The Houston Rockets are looking to ascend to the NBA championship, and their rising star could be the catalyst.
Last season, the Rockets were among the top teams in the entire league. Behind Ime Udoka’s defensive identity, Houston managed to climb the Western Conference standings, earning the second seed before falling to the Golden State Warriors in the first round.
While Alperen Sengun made his first All-Star appearance, another Rocket might have taken over as the team’s most intriguing young player. Amen Thompson’s year two leap was certainly key in Houston’s success, and he might be ready for an even bigger spotlight in year three.
Ready for another leap?
Recently, Rockets GM Rafael Stone talked with ESPN Houston about a number of topics, including Thompson’s role. Explaining that Houston had asked him to play out of position and he excelled, Stone raved about Thompson’s versatility.
“Amen can just play every position, and so if you think about how he carved out his initial role, it was without the ball in his hands, even though he played his entire life with the ball in his hands,” Stone said. “And now, he’s slotting back into that.”
Considering that Thompson is a lock in the starting five and will likely get the opportunity to expand his offensive game with Kevin Durant’s presence making things easier, Stone knows his team is in a great position. With a young star like Thompson who can already play various positions, his continued ability to play with the ball in his hands could be the difference for the Rockets’ title chances moving forward.