Amen Thompson Draws Bold Comparison to Former Sixers All-Star

With the news of Houston Rockets veteran point guard Fred VanVleet set to miss the entire 2025-26 season with an ACL injury, all eyes have turned to guard Amen Thompson to blossom in a potential star role.

At 6-foot-7, Thompson’s combination of size, athleticism, and ball-handling makes him one of the NBA’s most intriguing young guards.

While some have compared him to Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, CBS Sports writer Brad Botkin recently made a more fascinating comparison — Ben Simmons. Since the 2021 playoffs, that name hasn’t carried the same weight.

But as Botkin explained in his recent analysis, Thompson’s game mirrors prime Simmons — the version once viewed as a top two-way guard and a true Defensive Player of the Year candidate beside Joel Embiid.

“The physical comps are undeniable,” Botkin wrote. “Tremendously gifted athletes with elite positional size to dominate defensively, pilot fast breaks, and attack the paint as either finisher or facilitator… The most obvious similarity is the shooting handicap, but in Thompson’s case, he’s not an unwilling shooter and there are already signs that he’s trending toward at least competency and perhaps a lot more than that as a short pull-up threat.”

The Comparison and the Opportunity

It’s an apt comparison — and one that highlights how high Thompson’s ceiling can be.

Statistically, the similarities are clear. Simmons’ Year 2 per-36 averages were 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists on 56.3 percent shooting. Thompson’s numbers in the same span: 15.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists on 55.7 percent shooting.

Where they differ most is mentality. Simmons hesitated; Thompson attacks.

His burst and finishing have turned Houston’s transition game into one of the league’s best. During a 15-game stretch without VanVleet, Thompson averaged nearly six assists per game while maintaining elite efficiency near the rim.

His free-throw rate (35.4 FTA/FGA) and 69 percent postseason accuracy show real progress. Those gains matter for a player who thrives on contact and constant rim pressure.

Thompson’s Defensive Edge and Future Growth

Defensively, Thompson already matches what made Simmons special — and in some areas, he’s ahead. He ranked top-five in Defensive Box Plus/Minus (2.6) last season and led all guards in block percentage.

Under Ime Udoka, he anchors Houston’s most versatile lineups. His athleticism and length allow the Rockets to switch freely and still protect the paint.

Playmaking remains the next hurdle. Simmons once averaged eight assists per game and controlled entire offenses through his size. Thompson isn’t there yet but shows encouraging flashes.

His decision-making improved late last season, and his turnover rate dropped as his minutes increased. That’s a sign he’s learning to manage tempo and spacing more efficiently.

Botkin summarized it best:

“From a pure athletic-force standpoint, Thompson might end up looking more like a taller Russell Westbrook… With the ball in his hands more, he’s going to have a chance to pick up the story that Simmons — just as it was starting to get good — abruptly quit writing.”

That line captures where Thompson stands now. He isn’t replacing Simmons, but he has a chance to evolve the blueprint.

If he keeps improving as a shooter, expands his playmaking, and sustains his defensive edge, Thompson could give Houston what Philadelphia once hoped to build — a fearless, two-way playmaker built for today’s NBA.

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