JT1

Jason Thompson might not be putting up the same numbers that we’re seeing out of Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo, but he is my favorite member of the ‘08 rookie class. I’ve had the chance to watch him over Sacramento’s last two games and here’s what I came away with:

* He’s the most efficient rook. Over the last two games, he’s gone 13-19 from the floor - which isn’t even an aberration from his usual numbers. He’s shooting 54% from the field on the season. Though he’s listed as a four, when he’s on the floor at the same time as both Spencer Hawes and Brad Miller he slides over to the three. Depending what you consider Boris Diaw, that makes Thompson either the most accurate or the second most accurate three in the League.

* One day, he could run the floor as well as Lamar Odom. Last night he got a first-hand taste of one of the League’s most versatile players. Odom pinned a shot on the backboard and then sprinted the length of the court, catching a pass from Derek Fisher for a scoop lay-up ahead of almost every King. Like Odom, Thompson has that extra gear.

* He’s got a great motor. At the beginning of the season, Thompson was making the most of the 20-25 minutes that Reggie Theus gave him. And since Theus decided to let him run for 30-35, Thompson has continued to increase his production. In games that he’s seen 25 minutes or less, he’s posted 9.8 points and 5.5 boards. In games that he’s seen more tick than that, he’s up over 14 points and 8 boards.

* He’s got the ability to fill up the stat sheet. Though he’s not yet a great shot blocker, he does have active hands - he notches a couple of steals almost every night. In that way, he’s built more in the Andrei Kirilenko mold than Odom’s.