Why Amen Thompson Could Start for the Houston Rockets This Season

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson finished an impressive rookie season, showing off his two-way skills off the bench. The 21-year-old, who came from the Overtime Elite League, averaged 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 62 games as the Rockets nearly qualified for the play-in tournament with a 41-41 record.

Houston is a rebuilding franchise after trading James Harden in 2021. Since then, young players such as Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun have steadily developed.

Thompson was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and wasted no time in making an impact on the Rockets early this season. After an impressive freshman year, there’s a good chance Thompson will earn a starting spot for the 2024-25 season.

The 6-foot-7 forward’s two-way ability made him a Swiss Army knife for Houston, and he took full advantage of his 23 games started throughout his rookie year.

Averaging a near double-double while shooting close to 60 percent from the field not only ensures individual productivity, but also impacts game outcomes. In 23 games, he started for the Rockets, who went 13-10.

The Rockets drafted Thompson so he could complement the rest of the roster, and he does just that. He’s a pain in the neck on defense, and he works well with prolific scorers like Green, Sengun, and Fred VanVleet. Putting Thompson in the starting lineup not only improves his game, but also allows them to win more games than they would with him on the bench.

Thompson was the Rockets’ sixth player behind Dillon Brooks, and the likely reason is that Brooks shot 35.9 percent from three-point range, compared to Thompson’s 13.8 percent. The only real flaw in his game is his inability to shoot three-pointers effectively, but his numbers would certainly improve if Thompson improved his shooting.

Regardless of whether he starts or not, Thompson will impact Houston’s game in multiple ways and should have another impressive season as a sophomore. However, taking advantage of his opportunities in Year 1 will allow him to secure a starting spot in Year 2.

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