Tag: Amen Thompson

Takeaways: MVP Cam Whitmore leads Rockets’ standouts at 2023 summer league

With 2023 summer league in the books, here’s our look back at key #Rockets takeaways, including Cam Whitmore’s MVP run and Jabari Smith Jr.’s complete domination.

In Monday’s championship, the Rockets and summer-league head coach Ben Sullivan fell one game short of accomplishing their goal of winning the NBA’s 2023 summer league. With a 99-78 loss to the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston finished with a 5-1 record. 

Yet, as general manager Rafael Stone and new head coach Ime Udoka watched courtside, they witnessed several positive developments over those two weeks in Las Vegas. Many may help the Rockets become more successful as they enter a self-proclaimed Phase 2 of their rebuilding process, starting with the 2023-24 season.

Rookie point guard Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) was ruled out of summer-league play after one game, and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) were ruled out after the second. But all three made a big impression on Stone and Udoka during their limited playing time.

Meanwhile, those absences provided opportunities for other players on the summer roster —  most notably, rookie forward Cam Whitmore (summer-league MVP) and second-year guard Trevor Hudgins, who remains on a two-way contract with Houston. Both Whitmore and Hudgins made major contributions as the Rockets won three of their final four games, even without three big names.

With summer league officially in the books, here’s a look back at some key statistics and takeaways from six games in Las Vegas.

(Editor’s note: Ben DuBose also contributed to this article.)

Podcast: Amen Thompson debuts as summer Rockets make big impression

Jabari Smith Jr. had more late heroics in Houston’s summer-league opener and Amen Thompson dazzled before leaving early with an injury. Today’s @TheLagerLine explores key #Rockets takeaways.

Rookie point guard Amen Thompson was extremely impressive in his Houston debut, and second-year Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. scored 29 second-half points and drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a feel-good victory to open 2023 summer league play.

That’s the good news from Friday night, which also included a strong performance by Tari Eason. The bad news was Thompson sprained his ankle late in the game and will not play for the Rockets again until 2023-24 preseason games in October.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Rockets finally made official all of their complicated acquisitions and departures from the opening days of 2023 free agency while also learning their five group opponents in the NBA’s new in-season tournament, which debuts this fall.

Rockets podcasters Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves break down the positives and negatives from a busy weekend as part of their latest episode. Sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing, Sunday’s full show can be listened to below. Each episode is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 and all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

[lawrence-related id=115208,115182]

Rockets vs. Pistons, July 9: Live stream, how to watch, TV channel, start time

Jabari Smith Jr. had a game-high 33 points and an epic buzzer-beater in Houston’s summer-league opener, and he’ll look to build on that Sunday versus Detroit. Tipoff is at 5:00 p.m. Central.

Sunday’s summer-league matchup in Las Vegas was supposed to be a battle of the Thompson twins, with Houston’s top rookie, Amen Thompson, facing Detroit’s Ausar Thompson in a matchup of two of the 2023 NBA draft’s top-five rookies from the first round.

That meeting, however, will likely need to wait until the 2023-24 regular season after Amen Thompson sprained his left ankle late in Friday’s thrilling Rockets victory over Portland.

Nonetheless, the Rockets do appear likely to still have Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and rookie forward Cam Whitmore leading the charge. Smith scored a game-high 33 points along with the game-winning buzzer-beater on Friday night, and the No. 3 overall pick from the 2022 draft would love to build on that with another strong showing.

“I’m 20 years old,” the second-year forward told reporters postgame regarding his decision to play in summer league.

“Why wouldn’t I play? We were 22-60 last year. My rookie year wasn’t perfect, so why not get out here and get reps? Play with my new teammates, play with my new coaches.”

Amen Thompson sidelined by left ankle sprain for rest of Rockets’ summer league

#Rockets rookie Amen Thompson will miss the remainder of the NBA’s 2023 summer league with a left ankle sprain suffered in the closing moments of Friday’s win.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

As first impressions go, rookie point guard Amen Thompson made a strong one for the Houston Rockets in Friday’s opening victory of the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas.

