HOUSTON — In case you go to a neighborhood park with a basketball court docket, you will doubtless discover youngsters enjoying “21.” The target is for one particular person to be the primary to attain 21 factors earlier than everybody else.
This requires at the least three or extra gamers and causes intense battles as soon as a participant reaches 19 factors. Any shot made has the potential to win the sport, so it’s crucial that the person positions themselves to seize any rebound from a missed shot.
For Houston Rockets For guard/ahead Amen Thompson, these “21” battles along with his brothers and associates are an expertise he attracts on for his second NBA season, as he rapidly turns into the most effective rebounders within the recreation.
“That’s how we grew up enjoying basketball within the Bay Space,” Amen’s older brother, Troy Thompson Jr., advised Rocket Wire. “We performed 21, or 21 boards. Somebody can have 19 factors, and in the event that they miss a shot and somebody rebounds and makes it go in, that particular person goes all the way down to zero. So he performed this recreation till he was about 12 years previous, which taught him monitor the ball within the air.
Thompson, 21, showcased his intangibles and elite athleticism on the court docket in serving to his Rockets defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday109-108.
The No. 4 total choice within the 2023 NBA Draft completed with a career-high 16 factors to go along with 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. He has recorded a double-double in seven of his final 12 video games, and in 13 video games as a starter this season, Thompson is averaging 16.8 factors and 10.8 rebounds.
“He’s been nice,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka stated of Thompson’s means to seek out missed pictures. “Particularly guarding lots of perimeter guys now. I believe the primary few video games the place we moved him to a extra ball-oriented protection and put Dillon (Brooks) on the bigs (facilities), it must be a acutely aware effort for him to get again and rebound.
Though Thompson makes rebounding look simple when he is on the court docket, he is needed to look again to his teenage years enjoying as a 21-year-old and draw on these experiences. As a pure level guard, a place he held for many of his basketball life, efficient rebounding was not usually a part of his job description. Nonetheless, his consciousness and instincts relating to his teammates’ talents have helped Thompson grow to be the hybrid participant he’s, able to enjoying completely different positions and roles.
“I actually didn’t begin doing that till I obtained to the league, to be sincere,” Thompson advised Rockets Wire of his rebounding means. “I all the time had the ball, so I wasn’t falling on a regular basis. (Assistant coach) Ben (Sullivan) was instructing me and Jabari (Smith Jr.) these drills to work on falls. It pays off.
When requested if he had a private rebound objective to realize this season, the dynamic 21-year-old flashed an enormous smile because the quantity instantly got here to thoughts.
“I would like 20 (in a recreation),” Thompson responded. “I’m nearly there. I’ve to perform a little extra.
Extra: ‘Sky is the restrict’: NBA veteran Jeff Inexperienced on the way forward for Houston’s Amen Thompson
This text was initially printed on Rockets Wire: Drafted as level guard, Amen Thompson turns into elite rebounder
