By Semih Tuna / info@eurohoops.net
Casademont Zaragoza big man Jason Thompson landed as a 33-year-old rookie in the Basketball Champions League to bring in years of experience in the game, having played all across the world and gaining valuable expertise in the meantime. This September, his aim is to put his talents on display to help the underdog Spanish team achieve great results in Athens, at the Basketball Champions League Final Eight that tips off Wednesday.
His life journey so far, however, extends past the four court lines and proves that we can all grow with the heart of a lion and learn from tragedy.
The Sacramento experience
The New Jersey native was selected with the 12th overall pick of the 2008 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, where his career would eventually take off. Thompson signed a rookie contract with the franchise in 2008-09 and registered averages of 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds across 82 games in his first year. The Kings then extended his contract twice in the following two seasons, before penning him to a multi-year contract that would last until his 2015 trade to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The JT Foundation and the Elite Basketball Camp
In 2010 and while his career was elevated as a Kings sophomore, the devastating loss of his cousin Tiffany to heart disease at 25 years of age greatly affected Jason and his family. The tragic news of her passing inspired the player to become an advocate for heart health, resulting in the establishment of the JT Foundation, which aims to positively influence children and young adults in “unique and effective ways”, while actively tackling strategies to dealing with everyday heart health challenges.
Alongside the social awareness the Foundation aspires to bring to light, Thompson has occupied himself with his very own JT Elite Basketball Camp since 2007. Kids from across the United States can join the now experienced Zaragoza star to learn and develop their skills every summer, with the only exception being 2020, due to the challenges imposed by the coronavirus outbreak that led to the cancellation of this year’s camp.