Legendary player was program’s all-time leading scorer for 40 years
George Thompson, one of the most accomplished players in the history of Marquette men’s basketball, passed away on Wednesday morning due to complications from a long battle with diabetes.
A three-year letterwinner (1967-69), George Thompson was the all-time scoring leader in Marquette basketball history with 1,773 points for 40 years. He remained in the Milwaukee area after his professional basketball career concluded and teamed with Steve “The Homer” True for many years as the analyst on radio broadcasts.
“George’s name is synonymous with Marquette Basketball,” Vice President & Director of Athletics Bill Scholl said. “He was part of the foundation our program was built on and his career speaks for itself. He had a lasting impact on our University and we mourn the loss with our entire Marquette family.”
Thompson averaged 20.2 points per game during his career, tops all-time at Marquette and helped Marquette to a record of 68-20 during his three years.
“George is really the one who got everything started at Marquette,” head coach Shaka Smart said. “There aren’t words that can express how important he was to this program. The reverence with which former players and fans alike speak of George is second to none. We’ve lost a true legend.”
When he concluded his college career, he held the school’s career mark in field goals with 656 and free throws with 457. He led the team in scoring his final two years and was selected as an All-American in 1968-1969.
Thompson went on to play for Memphis and Pittsburgh in the American Basketball Association and for Milwaukee in the NBA.