Tag: Amen Thompson

Ime Udoka reacts to March coaching award, advocates for Jalen Green and Amen Thompson

After a 13-2 March, Houston’s Ime Udoka won Coach of the Month. But Udoka wishes Jalen Green and Amen Thompson received top player and rookie honors, instead.

Entering April, the Houston Rockets are suddenly back in the Western Conference postseason race after an NBA-best record of 13-2 in March, including an 11-game winning streak.

Understandably, this led to the team being represented Tuesday in the NBA’s monthly awards announcements. Head coach Ime Udoka received Western Conference Coach of the Month honors and Jalen Green and Amen Thompson were among the nominees for Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month, respectively.

Green and Thompson didn’t win. The top player award went to Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and the top rookie honor to Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

Yet, in pregame comments from Minnesota prior to Tuesday’s game, Udoka made it clear he is among their leading advocates.

When asked about his own award, Udoka said:

It means the team is playing well. Accolades are always based on team performance, and it means our guys are improving and doing what we’re supposed to. I give all the credit to those guys.

It’s an honor, obviously, and all those things shed light on the team. I like to look at the guys on the court and what they’re doing. I felt like Jalen should have gotten Player of the Month and Amen probably should have gotten Rookie of the Month, in my opinion.

They’re the guys doing it on the court and putting this streak together, making adjustments when guys are out … and increasing their level (of play). I wish they would have got it more so than me, honestly.

Both Green and Thompson flourished in the aftermath of a potentially season ending injury suffered by Alperen Sengun on March 10. Green took on a larger role as the focal point of Houston’s offense, while Thompson replaced Sengun in the starting lineup and became a force in areas related to defense and rebounding.

In 15 March games, Green averaged 27.7 points (49.2% FG, 40.8% on 3-pointers), 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and only 2.3 turnovers per game. His plus/minus figure when on the court was plus 11.3.

In 10 post-Sengun games as a starter, Thompson has averaged 15.1 points (58.1% FG), 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 29.2 minutes. He’s also been near the top of the list when it comes to Houston’s most valuable and versatile defenders. The Rockets rank in the top 10 of the league in defensive rating over that span.

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Spurs’ Wembanyama, Hornets’ Miller named rookies of the month for third straight time

Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller for the third straight time have been named the Rookies of the Month for March.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller were named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference rookies of the month, respectively, for the third straight time.

Wembanyama became the first Spurs rookie to win three months in a row since Tim Duncan after averaging 23.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 1.2 steals in 12 games. He led all rookies in scoring, rebounding and blocks in March.

Miller averaged 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 14 games, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to win three times. He was second among rookies in scoring and led all first-year players in 3-pointers (42).

Wembanyama registered five 30-point games, the most by a rookie in a calendar month since LeBron James in December 2003. He produced a career-high 40 points and 20 rebounds on March 29, becoming the first rookie since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993 to reach that mark.

Miller was the third-fastest Hornets rookie to surpass 1,000 career points after reaching that mark on March 15 (60 games). He later registered his third 30-point game of the season after recording 31 points with a career-high seven 3s on March 27.

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II and Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson were also nominated for the award from the West. Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Hornets forward Vasilije Micić were also nominated in the East.

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After career night, Rockets rookie Amen Thompson proud of his growth as off-ball threat

“The progress I have been making, I am proud,” Amen Thompson (career-high 25 points) says. “Learning how to play off the ball… is something I never had to do before.”

WASHINGTON — Early in Tuesday’s game, the Wizards had seen enough of Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green destroying their man-to-man defense, and they wanted to do something about it.

After watching Green scored 37 points in last week’s matchup at Houston and seeing the 22-year-old score 19 points during Tuesday’s first quarter at Capital One Arena, interim head coach Brian Keefe made a defensive adjustment on the fly.

Washington decided to trap and/or double team Green when he touched the ball, often using the man initially assigned to rookie Amen Thompson. When they were not doubling Green, the Wizards went zone, hoping to keep Green out of the paint.

The execution of those defensive schemes worked, limiting Green throughout the second quarter and early in the third quarter. But that strategy opened the game up for Thompson, who finished with a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds in Houston’s blowout victory. Thompson took the defensive adjustment personally.

“I take it as a little bit of disrespect to double off of me,” Thompson said with a smile during his postgame interview.

Thompson, 21, has been vital to his team’s current six-game winning streak. After starting center Alperen Sengun hurt his ankle in Sacramento on March 10, the 6-foot-7 rookie was inserted into the starting lineup, and he has flourished in that role. During that stretch, the No. 4 pick from the 2023 NBA draft has averaged 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting over 80%.

