[The Ringer] Amen Thompson Has Become a Shape Shifting Nightmare

Yes, I've said in the past that some players have flashes of star potential. Amen actually has HOF potential flashes at times.

For example, that clip reminded me of this Olajuwon clip below. To be clear, it's not the same as what Hakeem did, but the fact that it reminds as a second-year player is scary lol.

I do wish they would mention his very high IQ and reads; that's the 'processing' and 'instincts' that gets vaguely discussed occasionally. He's a documented basketball nerd, in addition to a freak athlete. But very happy to watch him grow and our team's development.

 

Thompson is the greatest athlete in the history of basketball. He’s literally something out of myPlayer on NBA 2k. I have never found 2-watching defense so entertaining

 

“Amen affects the players around him like a bong rip. And everyone watching is stoned in the hotbox.”
Lol

 

What annoys me about national media coverage of Amen is the hyperfocus on his athleticism. They miss that his anticipatory ability is unworldly. Ausar has it too. Amen is a "thinking man's" player that is smarter than the average bear.

Borderline extreme effort is also a big part of it.

I'm beginning to think the time he missed with the ankle injury could end up giving him fresher legs in the playoffs.

 

The biggest thing for me is that Amen isn’t scared of the lights. When he hit that game winner against Boston I knew that this dude isn’t scared of anyone.

Those Boston fans were going crazy and Amen tore their heart out. He’s also already top ten in defensive win shares and his killer mentality is something you either have or don’t have.

 

Amen is my favorite player in the NBA right now and will likey stay that way for a long time

 

He's like the nightcrawler from X-Men, he appears outta nowhere to block your shot.

 

His decision making speed is off the charts. Combine that with his physical attributes, also off the charts, and he should be acknowledged as an All-NBA defender, in my opinion. THIS season. It's been earned.

 

The Ringer has good people and bad people.

 

Like I said

The NBA is searching for a new face of the league and Amen Thompson in my opinion is that face.

He's the most fun & exciting athlete to watch today.

 

Maybe next year when he breaks out and becomes a scoring machine along with defense. New face of the NBA will be Wemby and Flagg.

 

Amen did play tennis if I remember correctly. Interesting that Victor was a goalie when he was young. So was Hakeem in Nigeria.

 

Good memory. I vaguely recall this interview question.

 

Wow. Beautifully written. Beautifully sited and backed up. I'm going to start reading more Danny Chau. I am very impressed with this piece. And man, can you believe we lucked out and got this guy? By draft day, I had gotten myself hyped about him, but prior to that I was like so many others here, asking "Do we really want a guy who shoots that poorly?".

Yeah. We do. And if he gets better, amazing! But I don't even care if he does now.

 

Sengun said Amen was so locked in he wasn't smiling and nobody could talk to him. That reminded me so much of Kobe/Jordan killer mentality. When Amen is on the court he is going to do whatever it takes to kill you.

 

how does Ausur match this Terror Twin?

 

"That lateral explosiveness and malleability separate Amen from Ausar, who graded in the 96th percentile in P3’s vertical tests and had the same top-end straight-line speed but did not quite reach Amen’s standard laterally, according to Leidersdorf. That is the difference between athletes in the A tier and the S tier. Ausar demonstrates explosive bursts along the vertical plane that can surpass those of his twin, but Amen possesses an additional range of motion that opens up worlds no one else can access. "

 

Deleted

 

Some of the best comments about him probably came after the game from Draymond and Steph who were praising his defense/athleticism.