Indiana's Race Thompson to Play For Knicks' Las Vegas Summer League Team

The New York Knicks have signed former Indiana forward Race Thompson to its Las Vegas Summer League team, according to a release from Indiana and multiple reports. The league runs from July 7-17.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Former Indiana forward Race Thompson will start his professional career next month as part of the New York Knicks. He's been added to their Las Vegas Summer League roster, and will have a chance to play at least five games with them next mont.

The summer league runs from July 7 to July 17. 

Thompson spent six years at Indiana and started 91 of 130 games. He was a two-time captain, and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree in 2022. The 6-foot-8 Plymouth, Minn. native finished with 997 career points for the Hoosiers.

Former Indiana teammates Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino will also be playing in the summer league. Hood-Schifino was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jackson-Davis was picked in the second round after a trade. He's part of the Golden State Warriors' roster.

Former Hoosier Armaan Franklin, who played his last two years at Virginia, will play for the Denver Nuggets' summer league teams.

Here's the complete release from the school:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Former Indiana men’s basketball forward Race Thompson has signed a deal with the New York Knicks for the NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023 in Las Vegas.

Thompson, a six-year player for the Hoosiers, averaged 7.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game across 130 appearances for the Cream and Crimson. He started 91 of his final 92 contests. He shot 51.1% (340-of-744) from the floor and 64.6% (204-of-316) from the free throw line in his career.

The two-time Indiana basketball team captain was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the league’s voting media members following a breakout 2021-22 season. Thompson averaged career highs in points (11.1), rebounds (7.5), assists (1.4), and steals (1.1) under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Woodson. He also made a career-best 15 3-pointers while leading the Hoosiers to the first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Thompson was one of 64 college basketball seniors invited to the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament, an event that has showcased players abilities in front of professional scouts since 1953, earlier this offseason.

NBA Summer League action will begin on July 7 in Las Vegas. Each team will play in four games prior to the start of the tournament on July 15. The Summer League champion will be crowned on July 17.

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