Paul, Adams see promise in 2020 prospect Hampton
R.J. Hampton said he didn't think about the number of NBA scouts at Chesapeake Energy Arena Thursday. But several Thunder players noticed.
“There were a lot of NBA scouts there ,” Thunder center Steven Adams said. “A lot. I seen them all before the game.”
For anyone who recognized their faces, they were hard to miss, congregating on the edge of the floor during warmups. At least 55 front office members from other NBA teams attended the Thunder's game against Hampton and the New Zealand Breakers, according to the Thunder. They were the to see the 18- year- old lottery prospect match up against NBA talent.
Without context, Hampton' s stat line in two pres ea son games on American soil was disappointing. He made just one of his eight shots Tuesday against Memphis and added only one assist. In a loss to OKC Thursday, Hampton improved to five assists but still shot just 2-of-11.
That being said, NBA scouts got their jobs by being able to evaluate talent on a deeper level than a box score. Someone who knows basketball as well as Adams can do the same.
“He did a good job running their stuff,” Adams said of Hampton. “For a very young boy, being able to run that type of offense — there's some offenses that are easy to run, just pick-and-roll, but then there's a whole bunch of other actions.”
On defense, Hampton had a tough assignment: guarding future Hall of Famer Chris Paul. Hampton said he's looked up to Paul since he was 5 or 6 years old, and playing against him was “a dream come true.”
Paul studied film on Hampton over the summer, he said, when Paul was traded to the Thunder and saw he would be facing the Breakers in preseason.
“R.J. looks good, man,” Paul said after the game Thursday. “He's very talented, and I see why all the scouts and GMs came to see him play.”
Hampton chose to forgo college to play in Australia's National Basketball League this season. Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson, who Hampton calls his "big bro," went the same route three years ago.
"He said that really prepared him," Hampton said, "got him ready at the professional level. The pro league is no joke. You've got to be mentally strong to do it."
Haka hopeful
This was Paul's chance.
He had been picking Adams's brain about the Haka at least since Thunder Media Day. With OKC playing the New Zealand Breakers Thursday, maybe he'd get to see the traditional Maori war dance in person.
“I was hoping they were going to do it today,” Paul said after the Thunder' s 110-84 win over the Breakers, “but no action.”
Paul first saw videos of New Zealand' s national rugby team, the All Blacks, performing the Haka. They do it before every game.
“I talk to Steven about it all the time,” Paul said. “… So, Steven's been giving me some pointers, some tips.”
But Adams, a New Zealand native, isn' t going to give away full lessons that easily.
“He's a bit hyped,” Adams said of Paul. “He really wants to do a Haka. He wants me to teach him and all that, but I told him he's got to come to New Zealand, bro.”