Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan remember the late John Thompson

Members of the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks observe a moment of silence honoring the late John Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball conference semifinal playoff game, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

John Thompson was more than just a Hall of Fame basketball coach. He was an inspiration to many, one of the giants of collegiate sports in the United States and was dedicated to the wellbeing of his community above everything else.

He turned Georgetown into a basketball powerhouse during his 27 years coaching there. With “Hoya Paranoia,” he won the only NCAA National Championship in the school’s history and broke barriers as the first Black coach to lead a program to a championship title.

As a player, Thompson was champion in the two seasons he played during his NBA career, as his Boston Celtics won back-to-back championships in 1964-65 and 1965-66.

And at a time when NBA players are speaking out against social injustice more than maybe ever, it’s worth remembering Thompson was also a leader on that front. In 1989, Thompson protested by walking off the court prior to tip-off against Boston College to bring awareness to an NCAA rule that he felt negatively impacted minority athletes.

On Sunday, Thompson passed away at age 78 and the basketball world took a moment to pause and remember the legendary coach and his impact on and off the court.

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