John Thompson, the Hall of Fame Georgetown basketball coach who won 596 games and a national championship in his storied career, passed away Monday at the age of 78.
Thompson was one of the greatest coaches of all time and was beloved by all the players who played for him throughout his 27 years at Georgetown.
One of those players was Allen Iverson, who thanked Thompson during his Hall of Fame induction speech for saving his life. Iverson paid a sweet tribute to his former coach shortly after the news broke on Monday.
The NBA on TNT crew also paid a great tribute to Thompson on Monday night’s show during the two playoff games. Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley all put a towel over their shoulders, a look that was a staple of Thompson’s during his time on the sidelines:
The Inside guys pay tribute to legendary coach John Thompson. pic.twitter.com/8fJouj8IzS
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 31, 2020
Barkley also spoke about Thompson’s legacy:
“John Thompson wanted to create great black men, and I’ll always respect and admire him for that.”
Charles reflects on the legacy of the late John Thompson. pic.twitter.com/haw2jYzTM4
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 31, 2020
RIP, John Thompson.
