The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The 34th Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp continued its tradition of showcasing local talent in the sport.

Bahamian basketball icon, former No.1 overall draft pick and two time NBA champion Mychal Thompson, alongside his eldest son, Mychel - a Bahamian national team standout, visited the camp yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

The elder Thompson spoke about the joys of seeing his son Klay celebrate his inspirational recovery from ACL and Achilles injuries over the course of the last two seasons, to win his fourth NBA Championship as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Thompson celebrated with the Bahamian flag draped across his shoulders for the post game festivities and also prominently displayed the flag during the team’s float parade and trophy presentation.

“Man that was like the culmination of the celebration, the icing on the cake, to see him up there on the stage, number one, as a champion, and then to see him up there with the flag around his shoulders to represent the Bahamian half of his heritage and his family and to realise not only is he representing the United States and himself, but he’s also representing The Bahamas and that brought a lot of pride to see him up there,” Mychal said, “He’s so appreciative and thankful that he’s back on that stage, he just wanted to remind the Bahamian people and the basketball world where’s he’s from also.”

Mychal was recruited from the Bahamas to Miami Jackson High and eventually to the University of Minnesota. He was the top overall pick in the 1978 Draft by the Portland Trailblazers and enjoyed a 13 year NBA career highlighted by a pair of championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The entrance of the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium that leads to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium is named in his honour.

Always a strong presence in the Bahamas, the Thompson family are frequent participants in the annual Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp.

“To whom much is given, much is required,” the elder Thompson said, “If blessed with riches, health, or knowledge, you should be willing to pass it on.”

Mychel has been a member of the senior men’s national team since 2014.

He recently helped The Bahamas completed a sweep over the US Virgin Islands to finish as a top three team in their group and advance to the second round of the FIBA World Cup ‘23 Americas Qualifiers. Canada finished as the leader of the group at 6-0, The Dominican Republic was 4-2, The Bahamas was 2-4 and the USVI was eliminated at 0-6.

Thompson averaged 11.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game through the three qualifying windows.

A number of the instructors got their start in the camp as participants. But Camp Director Jeff Rodgers said they went on to develop their skills and they have returned to lend their expertise to the younger players who are following in their footsteps

“The camp is really about teaching and confirming in our campers “life skills” such as discipline, respect, concern for one another and the environment, through the medium of basketball. We want our campers to learn how to manage and navigate life apart from basketball,” he said, “We have been privileged to see over 10,000 boys and girls pass through our camp over these 34 years, and each year we anticipate having hundreds of young people with us who are supported by outstanding Bahamian coaches.”