Amen Thompson Ranked Top 5 Shooting Guard in NBA

Apr 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Amen Thompson Ranked Top 5 Shooting Guard in NBA

Originally posted on Houston Rockets on SI
By Eric Jay Santos | Last updated Aug 30, 2026 4:00 PM ET

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Amen Thompson is a rising star for the Houston Rockets. Last season, he averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on 53.4% field goal shooting over 79 games. His efforts earned him a second consecutive top-10 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Last week, HoopsHype ranked the top 27 shooting guards heading into the 2026-2027 season. Thompson is positioned at No. 4 on the list. HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina wrote the following rationale.

“While his twin brother lacks as an offensive option, Amen Thompson is far more confident with the ball in his hands. A 6-foot-7 freak athlete with ridiculous burst and body control, Thompson is an elite slasher as well as an effective pull-up scorer from the midrange… If he were just able to shoot it from the outside, there’s little doubt he would have an All-Star appearance under his belt by now, if not an All-NBA nod; he’s that impactful everywhere else on the floor.”

Thompson is behind only Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, and Devin Booker in HoopsHype’s rankings, an elite group of All-Star-caliber players. This suggests that the 23-year-old has the potential to reach a similar status if his development continues in the following months.

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Deep-Range Shooting

As suggested, Thompson’s biggest area for improvement is his accuracy from deep range. Last season, he shot 21.6% from three-point range on 1.5 attempts per game. This inefficiency and low volume can be limiting in a league that has placed greater emphasis on three-point shooting in recent years.

One bright spot looking toward next season is the Rockets’ new assistant coach, Chip Engelland. Known by the nickname “The Shot Doctor,” he has gained a reputation as a specialist in player development and shooting mechanics.

For the 2025-2026 season, the Rockets sank 11.5 of 31.5 three-point attempts per game. Sixth Man of the Year contender Reed Sheppard was the franchise’s leader in three-pointers made, justifying a higher spot in the rotation.

In addition to All-Star-level teammates in Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, Thompson’s improvement could raise the ceiling for a Rockets core coming off a 50+ win season. While the franchise was most recently eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, the championship window is still wide open in 2027.

Overall, Thompson’s status as one of the league’s top rising shooting guards could result in a significant boost for Houston. If all works out, an All-Star appearance could be within reach.

This article first appeared on Houston Rockets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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