Latest news with #NBAAll-DefensiveFirstTeam
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
In farewell letter to Houston, Jalen Green predicts great things for Amen Thompson
'I can tell you because I had a front row seat for it — Amen (Thompson) isn't just gonna be great,' former Rockets guard Jalen Green says. 'Amen is gonna be crazy.' As part of his Players Tribune farewell letter to Houston, recently traded guard Jalen Green made it clear that he's a big believer in one of his former Rockets teammates. 'I can tell you because I had a front row seat for it — Amen (Thompson) isn't just gonna be great,' Green wrote. 'Amen is gonna be crazy,' with the final word italicized for emphasis. It's worth noting that as good as Thompson was last season — including NBA All-Defensive First Team honors — it was only his second professional season. He remains just 22 years old. Showcasing elite defense, athleticism, and positional versatility, Thompson averaged 14.1 points (55.7% FG), 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game last season. The 22-year-old became a full-time starter in January and never relinquished the job. At 6-foot-7, Thompson is tall and athletic enough to play in the frontcourt, and he obtained that starting position once power forward Jabari Smith Jr. went down to a multi-week injury in January. Yet, Thompson also has point-guard skills, making him capable of playing and defending anywhere. With Green headed to Phoenix as part of the trade that brought All-Star forward Kevin Durant to Houston, that could put a bit more pressure on Thompson to do more ball-handling and creation in the 2025-26 season. Per Green's own observations, Thompson should be up for the task.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"My career is over if I go there" - Paul George on why he'd never sign with the Hornets despite liking the city
"My career is over if I go there" - Paul George on why he'd never sign with the Hornets despite liking the city originally appeared on Basketball Network. Paul George is tied to the Philadelphia 76ers for the next few years on a contract that has sparked plenty of debate. Still, looking beyond that commitment, he recently gave a hypothetical glimpse into his future plans. On a recent episode of his show, George made clear that joining the Charlotte Hornets is — and will remain — off his radar. Charlotte's culture fails to impress PG-13 George was picked 10th overall out of Fresno State and has now spent 15 years in the league. Over that time, the 6'8" swingman has grown into a superstar and one of the NBA's elite two-way players, loaded with individual honors. He boasts nine All-Star selections, two NBA All-Defensive First Team nods, the 2013 Most Improved Player award, and led the league in steals in 2019. It's safe to say the California native has the clout to choose almost any team — if he were to hit free agency right now. But like every athlete facing a major decision, the choice is rarely simple. PG-13 himself pointed to two key factors that carry real weight: the city and the culture surrounding the team. On both fronts, the Hornets present a tough call — one George said he'd rather stay away from. "Listen, if I'm in free agency, I'm not picking Charlotte just because there's no winning culture there," the 76er emphasized. "Charlotte is an amazing city. Would love to play for it, because of the city — like, I can see myself living there. But in terms of a basketball standpoint, I'm not going. My career is over if I go there." Great city but not popular with vets Paul's comment casually hinted at two separate things: Charlotte as a city, and the Hornets as a franchise. And yes — there's a clear gap between the two. City consistently ranks well as a place to live. slotted it at No. 44 on its 2025 list, factoring in safety, schools, and job prospects. The Hornets, meanwhile, sit near the bottom of any hypothetical list of destinations for top-tier talent. In fact, a recent anonymous player poll by The Athletic ranked Charlotte dead last among all NBA franchises. While we can only guess how PG-13 voted, his comment reflected what most players already believe. After all, the team's track record — or lack thereof — speaks for itself. Since joining the league in 1988, the Hornets — once owned by the legendary Michael Jordan — have made the playoffs only ten times and never advanced past the second round. Over the last two seasons, they posted dismal 21-61 and 19-63 records. Ultimately, the numbers don't lie — and neither did George, who likely didn't intend to bash the Hornets but simply stated the facts. There's more than one way to respond to such realities. A smart approach is to use them as motivation to improve. Maybe that's the mindset LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and the rest of the Hornets will bring when the regular season tips off on October story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
