Amen Thompson enters his rookie campaign with the Houston Rockets with plenty of expectations, and the fourth pick has a number of goals for himself.
Thompson had a strong debut with the Rockets in the NBA Summer League prior to suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain on July 7. He finished with 16 points, five assists, four rebounds, four blocks and three steals in his lone appearance.
The performance certainly created buzz for Thompson going into the summer. He is now healthy and ready to go as the Rockets started training camp this week at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Now healthy, Thompson has lofty goals for himself.
(The) goals I set for myself: Rookie of the Year, making the All-Defensive team. I want to make the playoffs, that’s more of a team goal, though. I have big goals, especially for this season.
Thompson reportedly looked very explosive during some recent scrimmages, which further helped build the excitement surrounding his pending debut. He and fellow rookie Cam Whitmore were around often throughout the summer and worked each day.
“They have been great throughout the summer since we got them,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said. “They’ve been in the gym every day. They have the talent. They’ll take jumps here and there incrementally. You expect that from these young guys … (but) with more coaching and being around veteran guys, they learn pretty quickly.”
Udoka joined the Rockets looking to change things from previous years under Stephen Silas. He is instituting a new system with terms Thompson or the other young players may not have heard before, which is another facet of the game they will have to learn.
The Rockets added veterans Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green during the offseason. They have embraced their roles and have been more than willing to help the rookies in the early going as they adjust to a new system and competition level.
“I get to learn from them every day,” Thompson said. “They have been in the league for years. I feel like I’m smart and can pick up fast. They’re willing to teach you. That is the best part about them: They’re not some stingy veterans, they’re willing to teach you whatever you want to learn.”
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