SKYFORCE ACQUIRES SAM THOMPSON
By Sioux Falls Skyforce Staff /December 29, 2022
)
Sioux Falls, SD – The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that the team has acquired Sam Thompson via returning players rights.
Thompson, a 6-7, 200-pound forward out of Ohio State University went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft.
He started the 2022-23 season with Gargzdu Gargzdai of the Lithuanian LKL, where Thompson averaged 7.5 points on 30.5 percent shooting, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per 28.5 minutes in eight appearances (six starts).
Thompson appeared in 29 games (six starts) for the Skyforce in the 2021-22 regular season and averaged 9.5 points on 44.5 percent shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per 29.0 minutes a game.
After the conclusion of the NBA G League season, he started 15 games for the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand NBL and totaled 18.0 points on 42.5 percent shooting, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.9 minutes a game.
Prior to his time with JB Monferrato of the Italian Serie A2 League in 2020-21, where he started 30 games and averaged 14.8 points on 45.1 percent shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per 29.5 minutes, Thompson spent a combination of three seasons in the G League. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NBA G League Draft by the Grand Rapids Drive. Thompson was traded to Delaware during the season, and between the two teams he averaged 7.8 points on 45.9 percent shooting, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 43 games (25 starts). He spent the 2016-17 season with Vasas Akademia Budapest the Hungarian NBIA league, and averaged 14.8 points on 45.1 percent shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28 games (24 starts). Thompson returned to the G League, signing with the Greensboro Swarm for the 2017-19 seasons.
He played four years at Ohio State, averaging 6.9 points on 47.2 percent shooting, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 146 games (83 starts) for the Buckeyes.
Wayne Stewart, Jr. was waived to complete the transaction.
Thompson will wear #17 for the Skyforce and is expected to be available for the team’s upcoming home series, starting on Saturday, against the Ontario Clippers. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 PM CST on Saturday and 3:00 PM CST on Sunday.