
The Houston Rockets, once a staple in the NBA Draft Lottery during the early 2020s, have shifted towards building a competitive young core. Key contributors to the team's playoff-qualifying 52-30 record last season include Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and notably, Amen Thompson, who logged the highest total minutes.
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Selected by the Rockets with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Thompson has shown significant promise in his third season. He averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals over 79 games. Recently, the Rockets secured Thompson with a five-year, $208 million contract extension, making him the team's highest earner when the deal takes effect. There are high expectations for him to emerge as a cornerstone of the franchise.
Thompson is recognized for his versatility, strong defense, and on-court explosiveness. If he maintains his developmental momentum, he could vie for an All-Star selection in 2027. The revised All-Star Game format features a young talent team, placing Thompson in competition against players like Cade Cunningham, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Maxey.
However, Thompson's three-point shooting has room for improvement, as he currently holds a career 21.9% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. The Rockets have high hopes that renowned assistant coach Chip Engelland will enhance his shooting mechanics, an effort that has already begun during training camp.
While Thompson’s scoring numbers are promising for his role—especially with Kevin Durant as the primary scoring option—his scoring volume will likely need to increase for him to gain recognition as a star. As Fred VanVleet returns to the starting lineup, Thompson is expected to adapt to finding his place within the system, primarily as a shooting guard while still taking on some point guard duties.
Overall, Thompson's career trajectory appears positive, though there may be expectations for a breakthrough year in 2027. So far, he has demonstrated continuous growth without any clear limitations.