Amen Thompson Shows Promise in Breakout Season as Playmaker
The Houston Rockets faced tough news just before training camp when Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL during his offseason workout. This injury likely sidelines VanVleet for the entire season, although he has not ruled out a late comeback. With VanVleet out, the Rockets' backcourt depth was stretched thin after trading Jalen Green in the Kevin Durant deal.
Only Reed Sheppard, Aaron Holiday, and Amen Thompson remain in the backcourt rotation. Thompson, who hadn't played full-time point guard since his OTE days, initially joined the Rockets as a point guard. However, with VanVleet on the roster, he was shifted to forward—a move that quickly proved successful.
Playing off the ball, Thompson excelled as a cutter and operated in the dunker’s spot without the pressure of facilitating every play. This allowed him to play at full speed and capitalize on the attention Alperen Sengun attracted on offense.
Thompson achieved a career-high in rebounds and emerged as one of the NBA's top defenders, earning a spot on the All-NBA First 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."
Summary: Amen Thompson's shift to a forward role has unlocked his full potential, leading to career highs and recognition as an elite defender while the Rockets navigate VanVleet's season-ending injury.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or conversational?