The referees are on his case. His spin moves aren't fooling his defenders. His jumper is off. His minutes are reduced. Mostly, his minutes are reduced.

But here's my theory about Jason Thompson.

In a former life, he must have been related to Spencer Hawes. Despite the fact they look nothing alike, it's hard to tell them apart. They never stop chirping. They never stop working. They never stop playing. They never stop believing they belong on the court for 48 minutes, even when the box score and their coach and their inexperience suggest otherwise. And they absolutely delight in shutting up NBA draft experts who argue that the Kings overvalued their talents.

Hawes, we now know, was a steal two summers ago. Thompson, we aren't sure about yet, except that we can surely say he can play. Predicting the future of NBA lottery picks is like playing the stock market. Two years from now. Three years from now. Who knows? He certainly doesn't see himself as a surprise selection last June at No. 12. He sees Charles Barkley. He sees Chris Webber. He sees stars.

"People send me stuff all the time, the rookie rankings, how I'm doing," said the 6-foot-11 power forward, one of few Kings deserving of any playing time in Saturday night's abomination against the Denver Nuggets. "I try not to look at it, but I would be lying if I said I didn't see it. I'm just going through a little … thing right now where I have to make some adjustments." Ah, yes. The mini-funk. The foul trouble, the missed layups, the defensive lapses.

The first blip in a career that has started so encouragingly that Kings officials envision a future frontcourt anchored by Thompson and featuring Hawes. Or anchored by Hawes and featuring Thompson. At the moment, though, the former Rider standout is begging for playing time.

The bosses want him out there playing with all the other kids. The coach wants him on the court, too, provided he can place him in the lineup without alienating his veterans. Who bends first? Given Reggie Theus' increasingly shaky status, you have to go with the bosses. The issue becomes moot, of course, if Thompson avoids the foul trouble, regains his offensive rhythm and retains his energy level, leaving Theus no alternative but to keep Thompson on the floor.

Saturday should have been one of those nights. The Kings were lethargic from the opening tip until it didn't matter anymore. The defense was nonexistent. The offense was one-pass, one-shot, and one more miss. Yet at least Hawes and Thompson, when he finally entered the game with 6:40 left in the opening quarter, pretended to care.

Thompson, who established a Sacramento rookie record with 10 offensive rebounds and led the Kings with 15 overall, even avoided the silly fouls that got him in trouble in the first place.

"I got away with stuff in the beginning of the season, with my hands, when I bump people when I rebound," Thompson acknowledged. "I still have that rookie tag. I have to be a little more careful, can't bang into guys like the vets can. I'm not there yet."

No, but you have to love the attitude. Thompson responds to his circumstances like a scientist searching for a cure. At the practice facility, he analyzes tapes and scouting reports, examines his footwork and reflects upon what worked well earlier in the season. He asks questions. He listens.

"I just have to play through it, read the defenses more," he said, nodding. "The league is so good. It can surprise you. Shaq (O'Neal), how strong he is. Amare (Stoudemire), how quick he is off his feet. Tim Duncan. Tim doesn't do things fast at all, but off the dribble he's quick to the basket."

He smiles, shakes his head.

He thinks he can play with these guys.

"I just have to do a little more, and I will," he said.

Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208.