The Houston Rockets have made Amen Thompson untouchable in trade discussions this summer, and for good reason. Thompson, along with his twin brother Ausar—who plays for the Detroit Pistons—has been singled out by NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner as a potential first-time All-Star this season, provided he continues to refine his offensive game.
“The athletic ability of these twins is off the charts, so if either develops a more reliable offensive package, he could accompany an All-Star teammate—[Alperen] Sengun or [Cade] Cunningham, respectively—as his team’s second choice,” Aschburner wrote. “Amen already played on All-Star Sunday via the roundabout mini-tournament last year that included a Rising Stars unit. But we’re talking about the big game—the one that twins Dick and Tom Van Arsdale reached together in 1970 and 1971.”
Improving Offense and Work Ethic
Thompson has shown he has the work ethic to develop his offensive game, evident in his improved three-point shooting, which rose from 13.8% as a rookie to 27.5% in his second season. Rockets general manager Rafael Stone praised Thompson’s dedication.
“He’s already become a really good NBA player,” Stone told ESPN in April. “He should be much, much better than this year next year, and that should go on for the foreseeable future. Great kid, works really hard, is really smart. Everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s done. He’s done it quickly and at times shockingly easily.”
Opening Up Opportunity
The Rockets demonstrated their faith in Thompson by trading former No. 2 pick Jalen Green in the Kevin Durant trade, opening up starting minutes and offensive responsibility for Thompson. At just 22, Thompson is already the Rockets’ most versatile defensive player, helping Houston finish with a top-five defensive rating and the league’s fourth-best record at 52-30 last season.
Playoff Performance Shows Promise
Thompson’s first playoff appearance highlighted his potential. He averaged 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks, finishing Game 7 with 24 points and nine rebounds in a loss to the more experienced Golden State Warriors. His defensive consistency against stars such as Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green was a bright spot for Houston.
The athletic guard finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, compiling 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game alongside averages of 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Now, with a starting role alongside Fred VanVleet in Houston’s backcourt, expectations are high for Thompson to expand his offensive contributions while maintaining elite defense.
Analysts Bullish on Future
NBA analysts have taken notice of Thompson’s trajectory. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst called him a future franchise cornerstone.
“Let me give you the name of somebody that you should keep an eye on next year, and he’s a twin. Amen Thompson, from the Houston Rockets,” Windhorst said on Get Up this summer. “He’s not going to win MVP, but he’s a guy you should pay attention to. Amen Thompson just made the All-Defensive First Team. He is going to get better offensively. He is a future All-Star, he is potentially a future franchise player.”
With his defensive prowess, improving offensive skills, and a starting role unlocked by Houston’s offseason moves, Thompson looks poised to cement his place as one of the league’s brightest young stars—and potentially the Rockets’ next cornerstone player.
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