Playing in the proverbial “dunker’s spot,” Thompson is finding his rhythm near the rim, which is still unfamiliar for the natural guard.

“The progress I have been making, I am proud of myself,” Thompson said after Tuesday’s victory in Washington. “Learning how to play off the ball, which is something I never had to do before. I feel like I am really learning how to do that. I see my teammates trusting me more in certain situations to make a play or score. So, I am learning where to be at and taking my opportunities to score.”

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka is well aware of Thompson’s advantages on both ends of the court. The uber-athletic rookie was a menace on defense, all while ensuring he had a good position around the rim on offense for his teammates to find him.

“When they go zone, he is really good in the middle,” Udoka said. “He can pass it or one dribble; he is right at the rim. He is so athletic; he can catch it in there and make a play and be right at the rim.”

Against the Wizards, Thompson’s success in the game’s middle stages eventually relieved some of the pressure on Green, who erupted again late in the third quarter as Houston put the game away.

Thompson’s presence will be needed as Houston (33-35) makes its final push at a 2024 postseason spot. It trails Golden State (35-32) by 2 1/2 games for 10th in the Western Conference standings, which represents the final play-in tournament berth.

That dynamic could make an April 4 game at Toyota Center between the Rockets and Warriors even more exciting, since there could be plenty of playoff implications. Houston is 23-11 at home this season, which could bolster their chances, and the Rockets will have an opportunity to build on that mark in an upcoming three-game homestand versus Chicago, Utah and Portland.

First up for the Rockets is that home matchup versus the Bulls (34-35), which tips off at 7 p.m. Central on Thursday.

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Rockets’ Ime Udoka explains what led to Amen Thompson’s career night

Amen Thompson registered a new career high on Tuesday, helping lead the Rockets to their sixth consecutive win.

Rookie Amen Thompson registered a career high on Tuesday, helping lead the Houston Rockets to their sixth consecutive win to maintain ground in the playoff race.

Thompson produced 25 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in a 137-114 win over the Washington Wizards. He finished 10-of-12 from the field in 32 minutes for his eighth double-double of the season.

The fourth pick recorded his third 20-point game, topping his previous career high of 22 points set Feb. 22. He is one of five rookies to record at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game this season.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka liked his overall activity on the court.

When they go zone, he is really good in the middle: He can pass it or one dribble, he is right at the rim. He did a good job there. The activity was great. I felt him on the offensive glass, kind of cleaning everything up when we had some lulls early. … He has been great in the pocket, setting screens and rolling. He is so athletic; he can catch it in there and make a play and be right at the rim.

With the victory, the Rockets pulled to within 2 1/2 games of the Golden State Warriors in 10th place in the Western Conference. They have 14 games left in the regular season, including a key home matchup against the Warriors on April 4.

Thompson, who has started the last four games, is averaging 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals on 53.9% shooting from the field in 49 games. He is 14th in scoring and tied for third in double-doubles among first-year players.

He has had several key performances this season for the Rockets and has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. He appears to be heating up at the right moment for the team as they look to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Thompson may not finish the year with any hardware as one of the top rookies, but the 21-year-old looks to be a core player for the team this year and beyond.

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Spacing and switching: Rockets adapt to life with Jabari Smith Jr. at center

Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff on the Rockets: “Playing smaller, playing switchable lineups, more five-out spacing, it does make them a little bit of a different team.”

The Rockets aren’t nearly as high powered on offense without injured center Alperen Sengun, and they also lack the physical post presence. With second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. sliding to center and rookie Amen Thompson taking Smith’s vacated role at forward, however, Houston is suddenly more athletic in the frontcourt.

That dynamic allows head coach Ime Udoka to attempt even more switching on defense, and the presence of a big man with a reliable 3-point shot also provides floor-spacing benefits on offense.

“Jabari being a different pick-and-pop threat is really beneficial, especially against teams that play double bigs, like they do,” Udoka said after Saturday’s dominant win over Cleveland.

The Rockets were plus-22 in Smith’s 32 minutes, best of any player. He had 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks while making 8-of-13 shots (61.5%) and 3-of-5 from 3-point range (60%). Thompson added 18 points and 8 rebounds while making 8-of-11 shots (72.7%), most near the rim after offensive rebounds or creation by teammates.

“You try to find different ways to be effective,” said veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, speaking to the post-Sengun offense. “If they put a five and drop on Jabari, you’re going to pick-and-pop. He’s one of our better shooters. You got Amen rolling to the rim. He’s one of our better finishers. He can pass out of that short roll there.”

