INDIANAPOLIS – Aaron Thompson has only one objective in thoughts for his fast future: Play skilled basketball for so long as attainable. However the Butler Bulldog product had not acquired any NBA consideration till Monday, when he labored out for the Indiana Pacers.
With the NBA Draft days away, Thompson was grateful to only get a shot with knowledgeable group. After spending 5 seasons with the Bulldogs, Thompson left with this system’s profession assists information however averaged simply 7.3 factors throughout his profession. The possibilities of Thompson touchdown on an NBA roster could be slim, however Monday’s exercise gave him simply as a lot publicity as each different participant.
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“I really feel like I used to be introduced in to be a prospect,” Thompson mentioned. “In the event that they introduced me in, they’d anticipate me to return out and carry out and present what I can do. That confidence in myself has taken me a great distance. I really feel like if I am in right here with the remainder of the blokes, I acquired simply an equal of a shot. ”
Thompson labored out alongside high prospect Shaedon Sharpe, Jake LaRavia, Jermaine Samuels, Alfonso Plummer and Vincent Williams Jr. Thompson mentioned he favored the way in which he competed Monday along with his fundamental position being to defend and facilitate the offense.
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Whereas his position within the exercise was just like his at Butler, he believes it might broaden within the skilled sport.
“If I had an opportunity to play, I feel my position would undoubtedly increase,” Thompson mentioned. “I feel I might present my capacity to make pictures. I got here out right here and I made one right now. I feel what I confirmed in school, my position can be extra like a TJ McConnell, simply enjoying that position to steer guys. ”
Since ending a five-year profession at Butler, Thompson has continued coaching in Indiana whereas serving to with the Bulldogs’ summer season camps. The best objective for Thompson is to make an NBA group’s summer season league roster, however he can be equally as excited to construct a profession abroad.
Whereas Thompson enjoys instructing basketball and dealing with children at camps, he isn’t prepared to consider a training profession but. He believes a prolonged skilled profession is within the playing cards for him and it is at all times been the imaginative and prescient.
“It might simply make a lifelong dream come true, enjoying basketball for cash. Lots of people dream of that, ”Thompson mentioned. “I strive to not take it without any consideration. Day by day I rise up and work to the very best of my capacity simply so I could make that come true. ”
With Thompson having his first and certain final NBA exercise, it was particular to compete once more in Indianapolis, the place the place he did probably the most rising up. His basketball profession in Indiana has not at all times gone the way in which he hoped, because the Bulldogs had three dropping seasons within the 5 years Thompson was there.
Then a couple of weeks after Thompson performed his closing collegiate sport, his former head coach and position mannequin LaVall Jordan was fired from Butler. Whereas Thompson mentioned the 2 have not had an opportunity to speak currently, he had a tough time with Jordan’s firing.
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“I really feel like LaVall is a Butler man, so it was powerful on me as a result of I do know his historical past, him going to Butler then coming again and being a coach,” Thompson mentioned. “I do know it was a dream of his. I took it similar to he took it. It was laborious on me figuring out that was my coach and we went by means of that factor collectively. So it form of took a toll on me as properly. ”
Regardless of a few of the powerful experiences in school, Thompson is without end grateful to Butler. The basketball historical past at Butler and in Indiana is one thing he feels without end hooked up to.
“Butler is unquestionably a particular place to me,” Thompson mentioned. “I spent 5 years there. I grew up at Butler. I really feel like I turned a person there. It is undoubtedly a particular place. Guys like Ron (Nored) coming again and simply getting within the sport and easy methods to carry issues. I feel that stuff is particular, much more particular that he is right here serving to me out. ”