Rockets' Amen Thompson is earning praise in elite NBA circles

The Houston Rockets have rostered no shortage of special players over the years.

We've seen players with endless different athletic traits don Rockets red (or depending on your age, pinstriped navy blue). Who could forget Hakeem Olajuwon's mobility, Steve Francis' vertical leap, or Yao Ming's immense size?

Still, Amen Thompson is different. We're talking about one of the most singular athletes in NBA history. Thompson's combination of speed, size, twitch, burst...

Honestly, there's no point in listing all of his outlier athletic qualities. You'll be reading this article all day. Name a cliched phrase used to describe athletes, and it will fit Thompson. hat

His teammates are starting to take notice.

Rockets' Steven Adams gives Thompson a special nod

Steven Adams is a unique athlete in his own right. He's one of the strongest men to ever play in the NBA. Over the years, he's used that strength to create space for downhills guards to leverage

So when he says Thompson is the most athletic player he's ever shared the floor with, everyone should listen.

Adams was teammates with Ja Morant for years. If somehow you're reading this piece, and not a fan of the NBA - he's athletic.

That's not to suggest Adams is being hyperbolic. He's an authority on this subject. More broadly, Thompson's size and strength give him a justifiable nod over Morant in overall athletic ability.

He surely appreciates the praise from his teammate. That said, he may be a bit more excited about some other dues he recently received.

Thompson gets props from an all-time great

Granted, James wasn't strictly praising Amen. He was also referring to his identical twin Ausar. That's fine. The Thompsons don't strictly share a striking resemblance - they're similar athletes as well.

It is worth noting that these comments came on the heels of the Rockets' recent win over the Lakers. James may have praised both twins, but it feels likely that the comments were inspired by competing with the one who plays in the Western Conference.

Praise from James ought to count for plenty. He's a viable model for success for Thompson. James entered the NBA as a unique athlete with impeccable floor vision and a shaky jump shot.

Is that a fair comparison? Well, no - it's not fair to compare anyone to LeBron James. In particular, Thompson is further behind in his shooting than James ever was.

Here's the rub: a poor man's James is an All-NBA player. Thompson ought to at least watch some James tape - though in all likelihood, he already has. As the GOAT candidate himself noted, Thompson loves the game.

How fortunate that he was blessed with so many tools to play it with.