NEW YORK - CIRCA 1978: David Thompson #33 of the Denver Nuggets shoots against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1978 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Thompson played for the Nuggets from 1975-82. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Former Denver Nuggets star David Thompson was ahead of his time.
The Athletic has ranked every first overall pick in NBA history and former Denver Nuggets swingman David Thompson, the high-flying North Carolina native who spent his first seven seasons in Denver, managed to land at #25.