Amen Thompson entered the NBA as an oversized point guard in the vein of Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson and LeBron James — minus the passing skills, IQ or temperament.
Few saw a floor general in Thompson, but rather a versatile guard capable of playing four positions with his 6-foot-7 frame and 7-foot wingspan. He was quickly pigeonholed as a "do-it-all" utility player who could step into various roles and excel in them.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, though, has a different plan in store for Thompson. In recent weeks, Thompson has been the starting PG for his team, a shift necessitated by Fred VanVleet's injury. And Thompson has more than answered the bell as Houston's primary ball-handler.
During a 114-112 win over the Celtics on Monday, Thompson made a heroic buzzer-beater. But his biggest contribution was his ability to break down Boston's defense. Despite VanVleet's return, Thompson initiated most of Houston's half-court sets, making impressive reads and passes out of pick-and-rolls and downhill in transition.
Over his last five games, Thompson is averaging 5.8 assists along with 22.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals. The uptick in assists is a testament to Udoka entrusting him with more ball-handling duties. As the season progresses, expect those numbers to trend up.
Thompson was a point guard in high school and the Overtime Elite league in Atlanta, but never got to truly showcase his passing skills in his rookie season in Houston. It also didn't help that he was drafted to a team with fellow guards Jalen Green and Van Vleet on the roster.
Now, it seems Thompson is embracing his calling. Again, he may not be a traditional point guard, but his ability to blow past defenses gives him the rare skill to make his teammates better. There's a reason Udoka drew up a play for him in the waning seconds of Monday's game, even with Green, VanVleet and Alperen Sengun on the floor.
AMEN THOMPSON WINS IT FOR THE ROCKETS IN THE FINAL SECONDS
— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2025
ROCKETS MOVE TO 12-3 WITH AMEN IN THE STARTING LINEUP THIS SEASON! pic.twitter.com/v77x2RHkV2
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