Amen Thompson Well on His Way to Career Year as Playmaker

Amen Thompson's Breakthrough Season as a Playmaker

The Houston Rockets faced a tough setback before the season began. Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL during offseason training, likely sidelining him for the entire year. Although VanVleet left a small possibility of returning late in the season, expectations are that he will miss all games until next season.

This injury left the Rockets thin in the backcourt, especially after trading Jalen Green in the Kevin Durant deal earlier in the offseason. With limited options, the team turned to Reed Sheppard, Aaron Holiday, and Amen Thompson, who hadn’t played full-time point guard since his OTE days.

Initially a point guard, Thompson was moved to forward due to VanVleet’s presence on the roster. This change proved successful immediately. Thompson excelled as an off-ball cutter and thrived in the dunker's spot, focusing on attacking at full speed and benefiting from the attention Alperen Sengun commanded on offense.

His performance peaked with a career-high in rebounds and earned him a place as one of the NBA's top defenders, culminating in his selection to the first-team All-NBA Defensive Team.

“Thompson had a career-high in rebounds and became one of the best defensive players in the NBA, making the first-team All-NBA Defensive Team.”

Author’s summary: Amen Thompson’s transition to forward unlocked his potential, making this season a career breakthrough marked by defensive excellence and aggressive playmaking.

Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-04

Amen Thompson's Breakthrough Season as a Playmaker

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