Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson Predicted to Win 2026 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award

Houston Rockets wing Amen Thompson has been predicted to win the 2026 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award.

A group of ESPN NBA experts, including reporters, editors and analysts, believe Thompson will take a huge leap next season.

“Amen Thompson was a runaway winner in this category, as he is slated to play a significant role for a Rockets team with high expectations in 2025-26,” Jamal Collier wrote. “Thompson will be entering his third season in the NBA, having already taken a jump in Year 2, and he hasn’t even been a full-time starter yet. He has already established himself as an elite defensive player, making the All-Defensive team and is currently one of the best on-ball defenders in the league.

“His offensive game showed signs of improvement in the playoffs, with better handles and a jumper as he upped his scoring averages as the series went on, giving the league a glimpse of what he can do on the other side of the ball. That should be elevated, considering Thompson will be playing next to Kevin Durant this season, a much better offensive centerpiece for Houston than it had last season.”

Thompson is one of the most athletic two-way players in the NBA. He made the First-Team All-NBA Defensive squad last season at the age of just 22.

In 69 games for the Rockets in 2024-25, Thompson averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks while shooting 55.7% from the field, 27.5% from beyond the arc and 68.4% from the free-throw line.

Once Thompson becomes a consistent jump shooter, he will be unstoppable. The California native can already get to the rim at will and finish in heavy traffic.

Thompson enters next season with career averages of 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks. It wouldn’t shock anyone in the league if he’s an All-Star and All-NBA player next season.