The No. 4 pick from the recently completed draft held his own in a battle with the No. 3 pick, Scoot Henderson. Ultimately, Houston’s new floor general stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals, shooting 6-of-13 from the field (46.2%) while making his only 3-point attempt in 28 minutes.

As it turns out, that positive initial impression, which also resulted in a win, thanks to Jabari Smith Jr.’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer, may be the only one Thompson gets to make at summer league.

In an awkward fall involving multiple players, Thompson sprained his left ankle in the game’s final minute. Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Thompson suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain and will be sidelined for two-to-three weeks, which obviously runs longer than the five-game exhibition stint in Las Vegas..

Thompson limped to the locker room without assistance and was not using crutches postgame. With training camps for the 2023-24 season not opening until late September, Thompson has more than two months to allow it to heal before needing to ramp up.

So, in the grand scheme, the setback shouldn’t materially impact Thompson’s rookie campaign with the Rockets. It will, however, make fans wait just a bit longer to see him on the court again.

[lawrence-related id=115208,115182]

Takeaways: Amen Thompson, Scoot Henderson dazzle as summer Rockets edge Blazers

Amen Thompson (16 points, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals) showed flashes of point-guard brilliance in his #Rockets debut, but he also left early with an ankle injury in Houston’s buzzer-beating win.

Friday’s summer-league matchup between the Rockets and Trail Blazers was billed as a showdown between two rookie point guards drafted in the top-five picks: Portland’s Scoot Henderson (No. 3 in the 2023 first round) and Houston’s Amen Thompson (No. 4 overall).

It did not disappoint. Jabari Smith Jr. and the summer Rockets beat the Blazers at the buzzer in Las Vegas, 100-99 (box score), and arguably the biggest winners were the fans watching.

In a star-studded matchup, Thompson showed flashes of brilliance and stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals, shooting 6-of-13 from the field (46.2%) while making his only 3-point attempt in 28 minutes.

For Portland, Henderson had an impressive 15 points and 6 assists on 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), though he left the game after 21 minutes with a right shoulder injury and did not return. Thompson also hobbled off in the game’s final minute with an apparent left ankle sprain.

Beyond Thompson, key statistics for the Rockets (1-0) included:

  • Cam Whitmore: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals; 5-of-18 shooting (27.8%), 2-of-7 on 3-pointers (28.6%)
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 33 points, 7 rebounds; 8-of-18 shooting (44.4%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%), 14-of-17 on free throws (82.4%)
  • Tari Eason: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 assists; 7-of-14 shooting (50.0%), 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%)

Read on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and coaches, and reaction by fans and media members to Friday’s game. The Rockets return to action with Sunday’s matchup versus Detroit, with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Central and television coverage on ESPN2. All five summer-league games are being played in Las Vegas.

Rockets vs. Trail Blazers, July 7: Live stream, how to watch, TV channel, start time

Top rookies Scoot Henderson (No. 3 draft pick) and Amen Thompson (No. 4) will open up 2023 NBA summer league play when the Trail Blazers face the #Rockets on Friday in Las Vegas.

In the opener of the 2023 NBA 2K24 Summer League for both teams, the Houston Rockets will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The game will be televised to a national audience on ESPN.

Assuming health, it should represent a battle of two top-five overall picks from the first round of the recently completed 2023 NBA draft. Scoot Henderson (No. 3) leads Portland’s summer squad, while Amen Thompson (No. 4) will direct the summer Rockets.

Because both Henderson and Thompson project as point guards, they should spend considerable time in head-to-head matchups. For both prospects, Friday’s showdown will be their first time wearing the jersey of their new NBA team in a game setting.

Then again, Henderson and Thompson won’t be the only big names on the court. The Rockets also have Cam Whitmore (No. 20 overall pick in 2022), Jabari Smith Jr. (No. 3 in 2022), and Tari Eason (No. 17 in 2022) on their summer roster, while Portland will feature Kris Murray (No. 23 in 2023) and Shaedon Sharpe (No. 7 in 2022).

Here’s our look at broadcast details and potential lineups.

