Paul Thompson
2024 Finalist
Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame
Basketball, 1979-83
Tulane University
Photo Courtesy of Tulane Athletics.
One of the top basketball players in Tulane history, Paul Thompson was a four-time All-Metro Conference, three-time All-Louisiana and two-time first team NABC All-District selection in the early 1980s. He finished his career as the leading scorer and second-leading rebounder in Tulane history, with 1,851 points for a 16.5 average and 903 rebounds for an 8.1 average.
Thompson averaged 17.5 points and 7.4 rebounds as a senior, 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds as a junior, and 18.7 points and a conference-leading 9.4 rebounds as a sophomore. He was the Metro Conference Freshman of the Year in 1980, with averages of 15.0 points and 8.2 rebounds. He led Tulane to its first two postseason appearances, reaching as far as the NIT quarterfinals in 1982.
After his Tulane days, Thompson played three seasons in the NBA and then extensively overseas before retiring in 1999. He played one season in France, two in The Netherlands, one in Spain, two in Italy and seven in Israel.
After retiring, Thompson settled in Milwaukee and began his law-enforcement career, spending the last 18 years working with S.W.A.T.
He was inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
