The Barcelona Basketball Player Who Pioneered The Slam Dunk In Spain Is Still Alive

Barcelona basketball team home (Photo: Wikipedia)

JAKARTA - Former Barcelona basketball player Charles Thomas appears after being presumed dead for 40 years. Thomas was in Barca's uniform for five years from 1970 to 1975.

After retiring, Thomas fell under the influence of illegal drugs and separated from his wife. The story goes that he died tragically.

However, former teammate Norman Carmicheal reveals that he is still alive and has spoken to him via video call. Thomas, now 74 years old, lives in a nursing home in Amarillo, Texas.

Carmicheal said she was shocked when she received the call and a woman told her Charles Thomas wanted to speak to her. At that time, he thought it was a crazy joke, but he accepted the call.

"I was speechless when I saw his face on the phone", said Carmicheal quoted by MARCA, Monday, March 22.

"I recognized him by the smile and the way he spoke. He spoke calmly and didn't try to convince me who he was, he just wanted to talk to me".

Thomas was one of the first American basketball players to represent Barcelona and impressed. He became one of the pioneers of a Slam dunk in Spain.

There is a story that in one training session Barcelona posted a 1,000 peseta note aloft on the backboard of the ring. And Thomas got it.

Charles Thomas wearing jersey number 13 (Photo: MARCA)

Another legendary story is that Barcelona chose to sign Thomas before Lew Alcindor - later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - because he asked for half of his salary.

Thomas arrives at Barcelona after impressing during his two seasons at Sant Josep. After five seasons with Las Blaugrana, he played briefly with Manresa before returning to the United States.