Sacramento Kings' Jason Thompson Emerging as a Premier Post Player

Blake Mehigan — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:01:16 -0500

Drafting Jason Thompson garnered mixed reactions from fans and analysts alike. Sacramento selected Thompson 12th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. Thompson came out of Rider University, a small school located in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Since then, many skeptics have been silenced. Thompson has been very productive. In his rookie campaign, he averaged 11 points per game and seven rebounds. This season Thompson is averaging a double-double, pouring in about 15 points per game and 10 rebounds per game.

The former Rider University product has begun to settle in nicely for Sacramento. Thompson is a cornerstone in the team's offense in the post. The man, known as JT, has also posted 20-point, 10-rebound stat lines on several occasions this season.

Thompson has emerged as a heavy hitter in what was thought to be a sparse Kings rotation. With his height and athleticism, JT has established himself as a dangerous and multi-dimensional player.

He can handle the ball in the open court, pass well, shoot from mid-range, and post up. Not to mention he can run the floor as well as any player. Thompson is fleet of foot, compared to most post players in the NBA.

Thompson is still a work in progress. But when he can pull everything together he is a nightmare for the opposition.

Author's Note

In my last article, I had been very critical of Donte Greene. Since then, the Syracuse product has played very well on a few different occasions.

The Kings' prospect put up 10 points in limited action against the Jazz, and 17 against the Warriors. Greene's best game so far came in Tuesday night's loss against the Chicago Bulls.

Greene had a career high 23 points and five rebounds. He led the team in points coming off his first start of the season. Greene has made the most of his opportunities in recent games.

Hopefully this is just a sampling of what is yet to come. Especially for someone as talented as Donte Greene.

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King of the World: Jason Thompson Quietly Having a Breakout Season

Evan Bruschini — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:14:43 -0500

Any resident of central New Jersey has seen this show-and-dance before. In 2007, any visitor to the Bronc's Zoo could see Jason Carlton Thompson taking the big shots and and making the big plays. And now he's moved this program to the National Basketball Association.

Thompson recently had his streak of five double-doubles broken by scoring eight points and grabbing nine rebounds in a loss to the Chicago Bulls. Not coincidentally, the Kings went 4-1 over this streak to improve their overall record to 5-4.

When the Kings' leading scorer, Kevin Martin, went down with a wrist injury, Thompson instantly stepped up. He has become their second leading scorer, behind rookie point guard Tyreke Evans. He is their leading rebounder. He even ranks third in assists.

Even before the Kings took him twelfth overall, Thompson was a star at Rider. He was one of only three players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in the 2007 season. The others were Kevin Durant and Nick Fazekas.

So will Thompson's career resemble the franchise player who makes All-Star teams and scoring titles? Or will he slip into mediocrity, like the forward who now plays for Jeanne d'Arc Dijon Bourgogne in the French Pro A league? Thinks are looking up for Thompson.

"We all just started to pick it up," Thompson said. "We have some good, young players on the team and we all just responded when (Martin) went out."

Thompson currently ranks second in the entire league in offensive rebounding.

He currently has the goal of averaging a double-double. The way things are going, Thompson could be headed for his biggest stage yet: the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.

"My goal is to make the All-Star Game and then eventually win a championship. That's what I'm really striving to do."

He also seems to be fitting in with new coach Paul Westphal's system.

"Coach (Westphal) likes it when I get the rebound and push it...He has confidence in me that I can get the rebound and push it and make plays and find other guys for threes and hit them a couple of times a game," says a confident Thompson.

On the night Thompson set a career high with 27 points in a win against Houston, little brother Ryan's Bronc's pulled off an upset of then No. 18 Mississippi State.

"What a night." Thompson said. "What a great win for Rider. Now they have to keep it going."

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Bleacher Report - Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings' Jason Thompson Emerging as a Premier Post Player

King of the World: Jason Thompson Quietly Having a Breakout Season