In a league that has become increasingly defined by three-point shooting, the Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson breaks the norm of what we expect from modern NBA players.
The fourth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Thompson entered the league as an uber-athletic 6’ 7″ guard with major concerns over his ability to shoot and handle the ball as a lead all-handler.
Those concerns still loom as significant question marks, yet the 21-year-old is already one of the more impactful players in the NBA in just his second year.
Helping counteract the offensive flaws is how Thompson is able to use his combination of speed, agility and leaping ability.
Along with his athletic traits, Thompson’s length and anticipation makes him one of the most versatile defenders in the league.
And perhaps the most impressive part of Thompson’s game is his ability as a rim protector. Despite being 6’ 7″, Thompson is averaging an impressive 1.3 blocks per game. For reference, all players who average more blocks than Thompson are 6’ 10″ or above. Thompson’s athleticism and timing allows him to challenge most players at the rim, either as an off-ball defender or in man-on-man defence.
Underlining his impact on defence is how opposition players only shoot 40.8 per cent when Thompson is the primary defender, whereby league average field-goal percentage is 46.4 per cent.
In recognition of his defensive prowess, it is Thompson’s unconventional yet effective offensive play that really makes him a unique player.
Thompson is a dynamic finisher when given space to explode to the rim. Yet his lack of shooting, combined with his solid but unremarkable ball-handling, means he is often used as an off-ball player.
So in a modern NBA, where it is difficult for non-centres who can’t shoot to be effective, how does Thompson have a positive impact?
Rockets’ Amen Thompson (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Along with his prowess in the open court, Thompson has proved effective when used as a screener, or when placed in the dunker spot. Thompson’s screens are often used to free up shooters, or allow him to roll or lurk towards the rim for hand-off passes. Working with his athleticism, Thompson’s inside positioning makes him a dangerous offensive rebounder (averaging 2.7 per game, and 8.1 rebounds per game total).
Another major part of Thompson’s game is his effectiveness as a lob threat. When Thompson is slotted in at the three-point corner, his lack of shooting often means his defender will leave him unattended. But Thompson’s explosiveness and anticipation makes him an easy target for teammates, particularly when a breakdown in the opposition’s defence has occurred.
His instinctive playmaking adds another dimension to his unconventional game, consistently finding shooters or creating looks in tight spaces near the rim.
One of the more impressive occurrences in the Rockets’ season is how Thompson and teammate Alperen Sengun have had a positive impact on the floor together. Both Thompson (25.4 per cent on 1.3 three-point attempts per game) and Sengun (23 per cent on 1.4 attempts per game) are poor low-volume shooters yet have a positive net rating when on the floor together, an anomaly in today’s league.
Their combined playmaking and awareness, along with Thompson’s physical traits allow them to be effective.
What is encouraging is that Thompson has shown flashes of having a workable jumpshot. While shooting just 36.7 per cent on mid-range jumpers on low volume, Thompson is showing a willingness to work outside his comfort zone.
Thompson’s ability to be such an effective player in a variety of ways makes him a growing star in the NBA, and if he can make ongoing improvements to his handle, playmaking and shooting, has the potential to be one of the league’s best players.
