The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MYCHAL ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson said he’s delighted to have his two sons join him for an historic honour by the Bahamas Government in the same year that they made their own history by being the first duo to win the National Basketball Association and D-League titles.

Thompson, the retired two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, is in town for the naming of the Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson Boulevard on Thursday morning. The boulevard stretches from Thompson Boulevard at the entrance of the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and covers the road that extends to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

“It’s always special to be home. No matter how far or how long you’ve been away, it’s always special when you can come home and get re-established with your roots,” Thompson told The Tribune as he and his son, along with New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Gordon and Atlanta Hawks guard Shelvin Mack visited the Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium yesterday. “You never get old in coming home.”

And with Klay Thompson still celebrating his NBA championship feat with the Golden State Warriors and Mychel Thompson, coming off his D-League title with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Thompson said it makes this trip even more special, although he knows the centre of attention will be on him on Thursday.

“It’s a great honour, but they could have just unveiled it and sent a picture of it to me,” said Thompson, who along with Osbourne “Goose” Lockhart were honoured by the government with a similar basketball camp. “I’m honoured that the Bahamas government and the people are going through all of this trouble and effort to honour me in this week.”

While he tried to take some of the spotlight off him, Thompson said Jeff Rodgers should be honoured with a civil award from the government because he’s doing a fantastic job every year keeping the children off the street in a positive environment.

“He should be commended and recognised by the government for putting this on every year,” said the 60-year-old Thompson, who was the first round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1978 NBA draft before he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs and then to the Los Angeles Lakers where he won two titles in 1987 and ‘88, only to retire in 1991.

Said Klay Thompson, joining his father in winning his first NBA title with the Warriors this year: “I’m real proud of him,” said Klay Thompson of his father, who has brought them back to the Bahamas over the years to be reunited with their roots. “I think it’s nice for the government to honour him as a journeyman for the country. He really deserves it and I’m just glad that I will be here to witness it.”

Just like he will do on Thursday for his father, Klay Thompson said he was pleased to have Mychal Thompson and his brother, Mychel, on the sidelines when he helped the Warriors pull off the victory over the Houston Rockets in the NBA final.

“I’m very proud of our achievement. Hopefully I can get there again and this won’t be our last time,” said the six-foot, 7-inch guard, who teamed up with Stephen Curry to earn the nickname the “Slash Brothers” for their potent offensive attack this year in the league.

“My father has already won two, so I have to try and catch him up and hopefully pass him with at least three.”

But for now, 25-year-old Klay Thompson said he couldn’t ask for a much better year after watching his older brother Mychel win the D-League title with the Warriors.

“It was the first time that it has ever happened, so I was proud to be a part of history,” Klay Thompson said. “But it was even more special because we joined our father, who won two titles in the NBA. That is a feat that has never been done before, a father and two sons winning the NBA and D-League titles. We are so proud of each other.”

And what better way to celebrate their accomplishments than in the Bahamas.

For Mychel Thompson, there’s no better feeling than being a part of history.

“It’s so good to be back. It’s home,” he said.

But it will be even more special on Thursday when they finally see their father’s name on something permanent.

“Anytime you have something named after you, you have to had done something important,” Mychel Thompson said. “I’m proud of my dad and all of his accomplishments. It’s good to see him getting recognised in his home town.”

It’s been a year of celebrations for the Thompsons, but Mychel Thompson said it came with a lot of hard work and dedication.

“My brother worked very hard to get where he is,” he said. “I know I’ve put in a lot of work too, so it’s good to win a title too. It took a lot of hard work and dedication. It all paid off. I know my dad is very proud of us and we are just as proud of him because he set the pace for us.”

Unlike Klay Thompson, who is looking forward to a repeat in Golden State, Mychel Thompson said he has opted not to return to the D-League. Instead, he intends to take up an offer to play in Europe. Hopefully, he can win his second title in his new location in Italy.

But for now, the Thompson brothers say this week is all about honouring their father, Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson on Thursday. Unfortunately, their younger brother, Trayce Thompson, will not be a part of the celebrations as the 24-year-old will be pursuing his dream to play on the baseball professional circuit. He is currently playing with the Chicago White Sox.