The Houston Rockets have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the NBA this season. They currently sit in second place in the Western Conference with a 23-12 record. Just two years ago, this team won 22 games and finished second to last in the West. Now, Houston appears to be a contender to make the playoffs, an impressive feat considering much of the team’s rotation averages 23.6 years old.
Jalen Green is averaging 20 points per game, Alperen Sengun has been a consistent No. 2 scorer, Fred VanVleet provides needed veteran leadership and Dillon Brooks gives Houston some toughness on defense. A little further down the depth chart is Amen Thompson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023. NBA Draftwhich has a greater impact beyond what its counting statistics suggest.
Thompson’s athleticism is the first thing that jumps out on the screen when you watch him play, and it shines when he’s crashing the offensive glass. He averages 2.6 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks 11th among forwards, ahead of guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. And over the last five games, that figure has almost doubled to 4.4.
“One of a kind, bro,” Rockets big man Steven Adams said of Thompson. via Houston Chronicle. “I haven’t played with anyone like that. His speed is incredible. And then his second jump, his first jump, is so fast on the ground, it’s crazy. I actually haven’t seen that type of athletics, to be honest.”
This is coming from a guy who played with Russell Westbrook And Ja Morant, two players known for their supernatural athleticism.
In Sunday night’s win over the Lakers, six of Thompson’s 10 rebounds came on the offensive end, often resulting in second-chance points for the Rockets.
The highlight of those offensive rebounds was a dunk by Thompson on a 3-point shot by Green. It looked more like an alley-oop, but Thompsons tracks the ball perfectly and throws it.
Thompson had a similar dunk earlier in the game, this time following his own miss.
After that win over the Lakers, LeBron James praised Thompson (and his twin brother, Ausar, who plays for the Pistons).
“I thought the Thompson twin was incredible, just with his energy and effort,” James said. “…You see his brother, I think yesterday was this game – I think Cade Cunningham said it best, ‘they’re different.’ “
James certainly knows athleticism, so it stands out when you have a 6-foot-7 guy who regularly crashes the offensive glass and rises above a crowd for putbacks.
“It’s definitely an instinct,” Adams said. “His drop rate is probably pretty high – I don’t know the numbers, but he goes for it every time. You can see he tracks the ball really well and his springboard is so quick to get there. Insane.”
Often, Thompson finds his opponent asleep at the wheel. Before they know it, it follows the shot and it usually goes something like this:
It’s just an effort and you can’t really teach it. You either do it or you don’t, and luckily for the Rockets, Thompson’s willingness to break the offensive glass puts them atop the league in offensive rebounds.
Lakers coach JJ Redick also had nothing but positive things to say about Thompson after he scored a season-high 23 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and a steal against the Lakers.
“Thompson killed us all night, whether it was in transition, with his cut or on the offensive glass,” Redick said. “…There’s definitely a difference between the 1% of athletes, and he’s one of them. I think all NBA the guys are in the 1% of the general population, he is in the 1% of the NBA population. »
Thompson has given the Rockets an extra boost in the starting lineup over the past six games. His speed is on full display when the Rockets get out in transition, which happens often since Houston ranks eighth in transition frequency. Thompson specifically ranks in the 76th percentile in transition scoring, generating 1.243 points per possession. Against the Lakers, he gave Los Angeles front-row spots to show how dangerous he can be in transition.
He had the first six points of the game for the Rockets, including four on a second chance after grabbing the rebound.
With Jabari Smith Jr. sidelined with a fractured left hand for at least a month, Thompson will only see his role increase. He’s already managed to impact the game coming off the bench, and now that he’s in the starting lineup, it will make the Rockets even more difficult to defend.
