Although he stands 6-foot-11 and weighs 250 pounds, Jason Thompson doesn't intimidate with his physical dimensions. He isn't particularly long or muscular. He isn't exceptionally thick or wide. His size-20 sneakers angle outward, suggesting a sluggish, awkward stride.

You don't look at him and automatically say, "Tremendous potential." Then you watch him run, like an oversized sprinter. Then you watch him pass, creatively, unselfishly. Then you watch him explode in quick bursts around the basket, convert turnaround jumpers, lead the break and throw down one-handed monster dunks.

But it's the hands that grab you. Watching Thompson rebound, noting how he anticipates the ball's flight, then firmly but gently gathers the ball to his chest, you know he belongs. And you wonder whether all those NBA experts who questioned his pedigree, who shook their heads at his selection at No. 12, somehow confused Rider with Riyadh.

Not worthy of the lottery? Those scouts need to get out of the sun.

Thompson, who made his regular-season Arco Arena debut Wednesday, is the rookie who thinks and plays like a veteran. As the Kings outlasted the visiting Memphis Grizzlies in a ragged but energetic home opener, the rookie power forward from New Jersey offered a sampling of his gifts.

He dunked. He rebounded. He tossed outlet passes. During an early stretch, when the Kings were attempting to wrest control, he joined John Salmons for a handful of smothering, effective double teams. Later, when the Grizzlies rallied, there he was again, tipping in a rebound and adding the free throw, ensuring the Kings' first victory of the season.

"My goal is to average 10 rebounds per game," Thompson said. "I think I'm capable of that. Right now, I'm just trying to do the little things that get us going. Block a shot. Make a play. Get up and down the court. Deflections. Steals." Pause.

"Everybody says I don't look nervous, but I'm just trying not to show it," he added, smiling. "Tonight I had the chills, but the good chills. It was the home opener. I think I was excited. I made mistakes."

His inexperience was apparent a few times, mostly early. He missed his first field-goal attempt, a spinning drive that he hurried. He hit a wet spot and slipped in the lane. He lost the ball again after rushing another move, earning a scolding from Reggie Theus. But along with Kevin Martin, Bobby Brown, Mikki Moore and especially Salmons, who had a terrific all-around game, he was instrumental.

In that sense, his statistics (11 points, six rebounds and two steals) cheat him terribly. There is no category for intangibles and instincts. For playing basketball the right way, as Larry Brown says over and over and over again. And if Thompson continues performing at this high a level – and he's already the Kings' best defensive frontcourt player – it's only a matter of time before he forces his way into the starting lineup.

"Jason is so fluid," praised Spencer Hawes. "He's one of those guys who is easy to watch. Ever since the summer, we've have a great chemistry. I've known we can do some things. We can go high-low. He can play some (small forward). He can move the ball, too. It's going to be great to see what we can accomplish."

Seriously. Is Rider really be such an outpost? This kid can play. No joke.

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