Author: Monojit Mandal
Amen Thompson, an emerging star from Overtime Elite (OTE), has won the attention and adoration of an Eastern Conference executive ahead of the long-awaited 2023 NBA draft. The CEO drew comparisons between Thompson and basketball icon LeBron James during his early career in an interview with The Athletic’s David Aldridge, highlighting the similarities in their playing styles and potential.
In a conversation with Aldridge, the executive revealed that Thompson had similar attributes to LeBron James at the start of his career in the league. “It sounds crazy, but (Amen) has a bit of LeBron in him at that time,” they observed. “He’s got the physique of a big man. Although it’s not that big, it’s incredible. Remember LeBron in high school? He couldn’t shoot, he was very athletic and he was also a great facilitator. Both have the potential to be very good.”
Given James’ legendary fame, comparisons between a rookie and LeBron James are undoubtedly viewed with skepticism. It’s worth noting, however, that James was far from the polished player he became when he made the transition from high school to the NBA. According to Basketball Reference, James struggled with his shooting in his first season, hitting just 29% from beyond the arc and less than 40% from mid-range. Despite this, he had excellent vision and playmaking ability, averaging 5.9 assists per game, and relied mainly on his athletic ability to score goals.
Thompson’s shot creation and finishing inside were identified as positive points by renowned basketball expert Jonathan Wasserman in a May article for Bleacher Report. He emphasized the rookie’s ability to excel with the ball, in transition and at the point of attack. Thompson was ranked by Wasserman as the second-best primary ball-handler in the 2023 recruiting class.
Thompson, a standout player at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was a five-star recruit according to ESPN and was instrumental in his team winning the state championship. Thompson resigned his senior year and joined Overtime Elite, where he spent two seasons, helping his team win the league championship and receiving first-team All-OTE honors in 2023.
Thompson, who stands at 6’7″, is a talented playmaker known for his quickness, passing ability and defensive versatility. With the 2023 NBA draft approaching, he is expected to be a late first-round pick, ready to make an impact on the professional scene.
Thompson’s strengths include his explosive agility, which allows him to attack the rim readily, and his impressive defensive talent, which allows him to guard several positions efficiently. His excellent passing skills and court vision are valuable weapons, as evidenced by his average of 5.9 assists per game in OTE. Thompson’s defensive flexibility, especially his relative prowess as a rebounder and shot blocker for his stature, further strengthens his overall influence.
Thompson, on the other hand, has several shortcomings. The consistency of his shots is still a problem, with irregular performances and the need to improve his shooting from beyond the arc, where he shot 31.7% during his time at OTE. In addition, as a young and inexperienced player, Thompson needs to continue to improve his game and adapt to the demands of higher-level competition.