A COFFEE WITH… CHANDLER THOMPSON

"I was not leaving Estudiantes because it was home and family to me. If I had a choice I would have retired with Estudiantes."

Today we shared a cup of coffee with Chandler Thompson, that fantastic dunker of the 90’s that we could enjoy in ACB league during 8 seasons (from 1992 to 2000).

If you want to read the interview translated into Spanish, please click the following link.

UN CAFE CON… CHANDLER THOMPSON

Q: In 1988, you won the high school title in Indiana against Shawn Kemp’s team. What do you remember about that game?

A: The State Championship game against Shawn Kemp was a wonderful experience. Our team was the number 1 team and Kemp team was the 2nd best team. I knew we had a challenge because Shawn was one of the best players to play in high school that year, some say top 5. I knew pur team was better it was going to be a team effort to win. We both displayed a lot of spectacular dunks in the game. It was a dream of mine to win the Championship because that was the highest award you could win in Indiana high school.

Q: After the University, where your stats were remarkables, surprisingly do not were selected in the NBA draft. Why do you think you were not selected?

A: After I left Ball State my numbers were low and not good enough to get drated. My coach and I didn’t have the same vision during my last year so he did not play me a lot and promoted another player who was not better than me. So that is the reason for me not getting looks by NBA teams.

Q: In 1992 you played the NBA’s summer league with the Milwaukee Bucks, what happened for not staying on the team?

A: I got invited to play with Milwaukee Bucks that summer. I played well during the summer league after scoring 30 plus points against Minnesota Timberwolves. A lot of teams and scouts began reseaching me. After one of our games in Los Angeles summer league, Tim Shea saw me and after the game he asked me if I would like to play professional basketball in Spain top division. I spoke with one of the assistant coaches and he inform me that will be a great place to play.

Q: Which player impressed you most in that summer league and why?

A: The best player that impressed me was Richard Dumas from the Phoenix Suns. He was scoring 50 points a game against all of the top talent in the summer league every night he played.

Q: Later, you met Tim Shea and you went to play in Europe. How did you see that decision? Did it seem like a step back to play Europe?

A: The decision was hard because I wanted to play in the NBA but I understood that it could be a opportunity to play in Europe and make a name for myself.  No, it wasn’t a step back because Spain and Italy were the top two league’s outside of the NBA.

Q: Once in Europe, was there an opportunity to return to the NBA? If there was, why did not you come back?

A: Yes, I had another opportunity to try out with Milwaukee Bucks again but this time we played in New York summer league. I started a lot of our games and we won the summer league championship. Milwaukee roster was full and they wanted to trade a player and bring me in his position but I decided to back to Spain for another year. The next year I went to Boston Celtics and tried out for their team and that was the first time I saw the political side of the game. I was top 5 players in the camp and I got cut from the team. That left a bad taste in my mouth so I did not like so I decided to play the rest of my time in Europe.

Q: After  4 years in Europe you became a referent player due to the spectacularity of your dunks. In fact you won 4 times the ACB dunk contest. Do you think that you have ever been typecast too much in this type of plays, leaving without much value the rest of your game?

A: I think after my 2nd year in Ourense I became a better 3 point shooter because everyone knew I wanted to attack the basket with dunks.

Q: What is the best dunk “in your face” that you remember of a match?

A: Rickie Winslow dunked in my face my first year in Spain. A few plays after he did, I tried to dunk on everyone from Estudiantes team. I did get my revenge back on Winslow.

Q: After 3 years in Orense, you decided to sign for Estudiantes. Why did you take that decision?

A: I wanted to play for a bigger team and bigger city, and Estudiantes was the team that I enjoyed watching and when they contacted me I told my agent yes. He wanted me to play for Joventud.

Q: In 2000, you could not play the final of the Kopa Korac against Barcelona for an injury. Was it a very hard time?

A: Yes it was hard watching the game on tv without my help. We had a 16 point advantage and we lost that lead in the first 5 minutes of the game.

Q: In the year 2000, you left Estudiantes and signed from the Near East of Greece. But in two months you left the team, what happened?

A: I signed a contract in Greece and the never paid me my money they owed so I left.

Q: After a passage through Italy and Russia, you came back to Indiana for playing in the ABA. Did you miss your home?

A: No, I stayed home because of my family issue. But it was also a chance to play at home in front of my family members who didn’t come to Europe to watch me play. I also started coaching high scholl basketball.

Q: In 2007 you retired from the practice of basketball, what was the reason? Physical problems, tiredness, …

A: I began coaching and was connected to the kids and wanted to see them succeed. I had opportunities to play again in Europe, but I found another passion.

Q: Was there ever a real opportunity to play in Madrid or Barcelona?

A: I was not leaving Estudiantes because it was home and family to me. If I had a choice I would have retired with Estudiantes.

Q: What city of which you have lived keeps better memories?

A: Madrid because I lived there the longest, but Orense is always my first love.

Q: Who is the best coach you’ve ever had?

A: I think all the coaches I had in Spain was great. Tim Shea saw me and gave me a opportunity that I might not have had. Randy Knowles taught me how to shoot and look at the game in a different way. Pepu is the ultimate professional coach. He taught me so much being the first Spainsh coach I had.

Q: Some fight on court that you can tell us.

A: I think everyone know about the fight or punch against Sabonis. I was only protecting my teammate James Byrson.

Q: Did you have any mania or ritual before the matches?

A: I like to listen to my music before I play, and I never ate a big meal before a game.

Q: Tell us some funny anecdote that happened to you related to basketball.

A: We had a team dinner before one of our games with Estudiantes, and the President and all of the staff came with us. We had rice of Cuba but I asked for no tomatoe sauce. I added sugar with the rice and eggs and everyone looked at me like I was crazy. After the main dish, they asked me what did I want for dessert. The President told them I had my sweets with my Cuban Rice. Everyone laughed.

Q: What do you do now?

A: I am currently the head coach at Muncie Central high school.

Q: Any projects that you have in mind for the future?

A: My future plan is to help my son Josh play in Spain like I did when he finish college.

Q: Thank you very much for taking your time to do this interview. We wish you good luck in your new professional adventure.