Nor Cal Basketball

PHILADELPHIA – They cheered the first rebound and the first shot, but that was to be expected.

But when Kings rookie forward Jason Thompson fouled Philadelphia's Reggie Evans with 31 seconds left in the first quarter, the members of his fan club showed the depths of their dedication. Yes, they even cheered for that.

Playing about 20 miles from his hometown of Mount Laurel, N.J., and some 40 miles from his college campus at Rider, Thompson drew a personal crowd of more than 350 for his first homecoming.

His former Rider teammates were on hand, as were Rider alums and even a Rider television crew that chronicled his every move. Sitting courtside before tipoff, his brother, Rider junior guard Ryan, said it was a shared moment of pride in a place where they used to dream together.

"It's awkward to see him here," said Ryan, who is considered an NBA prospect. "The past couple years, we've been playing on the court together. The last time I watched him play (in person) was in (Lenape) high school (in Burlington County, N.J.), and the last time we were at an NBA game, we were watching it together (at Wachovia Center). It really hasn't hit me yet. The fact that he's in the NBA just got to me."

Thompson continued as one of the Kings' few bright spots, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in the 125-91 loss. In four games, he's averaging 14.3 points and seven rebounds and shooting 62.5 percent.

'Coach T' signs with Kings' affiliate – Monarchs assistant coach and Kings radio personality Tom Abatemarco has signed as an assistant with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League.

Abatemarco, who has decades of experience coaching men's college basketball but has never coached in the men's pro ranks, said he'll have to end radio work but can stay with the Monarchs.

The Bighorns, the Kings' new affiliate coached by former Phoenix Suns assistant and 11-year NBA veteran Jay Humphries, begin their inaugural season at home Nov. 29 against Bakersfield.

The decision wasn't easy for Abatemarco. He has already moved to Reno, a challenge, he said, considering he and his wife, Maura, have been married for just over a year. But Abatemarco said she was one of many who supported the decision.

"The main reason I came was Jay," said Abatemarco, who has known Humphries for nearly three decades. "I have a lot of confidence in him as a person and a coach … . It's an expansion team, and it'll be exciting to build something from nothing."

Posted on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 PST at http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/1368518.html
Author: samick@sacbee.com (Sam Amick)