Whenever a player’s name is placed in the same sentence as Michael Jordan, it reflexively forces everyone to think twice. It doesn’t matter if you say this player’s playing style is similar to MJ’s, or their numbers are similar over a season or a long stretch of games, or even within a single game a player does. No one has done this since Michael Jordan did it.Such is the weight of the name Michael Jordan that any parishioner of Michael Jordan Church might cry heresy Just mention Houston Rockets rookie Amen Thompson and his performance against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night falls into that category.
Now whether Amen Thompson is a “guard” or a “forward” is up for debate. The 6-foot-7 rookie is listed as a small forward in Basketball-Reference, but he’s such an intriguing prospect on the OT Elite team playing for the City Reapers because of his ability to play any number of spots. position, so to compare with MJ, I think I can just go with the flow.
Over the past 15 games, Amen Thompson’s playing time has increased, and so has his production (10.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.3 blocks). Thompson is just one of two promising prospects the Rockets have acquired in the 2023 NBA Draft. No. 20 pick Cam Whitmore is averaging 12 points per game and has scored in double figures in 16 of the last 20 games, including last night against Portland, where he scored in less than 24 minutes. 13 points and 8 rebounds. action.
To put yourself in the good graces of MJ’s church, here are some tips for the congregation: MJ’s season low of 13 points in his rookie season was a game in which he played only 24 minutes, and that came in Game 8. Michael Jordan scored 27 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks against the Indiana Pacers in his first career game.