Mount Laurel Native Jason Thompson On Joining Sixers: 'Surreal Moment'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Jason Thompson is coming home.
Thompson, who lives at The Residences at Dockside on Columbus Boulevard next door to 94WIP Afternoon Show host Tony Bruno, was reportedly traded to the Sixers as part of a salary-cap dump by the Kings.
And he's excited about the opportunity.
"Getting traded to a team that you grew up watching, pretty much every day," Thompson told Josh Innes and Bruno Thursday on the 94WIP Innes and Bruno Show. "Pretty much just waking up and watching the Sixers and things like that, so it's definitely a surreal moment."
Listen: Jason Thompson on the 94WIP Innes and Bruno Show
Thompson, 28, is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey native. He led Lenape High School to the 2004 New Jersey Group IV state title and then played four years at Rider University before being selected 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2008 draft.
"I've been there, what, seven years," Thompson said of his time in Sacramento. "Not just the longest tenured player, but I would say longest tenure even in the front-office.
Since joining the Kings, Thompson has played for seven different coaches through just seven NBA seasons, averaging 9.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The Kings have not won 30 games in a season since Thompson's arrival.
"For me, that's the bad thing about how this organization has been over the years," Thompson said. "One time you have, you know where you're not sure if the team is going to stay in the city and then you think that stuff is gone once we got the new arena and stuff. And then now you have more trade and the front office issues and things like that. It's definitely been an unfortunate situation."
Thompson says he understand the plan in Philly.
"You know that they're trying to rebuild and for guys, I guess in the league, everyone wants to win now," he admitted. "I mean, everyone. Not just players, but everyone in the organizations, but that doesn't happen overnight. So, kinda you have to see the direction that that person is going and then rise with it. So, it's not saying it's a good thing or a bad thing or anything like that, but just a thing that it takes time."
