Entering his third NBA season with the Houston Rockets, 23-year-old Amen Thompson hoped to improve on a sophomore season that saw him finish fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The former No. 4 overall pick showcased his durability, playing in a career-best 79 games, all of which were starts.

In those starts, Thompson averaged 37.4 minutes per game, tallying a career-high 18.3 points per game to go along with 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks. While Thompson's blocks per game total was cut in half, this was due in large part to his shift from small forward to point guard. Unfortunately for Thompson, this likely cost him his second consecutive All-Defensive Team selection. The California native did the best he could at the new position, but it's clear that an off-ball position would suit him best. Possessing arguably the most athleticism in the NBA, Thompson used it to his advantage, increasing his scoring total by over four points per game. That said, Thompson's future development from beyond the arc will truly make him an unstoppable force. Thompson shot an abysmal 21.6% from deep, even worse than his 27.5% mark last year. Entering the final year of his rookie deal this winter, Houston will likely begin extension negotiations with Thompson this summer.

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets 2025-26 player grades: Amen Thompson