Chris Mannix says what Amen Thompson told him about his Houston Rockets development has become even more important

Amen Thompson told Chris Mannix his summer ‘was spent working on being a better lead guard’

One player who is now expected to have an increased role at the lead guard position is third-year player Amen Thompson.

Not only is he going to have to defend the opposing team’s top perimeter player, but Thompson will also be tasked with producing more offensively and creating scoring opportunities as a primary ballhandler.

Thompson did average a career-high 3.8 assists last year and does have experience playing point guard.

Thompson told Sports Illustrated’s senior writer Chris Mannix that he spent his summer working on being a better lead guard.

Marc Spears says he’s ‘excited about Reed Sheppard,’ and ‘people are very, very high on him’

Reed Sheppard is another guard who needs to step up in the absence of VanVleet.

Sheppard entered the 2025-26 season without a defined role because of Houston’s depth, but now he will get a big opportunity. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft could potentially become the Rockets’ new starting point guard

Sheppard didn’t see much playing time last season, averaging just 4.4 points and 1.4 assists across 12.6 minutes in 52 games. But now, he will have a bigger responsibility.

Even if the Rockets don’t start him and instead have Thompson as their lead guard, Sheppard will still get a lot of minutes as the backup point guard.

Marc Spears was on NBA Today and he talked about this opportunity for Sheppard.

“I’m excited about Reed Sheppard.

“He didn’t expect this opportunity. People are very, very high on him, he’s going to have to get an opportunity.”

Losing VanVleet is certainly going to be a gut-wrenching hit to the Rockets, but they have two young guards who can make the most out of this opportunity.