Over the last 20 years, many NBA players have come and gone. Some had extended stays with a decade or more in the league, while others retired early due to injuries or to pursue other business ventures. Some weren’t able to handle the daily life of an NBA player and lacked the necessary talent and/or discipline to further their careers.
One player who stood the test of time is the league’s all-time leading scorer and four-time NBA Finals MVP, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. If he takes the court Monday in Houston (James is questionable with a left ankle issue), two Rockets will be quite excited to compete against one of the greatest athletes of all-time.
Rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, drafted in the 2023 first round, have made it clear. They’re true competitors at heart.
At Monday’s gameday shootaround, both Rockets made it clear that they want the challenge of playing against James. It’s an opportunity they missed in three earlier Rockets-Lakers meetings this season, with Thompson sidelined by an ankle injury and Whitmore limited to mop-up duty in the closing minutes of a blowout.
“I’ve been watching him since I was out the womb, to be honest,” said Whitmore, who grew up as more of a fan of former MVP Russell Westbrook than he did of James. “At the end of the day, I’ve been waiting 19 years of my life to be in the league, to play with these stars. He (James) is still at it, playing like he is my age.”
James is coming off a 145-144 overtime victory at Golden State, where he went toe-to-toe with another NBA great in Warriors guard Steph Curry. In the latest example of James’ continuous improvement and ability to defy time, the 39-year-old finished with 36 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists, along with the two winning free throws.
Houston Rockets rookie Amen Thompson grew up a LeBron James fan, but none of that matters when the Rockets take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. #Rockets #Sarge #RocketsWire pic.twitter.com/eR8WN4EhWo
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) January 29, 2024
Those types of memorable performances are what Thompson remembers watching as a child while accompanied by his father, Troy Sr., and twin brother, Ausar (now of the Detroit Pistons). Like Amen, his brother and father are also fans of James. When asked about facing James, like Whitmore, Thompson’s competitive side came out — but all while still showing some respect to the NBA legend.
“I am looking forward to it,” Thompson said Monday. “This is a team I have always wanted to play my whole life, but it is like any other game, but I am looking forward to it for sure.”
“That is a player I looked up to growing up,” Thompson said of potentially facing James. “It is going to be great to play against him. … He is the first player I watched, and I loved his game.”
