Amen Thompson and Jose Alvarado Turn Preseason Into WWE SmackDown
You know what they say about preseason basketball – it’s supposed to be vanilla ice cream in a world of Ben & Jerry’s flavors. Tell that to Amen Thompson and Jose Alvarado, who apparently didn’t get the memo during Tuesday night’s Rockets-Pelicans clash in Birmingham. What started as your typical rebounding scuffle turned into something that would make Stone Cold Steve Austin proud. And honestly? We’re here for it.
When Thompson Met Alvarado: A Love Story Gone Wrong
AMEN THOMPSON VS. JOSE ALVARADO. 🍿
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 15, 2025
The fireworks began in the second quarter when Jabari Smith Jr. clanked a three-pointer off the rim. As the ball caromed away, Thompson and Alvarado got tangled up like headphone wires in your pocket. What happened next was pure basketball chaos.
Alvarado, all 6 feet of him, was doing his best impression of a human brick wall, boxing out the 6-foot-7 Thompson. But Thompson wasn’t having any of it. The young Rockets forward decided to introduce Alvarado to the hardwood with a not-so-gentle push.
Here’s where it gets spicy. Alvarado, channeling his inner honey badger, grabbed onto Thompson’s jersey like his life depended on it. Down they went in a tangle of limbs and hurt feelings, looking more like MMA fighters than basketball players.
But wait, there’s more! After they untangled themselves and got back to their feet, Thompson apparently decided round two was necessary. He reached out for another helping of Alvarado before their teammates finally stepped in to play peacemaker.
The Aftermath: Fouls, Stats, and Future Drama
When the dust settled, the refs handed out their judgments like a basketball court of law. Thompson earned himself a flagrant 1 foul – the basketball equivalent of a slap on the wrist with a stern warning. Alvarado got tagged with a technical foul, probably for his jersey-grabbing wrestling moves.
Neither player got the boot, which honestly feels like a missed opportunity for maximum drama. Thompson shrugged off the altercation like it was just another Tuesday, finishing the night with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in Houston’s 130-128 victory. Alvarado contributed eight points and three rebounds, though his real contribution was providing the evening’s entertainment.
What Makes This Scuffle Special
Look, fights in the NBA aren’t exactly breaking news. But there’s something beautifully absurd about two players going full gladiator mode in a meaningless preseason game. It is like getting into a heated argument about pizza toppings at a potluck dinner – technically unnecessary, but somehow inevitable.
Thompson has history here. This is the same guy who sent Tyler Herro flying last season and caught a suspension for his troubles. The kid plays with the intensity of someone who thinks every game is Game 7 of the Finals. You’ve got to respect that level of commitment, even when it’s completely misguided.
Alvarado, meanwhile, has built his entire NBA identity around being an absolute pest. He’s the guy who sneaks up on you at the baseline, swipes the ball, and then grins like he just stole your lunch money. The Pelicans’ backup point guard embraces his role as basketball’s ultimate irritant.
Thompson’s Track Record Says This Isn’t Over
Here is what makes this whole situation fascinating: Thompson has the memory of an elephant when it comes to basketball grudges. He doesn’t forget, and he definitely doesn’t forgive. When he faced Herro and the Heat again after their dustup, Thompson was locked in like a heat-seeking missile. Mark your calendars for December 18, folks. That’s when these two teams meet again in New Orleans, and you can bet Thompson will be circling that date in red ink. The regular season matchup just got a whole lot more interesting.
Division Rivals, Big Personalities, Bigger Egos
The Southwest Division just got a little more entertaining. When you’ve got Thompson’s fearless aggression going up against Alvarado’s unrelenting peskiness, sparks are going to fly. It’s basic basketball chemistry – mix those personalities together, add some competitive fire, and boom: instant drama.
The beautiful thing about this whole situation is its complete unpredictability. These are two players who couldn’t care less about conventional wisdom. Thompson plays like every possession might be his last, while Alvarado operates under the philosophy that annoying your opponent is half the battle.
The Bottom Line
Tuesday night’s scuffle was a reminder that basketball, even meaningless preseason basketball, is still an emotional game played by competitive human beings. Sometimes those emotions boil over into something that looks more like professional wrestling than professional basketball.
Will this rivalry carry over into the regular season? Absolutely. Will it make Rockets-Pelicans games must-watch television? You bet. Will Commissioner Adam Silver probably send both players a strongly worded letter about sportsmanship? Most likely.
But here’s the thing – moments like these are what make basketball beautiful in its unpredictability. In a world of calculated plays and corporate messaging, sometimes you need two players to completely lose their minds over a rebound in a game that doesn’t count. Thompson and Alvarado gave us something genuine, something raw, something wonderfully human. And in December, when these teams meet again, we’ll all be watching to see if round two lives up to the hype.
