NBA
Meet The Thompson Brothers
Ryan and Jason Thompson are two very unique individuals. Jason is the older of the two siblings, and they grew up in the same household. Both of their parents were blue-collar workers; their father was a UPS employee while their mother was a nurse. Neither son grew up assuming thatย they’d someday make basketball or professional sports their career. They had supportive parents who were strict, strong-willed and smart.
“Sometimes I think kids donโt want to be around strict tones,” Jason told Basketball Insiders. “But I think a family with structure works and pans out for the future. Education was always a priority in our household. After that, we could go to [play basketball].”
Their parents were always involved and helpful. As the two brothers grew older, they knew their parents would be there to support them.
“Every single game, you would see them,” Ryan said. “As competitive as they are, they would never sit next to each other. They would also sit on opposite sides of the court. They were at every game. Even every college game, they were in the stands and gave us the support that we needed.”
Both Jason and Ryan credit their parents for a lot of their success. As noted, they would push them – on and off the court. Of course, they both had toย put in extremely hard work as well in order to achieve their success. Jason and Ryan attended Rider University, a small school in New Jersey, where theyย bothย hadย illustrious college careers. Jason would graduate and become the No. 12 pick of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings.
Since that point, a lot has changed. Both brothers are now playing professionally overseas in China and Germany, respectively.
After eightย years in the NBAย –ย playing forย the Kings, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors – Jason made the leap to theย Chinese Basketball Association this seasonย where he’s now suiting up forย the Shandong Golden Stars. The move takesย him far from home, but as he looks back on the ups and downs of his NBA journey, he’s excited to be in China and is taking full advantage of the opportunity.
“Well, for me, I am very blessed,” Jason told Basketball Insiders. “I got to play at a small school in Rider and developed, growing three-to-fourย inches and gaining 50 pounds in college to become an NBA prospect. I was projected from lottery to mid-to-late firstย round. When you go inย the lottery, you donโt go to a good team. Obviously, I had an amazing seven years with Sacramento, but in that time we had two different ownership [groups] and seven different coaches. I had over 100 teammates. So no coach I had was there for over two seasons. I put up good, solid numbers at times, double-figure seasons in most years I played in Sacramento. Then, I just wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side.
“So I went to Philly and almost immediately, Golden State traded for me. I was in an unfortunate situation with a team coming off a championship where none of the guys were leaving and everyone was coming back. So it was tough getting minutes on a team that just won a championship. Then, I had the opportunity to play in Toronto and experience my first playoffs with a team that was high in the NBA as well. So I went from a team that was not as good, playing a lot of minutes and being a starter my whole career, to higher-ranked teams and not playing as much but just doing what it takes to win. Definitely two different scenarios in that sense of being with an organization for seven years and then being with two teams all in one season. Itโs definitely crazy when it comes to that. With the CBA it’s a different opportunity, but it’s a great one.”
For Ryan, he’sย also in a different situation. He decided to play in Germany for Telekom Baskets Bonn after playing in the NBA’s Development League. He obviously watched his brother experience success in the NBA and dreamedย about playing in the league as well. However, he can appreciate his own path and where his career has taken him over the years.
“The motto that my brother and I haveย is just, ‘Control what you can control,'” Ryan said. “If you go into a game thinking, ‘Iโm going to do this and this, or worrying if coach going to put me in,’ you’ll never be comfortable. Just control what you can control and play the game the way youโve been playing for your entire life. That’s how I’ve approached my career as well.ย As the years have been going on and Iโve been getting older, you just kind of hit the point where whatever happens, happens. Before when I was younger it was hoping, hoping, hoping [I’d be in the NBA]. Now, Iโve been playing overseas in what is my sixth season. This is home now until itโs over. Unless another road opens up for me, this is where I am and where Iโm going to be.”
It’s pretty remarkable that the brothers have followed suchย similar paths. Both were raised under the same roof, played at the same high school and college, and ended up playing professionally. They’re also currently leading their respective teams overseas in player efficiency rating and performing very well. While they’re in two different countries, they keep in close contact because theย time zone difference isn’t too bad.
“With [Jason’s] experience, it wasnโt always the greatest of times because he wasn’t always on the winning side of things,” Ryan said. “You got to push through it, and the same goes with me. We always talk because situations arenโt going to be in your favor at all times, you just have to make the best of every situation that youโre in. The thing thatโs good about us is we talk a lot. We actually talk more now because he’s overseas and the time change isn’t so different. Also, in the summer when the season is over, itโs good to have somebody in your corner thatโs competitive too. In the summer, weโre always working out together and keeping things competitive so weโre ready for whatever is to come next.”
“It’s a great situation,” Jason added aboutย hisย relationship with his brother. “Obviously, with having a brother two years apart and having the same interests in a lot of things, especially basketball, it’s a great relationship. We went to the high school together and we also went to the same college, which is not heard of. Getting to play two years in high school and two years in college together was great because we’d be there for each other. Any time he needed me for advice as a pro, with things on and off the court, I was always there for him throughout the way. Now with me being on the other side of the water right now, Iโve been getting a lot of advice from himย since heโs been over here for the past seven years. Itโs definitely been a learning experience and a change of direction, with him knowing more that goes on over here.”
As they’re both playing overseas in different countries now, they’re also mindful of starting their careers after basketball. Theyย grewย up in a family that takes pride inย working hard,ย havingย strong morals, ensuring financial stability and planning for the future. Ryan and Jason each have plans for whenย they’re done playing because they know their on-court careersย can’t last forever. Jason plans to work in broadcasting, while Ryan wants to coach.
“I always keep in contact with my coaching staff at Rider University,” Ryan told Basketball Insiders. “Thatโs where Jason and I played. Whenever I decide to stop playing overseas or donโt have the opportunity to play overseas anymore, I think coaching is a thing I want to do. I want to stay around the game of basketball and help kids go through the process that I went through – teach them some of the things Iโve learned and watch kids grow up and be able to do some of the things I have.”
Jason, on the other hand,ย wants to have a futureย in broadcasting.
“My degree is in TV and Radio Communications,” Jason said. “So I want to be some type of analyst for sports and, obviously, preferably basketball. But really, any sport would be nice. Starting a show on television, being on the radio, hosting a podcast and doing things like that. I also want to do something on the side of SiriusXM radio, where I talk about relationships and being single. I think that would be intriguing from the athlete’s perspective. Those are all things I want to do media wise. But I also have my Jason Thompson Foundation. Itโs helping out kids to speak their minds on certain things and keep them out of trouble in the urban areas.”
Jason has attended the NBPA’s sportscaster program and hope to continue pursuing that career pathย long-term. His foundation is built in support of his cousin, Tiffany Carroll, who passed away to a disease known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM is known as a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. The foundation was built around raising awareness of heart disease forย athletes, children and young adults. However, Jason also has goals for future endeavors with his foundation.
The Thompson brothers are two basketball players whoย are living out their dreams on a level they’d never thought possible when they were growing up. Their parents provided them with motivation and support, and through hard work and the desireย to learn, they’ve managed to thrive in any situation.
“I want to teach kids that everyone has a dream, and donโt let anyone tell you that you canโt do anything in life,” Jason said. “With hard work, having yourself around the right people and making the right decisions, you can achieve anything you want.”
He also stresses the importance of having a back-up plan just in case, adding:ย “God forbid something happens to me playing wise, I have my education to fall back on.”
The slogan “Live Like J.T.” is on his website as well asย “learn, imagine, voice, educate.” This statement clearly sums up whatย the Thompson brothers have achieved and will continue to work toward. Whileย they aren’t currently in the NBA, they’re enjoying the international game and looking forward to their respective futures.