Rafael Stone, Ime Udoka offer perspective on Houston rookies Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore

Rafael Stone on the reaction of #Rockets coaches to seeing Amen Thompson in person: “They were like, ‘Yeah, we haven’t seen anything like that.’ He really moves differently.”

In an exclusive chat with courtside reporter Vanessa Richardson of AT&T SportsNet Southwest, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and new head coach Ime Udoka each opened up regarding the process that led to their recent 2023 NBA draft moves.

Houston emerged from that draft with Overtime Elite guard Amen Thompson (drafted at No. 4 overall in the first round) and Villanova forward Cam Whitmore, who unexpectedly slid to No. 20.

As part of an extended conversation, both Stone and Udoka peeled back the curtain behind theit pre-draft scouting and analysis process, which ultimately culminated in two more blue-chip prospects being added to the fold as Houston transitions its rebuild to phase two.

Read on for excerpts, summaries, and videos of select interview portions, and check out the complete version when Rockets All Access airs throughout the week on AT&T SportsNet (schedule).

As for Thompson and Whitmore, they’re each now under contract with the organization, and they will each wear a Rockets jersey for the first time when 2023 summer league play starts on Friday, July 7.

Rockets announce full roster for NBA’s 2023 summer league

Headlined by top rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, the #Rockets released their complete roster for the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas. Their first game is Friday, July 7.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

With newly named assistant Ben Sullivan serving as the head coach, the Houston Rockets announced on Monday their roster for the NBA’s upcoming summer league in Las Vegas.

Players on Houston’s roster with NBA ties are second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason; two-way players Darius Days and Trevor Hudgins, who were under contract with the Rockets in 2022-23; and a pair of recently drafted first-round rookies, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. With 17 players, the complete summer roster can be viewed below.

Officially titled NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023, all games will be played from July 7-17 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

All 30 teams will play at least five games each (Rockets schedule). Each team plays four games from July 7-14. After each team plays four games, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs and participate in the semifinals on July 16. The two winning teams from the semifinals will meet in the championship game on July 17.

The fifth and final game (along with opponent) for the remaining 26 teams will be announced at the conclusion of play on July 14.

[lawrence-related id=114895,114719]

Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore sign rookie contracts with Rockets

Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore are officially under contract with the #Rockets for up to four years after signing their rookie deals on Monday.

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

Newly drafted first-round rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore  signed their initial NBA contracts with the Houston Rockets on Monday, according to the league’s transaction wire.

The deals were largely a formality, and they weren’t required to be completed prior to participating in 2023 summer league play, which begins for the Rockets on Thursday in Las Vegas. However, in the event of any potential injury, the added peace of mind can’t hurt.

The signings also mean both players cannot be traded for 30 days, though obviously that wasn’t expected in the first place.

Based on slot value and maximum annual raises, which is the norm for most rookie contracts around the league, Thompson is expected to make approximately $8.8 million, $9.2 million, $9.7 million and $12.3 million in the 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, respectively. The last two years are team options.

Meanwhile, Whitmore is slated to make $3.2 million, $3.3 million, $3.5 million and $5.4 million over the next four years, respectively. Both Thompson and Whitmore’s deals are based on their draft slots at No. 4 and No. 20, respectively, in the 2023 first round.

[lawrence-related id=115025,114719]

Projected starting lineup for Rockets with Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks after free agency

Fred VanVleet is the first undrafted free agent to earn a contract worth more than $100 million. 

The Houston Rockets reportedly handed out the first max contract of free agency, per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, signing veteran guard Fred VanVleet.

The former undrafted free agent will leave the Raptors for a contract worth $130 million over three years, according to reports. VanVleet will bring an impressive resume as an NBA champion to a young core that includes rising stars like Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun.

VanVleet, who was named an NBA All-Star in 2022, became the first undrafted free agent to earn a contract worth more than $100 million.

Here is the remainder of the projected starting lineup for Houston next year:

The best takes and the sharpest bets on all the hoops storylines you need to know. Sign up for our Layup Lines newsletter, hitting your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.