Jason Thompson is the Sacramento Kings’ all-time leader in games played, and he currently builds his record from the bench.
It’s a less than ideal reality for the 12th pick in the 2008 draft. Thompson has played as a reserve for long stretches before, but the constant role changes throughout his career have never made it any easier.
“Not at all,” Thompson told Cowbell Kingdom when asked if the transition was smooth. “Playing behind Cuz (DeMarcus Cousins) is a tough thing. I haven’t really gotten used to it. But you only can control what you can control.”
Despite signing Thompson to a five-year, $30 million extension in 2012, the Kings have continually tried to replace him as the starting power forward. The 28-year-old with 400 NBA starts has won and lost preseason position battles, yet he’s always come out on top by the end of the schedule. Not likely this time.
Thompson was the opening day starter at four this year, but when George Karl joined the Kings during the All-Star break, the coach saw the big man as a better fit off the bench, particularly paired with Andre Miller.
“I think that with Andre Miller being there, he thinks I’ll get more opportunities on the offensive end, because most of our guys in the first unit shoot the ball a lot,” Thompson noted. “But it’s just been tough. I was playing the four then, now I’m playing the five so it’s been tough. I know coach Karl likes to do the small lineups and spread the floor more.”
As a starter for 58 games this season, Thompson averaged a career-low 5.2 field goal attempts in 25.6 minutes. The veteran has logged six minutes less per game in 17 appearances as a reserve (13 with Karl), but he’s upped his points average to 6.4 from 5.7 and shooting percentage from 44.9 to 55.1. Thompson acknowledges Miller’s efforts to feed him the rock.
“(Miller is) definitely a guy that you get used to playing with,” Thompson explained. “There’s been games where if I had high points, he was mostly the guy that contributed the ball. So a guy you can definitely get along with on the court offensively and defensively.”
Even with the 39-year-old point guard’s help, the uncertainty of a bench role has nipped at Thompson. He admits it can get antsy for reserves when the clock runs and the coach hasn’t called your name.
“It took some getting used to because the first game coach (Karl) was here, I came off the bench, and then I started in the second half,” Thompson reflected of his temporary promotion versus the Boston Celtics. “It’s been one of those types of years…with three different coaches. Last game (Friday versus New Orleans), I didn’t play the whole first quarter, so it’s something I’m not really used to but something you just got to go with the flow with and see how it goes.”
If anything, Thompson can find the positives in any situation. Along with more touches, the 6-foot-11, 250-pounder enjoys going at less athletic backup centers and patrolling the paint on the defensive end.
“When you’re playing a reserve role, you don’t have to worry about fouls as much too and trying to find ways to stay in the game,” Thompson stated.
As a backup, Thompson tied a season-high with seven offensive rebounds last week, and scored 18 points on 7-for-7 shooting two weeks prior. If he must remain in the second unit, then no one will question his effort.
“Just trying to be productive in the amount of minutes that I’m playing, and just make the best of it,” he added.
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