When the Kings gathered for a team dinner last Sunday, coach Reggie Theus brought up Jason Thompson as one of many topics of discussion.
The rookie out of small-time Rider, surrounded by his new teammates at the Le Rivage hotel on the Sacramento River, listened intently as expectations were established in no uncertain terms.
"Reggie told him, 'If you work hard, I'll give you the minutes,' " veteran forward Mikki Moore recalled. "But don't think you're going to walk in and just get (them)."
Much to the liking of Theus and Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, Thompson had taken the advice long before it was given.
When the 6-foot-10 forward was drafted 12th overall June 26, the media skepticism that followed wasn't lost on the 22-year-old from New Jersey. He knew his story had merely reached a new chapter, with the goal of making the NBA already met and the challenge of proving he was worthy of such a high pick still to come.
So he found ways to get ahead of the pro game before officially beginning, working out in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York following the Las Vegas summer league in July in an attempt to play against as many NBA players as possible. He said he resisted the urge to head for a four-star vacation when his first paycheck arrived. And while the coaching staff implored players to come to Sacramento two weeks before training camp and even offered enticements, Thompson arrived three weeks before.
"I wanted to come here and be settled off the court, to meet some of the guys and try to work on certain things with the coaches that they want me to do and see what they expect of me," Thompson said. "I didn't want to be confused."
The trend continued last week, as Thompson regularly arrived early and stayed late. He even asked for extra homework one day, requesting written versions of the plays Theus had implemented in that day's practice. Clearly, Theus said, Thompson is willing to work.
"He's out here shooting right now," Theus said following Friday's practice. "Those are the things that are going to ultimately make him a great basketball player – how much work he'll put in outside of practice."
Which isn't to say he's ready for a major role. Theus said Moore will retain his starting job for the foreseeable future. But should Thompson improve quickly and, more specifically, make enormous strides on defense, his skill set is tailor-made for the style Theus hopes to develop.
Thompson's rebounding prowess (second in the nation last season at 10.7 per game) and how it translates to the pros will remain a mystery until he produces at this level. The knack for pursuing the ball and top-notch hands, though, will be welcome. The Kings were next to last in the NBA in rebounds per game (40.1) last season.
Yet Thompson's ability to run the floor – and even bring the ball up himself – is what could vault him into the rotation sooner rather than later. Theus, who so often relied on the since-departed Ron Artest to score in halfcourt sets, plans to use an up-tempo style to utilize his roster's athleticism and help overcome its diminished star power. And Thompson, who ran cross country at Lenape High School in Medford, N.J., will have no problem keeping up.
Asked about a rumored comparison of Thompson to Utah legend Karl Malone in terms of his ability to run well for a big man, Theus said Thompson truly could be that good.
"He has the ability to be as good as anybody I've seen in that position running the floor," Theus said. "(Malone)was just so smart about the way he played. He had the ultimate giver in (John) Stockton, so he had a lot of reasons to run the floor. That's what we're trying to do."
The competition for frontcourt minutes will be crowded, especially with Shelden Williams' significant development and Theus' acknowledgment that Kenny Thomas could be reinserted into the mix this season. The advantage, Theus said, is that Williams, Moore and Thompson each can play more than one position.
"With Jason, there is the potential we could play him some at (small forward)," Theus said.
Thompson, of course, will take the playing time any way it comes.
"(Playing small forward) opens up more minutes for me," Thompson said. "I've got a lot to learn, with all the plays at three different positions (including center), offensively and defensively. It may look easy on paper or on TV, but it's not when you're on the court."
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