J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach of the Cavaliers (42-25), seems to have noticed. Here’s what Bickerstaff said of the new-look Rockets, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:

As far as schemes and the team stuff … they’re different now. Playing smaller, playing switchable lineups, more five-out spacing, it does make them a little bit of a different team.

Houston (32-35) has won five straight games and is 7-1 in March. The Rockets look to build on that momentum when they visit Washington (11-55) on Tuesday. The tip is 6 p.m. Central.

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With Alperen Sengun injured, Rockets promote Amen Thompson to starting lineup

With Alperen Sengun sidelined by injury, Houston’s initial starting five will consist of Jabari Smith Jr. sliding to center and Amen Thompson taking a forward spot.

With usual starting center Alperen Sengun (right ankle sprain) likely out for the duration of the 2023-24 regular season, the Houston Rockets aren’t replacing him with a traditional big man.

At least for the time being, head coach Ime Udoka is opting instead to go to a smaller lineup with more speed and athleticism.

In Tuesday’s game in San Antonio — the Spurs start a slender, athletic player, Victor Wembanyama, in the middle — the Rockets opted to slide second-year prospect Jabari Smith Jr. to center.

In turn, that allowed rookie Amen Thompson to fill one of the vacated forward spots alongside veteran Dillon Brooks. Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green continue to start in the backcourt roles.

Had Udoka opted for a more traditional lineup — and it’s possible he could change course in future games — veterans Jeff Green and Jock Landale are options for expanded frontcourt roles. But at least for now, it appears the Rockets want to use the vacated minutes to get a longer look at their uber-athletic rookie, who provides considerable value as a versatile defender and strong rebounder.

Before the All-Star break, Udoka appeared to suggest Thompson could be an option to replace the struggling Jalen Green at shooting guard. In that case, Udoka ultimately chose to stay the course with Green, whose performances have improved since.

A month later, Thompson gets the first call after a spot in the starting lineup finally opened (due to Sengun’s injury). Even with a somewhat unconventional fit, at least in terms of positions and roles, the hope is Thompson’s talent will prove worth it.

Over his last 27 games, Thompson is averaging 9.7 points (54% FG), 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block in 22.7 minutes per game. Most impressively, even as a rookie, the 21-year-old has become one of Houston’s best and most trusted defenders. At 6-foot-7, he’s capable of covering and switching across most positions.

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NBA Rookie of the Month: Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller win for February

Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller for the second straight time were named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller for the second straight time have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference rookies of the month for February, respectively.

Wembanyama became the first Spurs rookie to win in consecutive months since Tim Duncan in March and April 1998. Wembanyama averaged 21.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.9 blocks and two steals in 12 games. He led all rookies in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals in the month.

Miller averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals in 13 games. He became the sixth player in franchise history to win the award multiple times, and he was the first rookie this season to have back-to-back 30-point games in the month.

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren and Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson were also nominated for the award in the West. Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson were nominated in the East.

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Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Victor Wembanyama remains No. 1 post-All-Star break

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2023-24 season.

The NBA enters the last two months of the regular-season schedule with teams positioning themselves for the playoffs entering .

The rookie class continues to impress nightly with players contributing at a high level on playoff contenders and other teams in the hunt. The group has been one of the most memorable in recent memory, headlined by Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.

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They have established themselves as the top rookies and are the front-runners for Rookie of the Year as a result. The two 7-footers have dazzled seemingly every time they step onto the court and have had some strong performances.

To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but to illustrate the best players week to week.

Takeaways: Jabari Smith Jr. excels, but Chet Holmgren rallies Thunder past Rockets

In a battle of top 2022 draft picks, Jabari Smith Jr. had another 20-15 game, but Chet Holmgren scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and rallied the Thunder to a win.

HOUSTON — In a frontcourt duel between top picks from the 2022 NBA draft, Chet Holmgren of the Thunder and Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets put on quite a show Sunday at Toyota Center. But thanks in large part to Holmgren’s fourth-quarter flurry, Oklahoma City (40-17) maintained its position at the top of the Western Conference and rallied to a 123-110 road victory (box score).

Holmgren finished with 29 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks, shooting 11-of-16 from the field (68.8%) and 5-of-8 on 3-pointers (62.5%). For the No. 2 overall pick of the 2022 first round, his 19 fourth-quarter points set a Thunder rookie record (Holmgren is considered a rookie because he sat out last season due to injury).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an emerging MVP candidate, led the Thunder in scoring with 36 points while making 13-of-23 shots (56.5%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), and 8-of-9 on free throws (88.9%).

