"I love bringing people together. At the end of the day, I want to be known as more than just a basketball player, and I want to leave a lasting impact on the people I come into contact with."
–Deon Thompson
Deon Thompson is a seasoned professional basketball player whose career has taken him across the globe. From his roots in Southern California to playing in leagues worldwide, Deon embodies the spirit of our mantra: "Run faster. Jump higher. Fly free." In this Q&A, Deon shares insights into his life, style, and the legacy he's building both on and off the court.
Q: Our personal mantra is: "Run faster. Jump higher. Fly free." Which one of those relates to you the most, and why?
Deon Thompson: Fly Free resonates with me the most because I try to live life freely. As a professional basketball player playing overseas, I have to be flexible, free, and adaptable. Life changes from season to season, moving to a new country almost every year and flying free has become a way of life for me.
Q: Tell us and our Flyers about YOU, who you are, and how you're changing the game in your niche/world/domain—or how you want to in the future.
Deon Thompson: I was born and raised in Southern California, a place that I hold dear to my heart. I grew up with a close group of friends, who I'm still close with today. My family and friends mean a lot to me. Basketball is a big part of my life, as I've been playing professionally for fifteen years!
With basketball being such a big part of my life, it's easy to assume that I am only a basketball player, but I'm more than that. I'm a husband to my beautiful wife, whom I met at the University of North Carolina. I'm a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in Sociology. I'm an entrepreneur and investor in startups. I love bringing people together. At the end of the day, I want to be known as more than just a basketball player, and I want to leave a lasting impact on the people I come into contact with.
Q: Where do you live?
Deon Thompson: Currently, Durham, North Carolina, is my home base, but I live internationally for 10 months of the year. My basketball season is from August to June. Last season, I played and lived in Nagano, Japan. I've spent the last 14 years living internationally.
Q: How would you define your personal style?
Deon Thompson: My personal style is more West Coast. I grew up in Torrance, California, and was influenced by skateboarding. I like to be comfortable but also make a nice statement.
Q: What is your favorite P.F. Flyers sneaker (style/color)?
Deon Thompson: My favorite P.F. Flyers are The 1993 Center Hi Top in all black with the green P.F. Flyers logo! One of my all-time favorite movies is The Sandlot. Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez made me love that shoe. It was cool how in the movie, he got a brand new pair of The 1993 P.F. Flyers. He wore those shoes when he retrieved the signed Babe Ruth baseball from the backyard of The Beast! Benny was chased all around the neighborhood by the dog, and the only reason he got away was because of his brand-new P.F. Flyers!
Q: What's one thing people don't know about you?
Deon Thompson: I didn't play basketball until my sophomore year in high school, and I played two years of volleyball.
Q: What's your current music obsession?
Deon Thompson: I love hip-hop and rap, but recently, I've been getting into dance music such as Peggy Gou, Mr. Belt & Wezol, Black Coffee & Gala.
Q: Dream job if money didn't matter?
Deon Thompson: This might sound cliché, but I am doing it. Playing basketball for a living is something I would do even if I weren't getting paid. I love playing basketball.
Q: High-tops or low-tops?
Deon Thompson: That's a tough one depending on the style and look I'm going for, but I will say low-tops.
Q: Vintage cream or vintage black?
Deon Thompson: Vintage black.
Q: What's it like being the tallest person in the room?
Deon Thompson: It's kinda cool. It's an icebreaker, and people tend to want to talk to you to figure out how tall I am or what I do. I usually follow that question up with, "How tall are you?"
Q: Something you learned way later than you should have?
Deon Thompson: That it's okay to say no to people and put yourself first. Prioritize your own needs, mental stability, emotions, and well-being—and don't feel guilty for doing that.
Q: What is the biggest fashion risk you've taken?
Deon Thompson: I think it would be wearing white pants. I know it doesn't sound too crazy, but I tend to spill stuff on me all the time.
Q: What has it been like traveling worldwide to play basketball?
Deon Thompson: It's been a blessing to embrace different cultures and meet people from all around the world while doing something I truly love. Off the court, it can be challenging due to constant travel, time zone changes, and being away from family and friends, but the sense of adventure, the growth from new experiences, and the camaraderie with teammates make it a cool and rewarding journey.
Q: How old were you when you started playing basketball?
Deon Thompson: I didn't start taking the game seriously until I was about 15; I was a late bloomer. I did play as a little kid, but I didn't like it so much because there was so much running.
Q: What is your biggest dream for the sports world?
Deon Thompson: As a member of the Ivory Coast national team, it would be a dream to be one of the 12 teams to play in the Olympic Games.
Q: You recently did a shoot with our team wearing The All-American Cousy Flyers. Tell us about what you know about Bob Cousy and how he inspires you today or how he made an impact on the game (of basketball).
Deon Thompson: Bob Cousy is an icon! He was a wizard with the basketball—actually, he was the "The Houdini of the Hardwood!" Bob led the Boston Celtics to multiple NBA Championships in the '50s and '60s while leading the NBA in assists for multiple years. When I think of Bob's impact on the game, I think of how he changed the point guard position from his ball handling and passing to getting out and passing the fast break and being a true leader on the court. He was everything you wanted from your point guard position. I think Bob was one of the NBA's first superstars, popularizing the game of basketball during that time with his style of play.
Q: For the latest photo shoot, you and Marcus Ginyard teamed up to create content for P.F. Flyers. Tell us about how you know Marcus and one memorable moment you shared.
Deon Thompson: M.G. and I have created a lot of cool memories over the past 20 years of friendship: spending time together in Europe while we were both playing professionally, him being one of my groomsmen in my wedding, and winning the 2009 NCAA Championship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll. One of my favorite memories is meeting Marcus on my official visit to UNC. I was 17 and in high school, and Marcus was a freshman at UNC. Marcus was my host, and from day one, we hit it off. Marcus welcomed me with open arms and treated me like a true brother. The feeling he gave me is one of the reasons I ended up committing to North Carolina. Our friendship started then and has continued until today.
Q: Where can our Flyers follow you?
Deon Thompson: My fellow Flyers can follow me on:
- Instagram: DeThompson9
- X: DeThompson9
- Threads: DeThompson9
- Facebook Fan Page: Deon Thompson
Deon Thompson embodies the spirit of "Fly Free" in his career and his life. His journey inspires athletes and fans alike and reminds us all that with adaptability, passion, and a strong sense of self, anything is possible.
Join us as we continue to lace up with more basketball legends, sharing their stories on our blog and across our social channels. Stay connected for exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes moments with the greats of the game.
