Reliable, high-effort forward who brings winning intangibles
Thompson is a physical, intelligent forward whose value shows up in rebounds, defensive activity, and willingness to do the dirty work, not just in points. In his strongest Indiana season, he posted 11.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 2021-22, and he later returned from a knee injury with noticeable intensity and gratitude that teammates and fans responded to. He fits best as a glue guy who competes, communicates, and makes winning plays, though he is more of a complementary piece than a primary scoring engine.[5][12][17][19]
