13](https://www.nba.com/history/nba-at-50/top-50-players) In the Bahamas, where he is known by the nickname "Sweet Bells," he has supported local youth development programs.[12](https://www.govnet.bs/wps/wcm/connect/86dc6692-2edc-4202-9fbd-708d1451e0ae/2011%2BHall%2Bof%2BFame%2BBooklet2.pdf?MOD=AJPERES)
## References
1. [Mychal Thompson stats, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/78331/scoring)
2. [Mychal Thompson, Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompmy01.html)
3. [Los Angeles Lakers Alumni: Mychal Thompson, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/lakers/history/alumni/mychal-thompson)
4. [Mychal Thompson says Klay passed on his perfect fit, Yahoo Sports](https://staging-aws.sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-were-pursuing-him-heavily-140600149.html)
5. [Los Lakers: una historia de traspasos de leyenda, AS](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-lakers-una-historia-de-traspasos-de-leyenda-n/)
6. [Mychal Thompson, M Club Hall of Fame, University of Minnesota Athletics](https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-mthompson-html)
7. [NCAA Basketball's Finest (2005), NCAA](https://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketballs_finest/2005/m_basketball_finest.pdf)
8. [Top 10 Lakers Short-Timers Contributing to Title Teams, Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/512299-nba-history-top-10-los-angeles-lakers-short-timers-contributing-to-title-teams)
9. [Mychal Thompson, All Things Lakers, Los Angeles Times](https://projects.latimes.com/lakers/player/mychal-thompson/)
10. [Season Review: 1987-88, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1987-88)
11. [An Uplifting Experience: Mychal Thompson, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-24-sp-932-story.html)
12. [National Sports Heritage Week 2011 Hall of Fame Booklet, Government of The Bahamas](https://www.govnet.bs/wps/wcm/connect/86dc6692-2edc-4202-9fbd-708d1451e0ae/2011%2BHall%2Bof%2BFame%2BBooklet2.pdf?MOD=AJPERES)
13. [NBA at 50: Top 50 Players, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/history/nba-at-50/top-50-players)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 1980–1995 › NBA centers, 1980–1995*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license