Amen Thompson's Growth Marks Third Season with Houston Rockets

Amen Thompson is gearing up for his third season in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, and the 23-year-old is eager to build on a sophomore year that saw him earn a fifth-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. As the fourth overall pick in the draft, Thompson demonstrated remarkable resilience by participating in a career-high 79 games, all as a starter.

During these starts, Thompson logged an average of 37.4 minutes on the court, contributing a personal best of 18.3 points per game, along with 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Although his blocks per game decreased significantly, this drop was largely attributed to his transition from small forward to point guard. This positional shift may have hindered his chances for a second consecutive All-Defensive Team selection, revealing that he may thrive more in an off-ball role.

Thompson's exceptional athleticism, arguably among the best in the league, served him well, allowing him to boost his scoring average by over four points compared to the previous season. However, a critical area for his progression will be his shooting from long range; he managed only 21.6% from beyond the arc, which is a decline from last year's 27.5%. With his rookie contract set to expire this winter, discussions regarding an extension are expected to commence this summer.

Overall, Thompson's performance this season has earned him an impressive grade of A, reflecting his potential and the significant strides he has taken in his development.