Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka offered a succinct response Sunday night when asked to compare Amen Thompson to other top defenders in the NBA.
"Much better than Draymond [Green]," Udoka said.
A wry smile and quick clarification from Houston’s coach ended any confusion.
"That's a joke," Udoka said after a lengthy pause. "I love Draymond."
Udoka isn’t looking to ignite another NBA feud, especially with the heartbeat of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty. But watch Thompson’s performance in Houston’s 106-96 win on Sunday, and perhaps Udoka’s purported pregame joke has more than a shred of truth.