Amen Thompson spoke about how he and Cam Whitmore were taught lessons by Demar DeRozan despite the warnings.
Amen Thompson quickly created his name as one of the brightest prospects in the NBA thanks to his exciting play.
The Houston Rockets security guards have shined in their first two seasons in the NBA, particularly on the court’s defensive side.
As the Houston Rockets take the next step towards becoming a competitor, many believe Thompson is the candidate to acquire the most improved player next season.
Jeff Teague compared Thompson to Kawi Leonard from a defensive standpoint. However, his talent did not stop Demar Derozan from teaching him an offensive lesson.
Amen Thompson was recently a guest on three podcasts with a young man along with his older brother Ausar Thompson. On the podcast, he talked about his matchup with Demar DeRozan.
The Rockets coaching staff and Fred Van Vleet warned Thompson and Cam Whitmore about how dangerous Derozan is, but they were not paying attention. Later in the game, Derozan lets them pay.
“It was coach and Fred (Van Vriet), they told me… Fred played with Derozan. They told me not to jump on his pump fake.
“I know I’m going to be a good defender, so I’m going to jump on this pump fake, and I’m definitely not going to jump on this pump fake because you told me.
Literally, he went to me and Cam (Whitmore), pump fake on his first play, Cam jumped. That’s the $100 he had to give to Fred.
“The first play with him, pump fake, I jumped, that’s the $100 I owe Fred. So it was like my welcome to the league moment.
“DeRozan scored in just one different place. He doesn’t need a lot of space. He’s going to hit midrange. He’s not that.”
Demar Derozan is often underrated by fans and analysts due to the lack of key NBA performance.
Derozan was unable to win the NBA Championship despite being a multiple-time All-Star and an All-NBA player.
But don’t get it wrong, DeRozan is an absolutely deadly scorer, especially from the midrange. DeRozan is the defender of midrange shots.
Derozan’s influence on the game is massive, but it will take a long time for fans and critics to give him the credibility he deserves.