Yet, the Rockets (25-32) were competitive most of the way thanks to a strong night from Smith, drafted one slot behind Holmgren at No. 3 in 2022. After sparking Houston’s victory Friday over Phoenix, Smith finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists on Sunday, shooting 6-of-14 overall (42.9%) and 4-of-9 on 3-pointers (44.4%).

Smith has now had consecutive games with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds after not having any in his career before this stretch.

It was a fine statistical game for Smith’s frontcourt mate, Alperen Sengun, who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 6-of-12 (50.0%). However, he also had a game-high 6 turnovers, and many of Sengun’s points and rebounds came late in the fourth quarter — after the game had largely been decided.

Other individual stat lines of note for the Rockets, who raced out to a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter, included:

  • Fred VanVleet: 20 points, 3 assists; 7-of-16 shooting (43.8%), 4-of-10 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
  • Jalen Green: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), 1-of-5 on 3-pointers
  • Dillon Brooks: 13 points, 2 assists; 4-of-5 on 3-pointers (80.0%)

It was a mixed bag for Houston’s rookie duo of Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. Thompson had 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in 21 minutes while making some spectacular defensive plays. However, he shot just 2-of-10 (20.0%) and scored 6 points in 21 minutes.

Whitmore had 12 points and 3 rebounds while shooting 4-of-9 (44.4%) — but in contrast to Thompson, he struggled on defense.

Here’s our look at Sunday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up is Tuesday’s rematch in Oklahoma City, with tipoff at 9:00 p.m. Central.

Rockets continue finding spark from rookies Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore

“I thought the young guys coming in changed the game with their defense,” Fred VanVleet says of Houston’s rookies. “They definitely gave us a big spark.”

HOUSTON — Rockets head coach Ime Udoka paced the sidelines early in Friday’s first quarter, as he watched his starting lineup replicate the same type of lethargic chemistry and execution they had displayed in a terrible 127-105 loss at New Orleans a night earlier.

The Suns, who were also playing on night two of a back-to-back, opened with an early offensive burst that made the Rockets look like they were running through mud on both ends of the floor.

Midway through the first quarter, Phoenix had taken a 16-point lead while holding Houston to just six points. Udoka had seen enough of the slow start and knew that he needed some type of energy boost to revitalize Houston’s offense, along with the Toyota Center crowd.

As he looked down the bench, he knew he had two players, rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, who are the equivalent of human energy drinks. Upon entering, they were able to put the Suns on their heels as they got up and down the court, applying pressure by getting into the paint and making play after play.

First, it was a Thompson layup. Then, a Whitmore layup. Thompson brought the crowd to its feet with a fast-break dunk — and then, a few possessions later, Whitmore brought them out of their seats again by making a 3-pointer from 27 feet. That trimmed what had been a 22-6 deficit to 24-18, and Houston was back in the game.

It was just what Udoka and the rest of the Rockets (25-31) needed to help put them on track to a 114-110 victory over the Suns (33-24). It came as no surprise to Houston’s head coach, or the rest of the team, that the two rookies selected in the first round of the 2023 draft are starting to get acclimated to the pace of NBA games.

Thompson’s defense and offense were a big spark for Houston, as he finished the game with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Whitmore chipped in with 15 points off the bench, as well.

With forward Dillon Brooks in foul trouble for most of the game, Udoka used Thompson’s versatility by playing him frequently at small forward. It’s not that unusual for the athletic 21-year-old, who can play every position but center. Thompson matched up with superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker numerous times, and he even got a blocked shot on 7-foot-2 reserve forward Bol Bol.

“You can see everything starting to slow down for them,” Udoka said of Thompson and Whitmore after Wednesday’s practice. “The experiences they are starting to lean on as they go. When you are 50 games in, I don’t look at you as a rookie anymore. So, they have learned from certain things and been through it all a little bit.”

The energy and ferocity that Thompson and Whitmore brought to the game rubbed off on the starters, as they increased the tempo and continued to push the pace for the rest of the game.

“We played too slow and not aggressive starting off,” said guard Fred VanVleet, who finished as Houston’s top scorer with 23 points.

“They (Suns) were able to feel their way in and get their rhythm,” VanVleet said. “So, I thought the young guys coming in off the bench changed the game with their defense, and we got steals and stops, and we were able to play in transition. That is when we are at our best. So, they definitely gave us a big spark.”

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