P.J. Thompson averaged 16.9 points and 4.9 assists this season for Team FOG Naestved in Denmark.

Thompson's career assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.94 is the best in Purdue history.

Thompson's brother, Isaiah, will be an incoming Purdue basketball freshman in the coming season.

WEST LAFAYETTE – When Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter first called P.J. Thompson about taking one of two vacant graduate assistant positions, the former Boilermaker point guard graciously declined.

The first season of Thompson's professional basketball career could not have gone much better. He averaged 16.9 points and a team-high 4.9 assists for Team FOG Naestved in the first division of the Danish Basketligaen. He shot 42.2% from 3-point range and helped Team FOG advance to the semifinals of the Danish Cup.

Thompson put himself in position to move to a more prestigious league elsewhere overseas and continue to make a good living playing.

Then came the second call. Thompson, who always envisioned a career in coaching, began to shift his perspective.

He recently called Painter back and told him he would join former teammate Grady Eifert as a graduate assistant beginning next season.

"My agent was really shocked," Thompson said. "He tried to convince me to keep playing because he thought I could do really well overseas for a long time. But I just thought it was best for my future."

GRADY EIFERT:Starting forward remaining with Purdue basketball as graduate assistant

Thompson will take a pay cut. He proved himself in the Danish league and said he had already received several inquiries — likely more lucrative financial ones — from teams in more prestigious leagues.

Ultimately, however, Thompson saw an opportunity to speed up his true long-term plan. One of the Boilermakers' first GAs, D.J. Byrd, joined former Purdue assistant Greg Gary's staff at Mercer as director of basketball operations. The other, Joey Brooks, is also pursuing coaching opportunities.

"If I play until I'm 30 years old overseas, I'm not going to be a 30-year-old GA," Thompson said. "Not many coaches are going to hire somebody with no previous coaching experience right onto their staff.

"Instead of finding my way at 30-35 years old, I would rather find my way at 23 under a staff that wanted me. They wanted me really bad, or they wouldn't have called back."

Thompson had some calls to make, too. He leaned on his family, who he missed considerably while spending most of the past eight months overseas.

After deciding to take the gig, Thompson's last call went to incoming Purdue freshman Isaiah Thompson. He wanted to make sure his presence would not be a problem for his younger brother.

"I didn't want to hinder our relationship by joining the staff," Thompson said. "At the end of the day all of the positives outweighed the negatives.

"Me personally, I know the grind of college, how tough it is physically and mentally. I'll be there for the first two years, which will probably be the hardest of his life as far as college basketball goes."

Thompson was a four-year contributor and three-year starter who helped Purdue win an outright Big Ten championship in 2017 and advance to four NCAA tournaments. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.94 remains the program's all-time record, despite a challenge from outgoing senior Ryan Cline — Thompson's longtime friend.

Thompson, however, does not return to Purdue as the same player who left. He believes a year abroad will make him a better GA immediately and a better coach in the long run.

"The pro game is different," Thompson said. "It's faster. I learned different reads and actions being overseas. I can take some of that to the collegiate level as well. It made me become better with the mental game of basketball.

"I have so much to learn. I learned a lot this past year. I can't wait to learn a lot over the next two as well."

Contact Journal & Courier Purdue men's basketball insider Nathan Baird at nbaird@jconline.com or 765-420-5234. Follow on Twitter: @nbairdjc