Earl Scottie Carreon Thompson (born July 12, 1993) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Scottie Thompson

Thompson with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 2021
No. 9 – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Position	Shooting guard / Point guard
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	(1993-07-12) July 12, 1993 (age 29) Padada, Davao del Sur, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school	Agro Industrial Foundation College
College	University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (2011–2015)
PBA draft	2015 Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Playing career	2015–present
Number	6, 9
Career history
2015–present	Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Career highlights and awards
6× PBA champion (2016 Governors', 2017 Governors', 2018 Commissioner's, 2019 Governors', 2020 Philippine, 2021 Governors') 2× PBA Finals MVP (2018 Commissioner's, 2021 Governors') PBA Most Valuable Player (2021) PBA Best Player of the Conference (2021 Governors') 4× PBA All-Star (2016–2019) PBA Sportsmanship Award (2020) PBA Mythical First Team (2021) PBA Mythical Second Team (2018) PBA All-Rookie Team (2016) PBA Most Improved Player (2018) PBA D-League champion (2015 Aspirant's) NCAA Philippines Most Valuable Player (2014) NCAA Philippines Most Improved Player (2012) 3× NCAA Philippines Mythical Team (2012, 2014, 2015)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Philippines Southeast Asian Games 2015 Singapore Team SEABA Championship 2015 Singapore Team

Early life and high school career

Thompson was born on July 12, 1993 and was named after Scottie Pippen as his father is a big Chicago Bulls fan.[1] He traces his American roots from his great-grandfather.[2]

Thompson started playing basketball when he was in elementary, but his game took off during his senior year in high school when he played in the Palarong Pambansa (representing Region XI) and was chosen for the Nike Elite Camp.[3] According to him, he had no scholarship offers from top collegiate schools except for Perpetual Help.[4]

College career

Thompson played college basketball at the University of Perpetual Help of the NCAA. In his rookie season, he was the Altas' sixth man, averaging 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 18.3 minutes per game. During his MVP year in 2014, he posted an impressive stat line of 26.5 PPG and 10.0 RPG, while leading the Altas to the Final Four. He was also included in the Mythical 5 selection in that same season.[5] Despite dishing off triple-double performances for the Altas, he ended his college career in 2015 after his school bowed out of the Final Four contention.[6]

Amateur career

Thompson suited up for the Hapee Fresh Fighters in the PBA D-League, where he teamed up with fellow college standouts and future draft batchmates Troy Rosario, Baser Amer, Garvo Lanete and Chris Newsome.[7] Behind his heroics, he helped the Fresh Fighters win its first ever PBA D-League title in 2015.[8]

Professional career

Thompson was drafted fifth overall in the 2015 PBA draft by the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.[9] In his first game as a pro, he scored 5 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals in 16 minutes of play in a 78–86 loss over the Purefoods Star Hotshots.[10] Despite the fact that he only practiced with the team for less than a week and with the limited minutes he's given, his stellar play earned him praises from coach Tim Cone.[11] In his third career game back on November 7, 2015, Thompson recorded 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in just 14 minutes of playing time in a 93–92 win over the Alaska Aces.[12] On December 5, Thompson almost recorded a triple-double after putting up 9 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in 102–94 win over the Blackwater Elite.[13]

In the semi-final of 2016 PBA Governors' cup, he registered a triple double performance long after Johnny Abarientos era. He was awarded later the 2016 All-Rookie Team. In 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, he was awarded the PBA Finals MVP.[14] He eventually won the 2018 PBA Mythical Second Team and PBA Most Improved Player awards.

In 2021 PBA Governors' Cup, Thompson won his first PBA Best Player of the Conference Award.[15] In the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup Finals, he won his sixth PBA title and was judged as the Finals MVP for the second time of his career.[16] On June 5, 2022, he was awarded the 2021 PBA Mythical First Team and the 2021 PBA Most Valuable Player.[17]

PBA career statistics

As of the end of 2021 season[18]

Season-by-season averages

National team career

Thompson was part of the 12-man Sinag Pilipinas lineup that competed in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and 2015 SEABA Championship, both held in Singapore, where they won gold medals in both occasions.[19][20][21][22]

Player profile

Scottie Thompson is well-known for his offensive mindset and defensive versatility.

On offense, his scoring output is not that high much, just averaging 8.9 points per game in his career because of his role in the team. However, he focuses on making his teammates better by giving them on-point and accurate assists. With his play making abilities and skills, he averages 4.8 assists per game in his career.

He is also well-known for his rebounding skills. Even at his height of 6'1, he is a great rebounder of his position and height. He can outrebound a taller opponent for he has a high vertical leap. As of the end of the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup, he has an astounding average of 7.7 rebounds per game.

With that, he is often compared to Russell Westbrook of the NBA because of their similar playing style.

On defense, he is a well-known versatile defender and perimeter defender. He excels at forcing turnovers against opponents.

Personal life

Thompson founded his own barbershop, the Thompson’s Sports Hair Shop which opened in Digos in October 2016.[23] According to Thompson, he is of partial American descent as his great grandfather is African American.[24]

References