Veteran center brings his global experience to Podgorica
Buducnost brings aboard rebounding force James Thompson
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Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has added a major presence in the paint with the signing of American big man James Thompson, the club announced on Thursday.
Thompson (2.08 meters, 30 years old) arrives in Podgorica after finishing the season with Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico, and brings a reputation as a highly competitive rebounder. He posted 9.2 points on 63.4% shooting and 7.2 boards in 17 games in Puerto Rico. Thompson began the 2024-25 campaign in China with the Jiangsu Dragons, where he averaged 15.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which is where fellow Buducnost newcomer Skylar Mays grew up, Thompson played four seasons of college basketball at Eastern Michigan University. He finished his career as Eastern Michigan's all-time leading rebounder with 1,452 and was ranked third in career bocks and sixth in scoring.
Thompson began his professional career in the Italian second division with Montegranaro before stops in Germany (Telekom Bonn), Israel (Hapoel Haifa), Russia (Enisey and Samara), France (Cholet), China and Puerto Rico. Known for his rebounding instincts, defensive toughness, and high-efficiency scoring near the rim, Thompson gives the Buducnost frontcourt a force to rely on as it readies for a BKT EuroCup run.