Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Mychal Thompson has met countless professional basketball players in his lifetime. The 70-year-old was drafted No. 1 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1978 and won championships with the Lakers in '87 and '88 before beginning his commentating for the team in 2003.
Thompson played in the NBA from 1978-91, starting with the Blazers from '78-86, then the San Antonio Spurs from '86'-87, and finally the Lakers from '87-91. The Miami native averaged 13.7 points on 50.4 percent shooting, with 7.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
Thompson had a long-spanning career, but he's still starstruck by WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark.
The Minnesota alum described the first time he saw the Indiana Fever guard in person.
"When I was leaving Gainbridge Arena in a loading dock, Caitlin Clark walked right by me," he said. "I froze; I didn't say hello to her. How about that? My favorite basketball player outside of Klay [Thompson] was right there in front of me."
"My favorite basketball player outside of Klay [Thompson] was right there"
Former NBA player Mychal Thompson describes being star-struck seeing Caitlin Clark
pic.twitter.com/s8FG7bohIN
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) April 3, 2025
Clark is the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader and had her No. 22 jersey retired by Iowa. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick then won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award last season and led the league in assists with 8.4 per game.
Clark was also an All-Star and garnered All-WNBA First Team and All-Rookie Team honors. The 23-year-old averaged 19.2 points on 41.7 percent shooting (34.4 percent 3 PT) with 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals, and was the first rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to make the All-WNBA First Team.
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM.