Tag: Amen Thompson

Rockets coach Ime Udoka sees parallels in Amen Thompson, early career Ben Simmons

Ime Udoka on Amen Thompson: “I coached somebody, Ben Simmons, who had similar traits… as far as size and ability to push the pace, and find guys and finish.“

It’s become easy to forget, but prior to missing extensive time with back injuries and mental health issues in recent years, Ben Simmons was a three-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Even though Simmons was never a reliable outside shooter, his rare combination of size, athleticism, passing and defensive versatility made him a valuable point guard with the Sixers. He learned to provide value as an off-ball cutter and offensive rebounder when playing alongside superstar big man Joel Embiid.

Arguably Simmons’ best year came in 2019-20, when he averaged 16.4 points (58% FG), 8 assists, 7.8 rebounds and an NBA-leading 2.1 steals per game. One of Philadelphia’s assistant coaches that season was Ime Udoka, now head coach of the Rockets.

In Houston, Udoka has a 6-foot-7 athletic rookie guard, Amen Thompson, who also has a questionable jump shot, at least according to pre-draft scouting reports.

While Thompson hopes to improve his shooting as the years progress, the pre-injury version of Simmons is a reminder there is a path to making a big impact, even with a below-average jumper.

At Tuesday’s practice, Udoka outlined some similarities he sees between Thompson and Simmons, his former player.

Among his comments (via Chancellor Johnson of KPRC Houston):

The skill set is there, and it’s something that’s unique with his speed, athleticism, size, passing ability, and all those things.

I coached somebody, Ben Simmons, who had similar traits … as far as size and ability to push the pace, and find guys and finish. There are some similarities there.

We’re finding different ways to use him. When he doesn’t have the ball, it’s not his comfort zone. When you’re out there with Fred (VanVleet), Jalen (Green), or different lineups, you’re going to have to play off the ball, at times. He’s finding ways to slash behind, get on the glass, and make plays on the second side.

It’s all experience, for him. A guy that’s had the ball his whole career, to be able to play off the ball, it will impact our team in a more positive way.

Thompson is coming off career highs of 15 points and 14 rebounds in Houston’s last game on Sunday night versus Boston. The 20-year-old, drafted fourth in the 2023 first round, also had five assists in a game the short-handed Rockets made much closer than expected.

In the previous game, Thompson had a game-saving block in the closing moments of overtime as Houston held off Utah to secure what could be an important victory for its 2023-24 playoff push.

Thompson and the Rockets (20-22) look to build on that on Wednesday night versus Portland (12-30). Tipoff in Houston’s finale of a three-game homestand is set for 7 p.m. Central.

For Thompson, it could mean minutes facing rival point guard Scoot Henderson, who was drafted by the Trail Blazers one spot ahead of where Houston picked Thompson last June.

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Rockets coach Ime Udoka reveals areas for Amen Thompson to improve

Amen Thompson earned his first start on Sunday, producing 15 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and one steal in a loss to the Celtics.

Amen Thompson earned his first start on Sunday and registered a rare double-double for the short-handed Houston Rockets in a loss to the Boston Celtics.

Thompson produced a career-high 15 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and one steal in the 116-107 loss at the Toyota Center. He finished 10-of-18 from the field in 32 minutes for his second double-double of the season.

The fourth pick earned the start in place of Fred VanVleet, who is dealing with back tightness. He thrived in transition and had several dazzling passes by pressuring the rim to find the open man, though he wasn’t satisfied with the effort in a loss.

“(It was) a good performance, (but just) couldn’t get a win,” Thompson said afterward. “(I’m going to) take it one day at a time and move on to the next game against Portland.”

Thompson logged over 30 minutes for the first time this season. He guarded Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White throughout the contest and did as well as one could expect against such established players.

Ime Udoka thought Thompson performed well in his first start, but as expected, there were some sequences the Rockets coach hopes will serve as learning moments for the 20-year-old.

He needs to continue to understand when to be aggressive (and) when to find guys. That balance there of him attacking all of the time, as well as how teams are guarding him, is us using him in different ways as a screener at times and initiating out of DHOs when the big is back, but at the same time, not settling for the shots they want him to take and taking the shots he wants to get: His mid-range pull-up and getting out in transition. When he does that, he is good. It is a learning curve and process for him. Until his shot improves, teams are going to guard him a certain (way) with lineups and matchups. We got to get better, but we have to put him in some positions to succeed.

Thompson is averaging 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, two assists and one steal on 45.5% shooting from the field, including 13.3% (4-of-30) from 3-point range. He has scored in double figures five times and is one of eight first-year players with multiple double-doubles.

He suffered an ankle injury earlier this season that cost him over a month of action, so Thompson is still working to find his way on the court. He has dazzled with his athleticism and ability in transition, and the team will look to continue to take advantage of those abilities.

Thompson still has plenty of room to grow as a player, having only played 23 games, but the early returns have certainly been encouraging for his potential to develop into a franchise cornerstone.

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Reaction: Celtics edge short-handed Rockets as Alperen Sengun posts third career triple-double

Alperen Sengun (24/12/10) had his third career triple-double, but the weary and short-handed Rockets couldn’t complete Sunday’s comeback bid against Boston.

HOUSTON — On the second night of a difficult back-to-back at Toyota Center, the severely short-handed Rockets (20-22) couldn’t quite keep pace with the loaded Boston Celtics (33-10) in a 116-107 loss (box score). But the home team didn’t go down without a fight.

Despite trailing by double digits most of the way, Houston kept pushing and came within a possession on multiple trips in the fourth quarter. However, the Rockets couldn’t get a final breakthrough.

Big man Kristaps Porzingis led Boston with 32 points and 5 blocks, and he made 6-of-11 from 3-point range (54.5%). He was countered by Houston’s Alperen Sengun, who had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the third triple-double of his NBA career. Sengun made 10-of-18 shots (55.6%) and all four of his free throws.

Houston was without Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management), Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain), Fred VanVleet (lower back tightness), Jeff Green (left calf soreness) and Reggie Bullock (lower back pain). Back-to-back considerations played a role in some of those decisions, according to head coach Ime Udoka.

Given those absences, Houston had its pair of highly drafted rookies — Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore — make their first NBA starts. Thompson played well with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists, making 5-of-10 shots (50%) and 5-of-6 free throws (83.3%).

For Whitmore, it was a struggle with 5 points and 4 rebounds on 2-of-7 shooting (28.6%). He went 0-of-2 on free throws when the Rockets were down only three points in the closing minutes.

Dillon Brooks led Houston with 25 points and 4 steals, making 5-of-15 from 3-point range (33.3%), and his defense helped limit Celtics star Jayson Tatum to just 18 points on 4-of-17 shooting (23.5%).

Jalen Green and Aaron Holiday each had 5 assists and 4 rebounds while scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively. Both were stepping into larger-than-usual roles in the absence of VanVleet.

Here’s our look at Sunday’s highlights and postgame interviews from Toyota Center, along with reaction by media members and fans. Now 1-1 on a three-game homestand, Houston wraps it up on Wednesday versus Portland (12-29), with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.

As injury replacements, Rockets rookies Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore make first NBA starts

With Fred VanVleet (lower back tightness) and Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) out, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore each started in Houston for the first time.

HOUSTON — On the second night of a back-to-back, the Rockets held out veterans Fred VanVleet (lower back tightness) and Jeff Green (left calf soreness) from Sunday’s game versus Boston.

Neither injury appears particularly serious, but with the Rockets coming off an exhausting overtime victory on Saturday versus Utah, head coach Ime Udoka was conservative with his veterans. VanVleet is Houston’s trusted starter at point guard, while Green is the team’s backup center and among its most productive reserves.

Udoka said VanVleet has had nagging back soreness for at least a week, and his high minutes totals in recent games made the second night of a back-to-back an opportune time to rest.

Houston was also without Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management), Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) and Reggie Bullock (lower back pain) on Sunday against the Celtics. Eason and Bullock have missed multiple games with their injuries; Smith rolled his left ankle in the final seconds of Saturday’s victory.

In the absence of VanVleet and Smith, who normally start, rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore each made their first NBA start on Sunday against the Celtics. Both rookies had key contributions to Saturday’s win, and Udoka appears ready to try them in larger roles.

Thompson (4th pick in 2023) and Whitmore (20th) were a part of Houston’s highly touted first-round draft class.

The Rockets have two days off before returning to action on Wednesday night at home versus Portland. That should give those veterans an opportunity to get healthy.

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Takeaways: In pivotal game, Alperen Sengun’s career night lifts Rockets over Jazz

In a game with potentially large standings implications, Alperen Sengun tied his career high with 37 points as Houston rallied past Utah in overtime.

HOUSTON — In a game with potentially significant standings implications, Rockets center Alperen Sengun led the way with a career-high-tying 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists in Saturday’s thrilling 127-126 overtime win (box score) over the Jazz. A rising All-Star candidate, Sengun made 15-of-26 shots (57.7%) for the game, often while facing strong defense from Utah’s Walker Kessler.

With Saturday’s result in, Houston (20-21) and Utah (22-22) are currently separated by a half-game in an extremely tight race for the final two play-in tournament spots in the Western Conference.

Sengun and rookie Amen Thompson each had a key late block for the Rockets, who played the final two minutes of regulation and overtime without Fred VanVleet, who fouled out. Houston’s veteran floor general finished with 18 points and 7 assists.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals while shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). Smith’s free throw in the final minute of overtime was the decisive point, though it came at a cost, since he subsequently limped off with a sprained left ankle (which occurred on the foul leading to free throws).

Fellow rookie Cam Whitmore was impressive with 17 points and 5 rebounds in 27 reserve minute, shooting 4-of-6 from 3-point range (66.7%). That helped Houston survive another off night from starter Jalen Green, who had 7 points while missing all six of his 3-pointers.

The Jazz were led by veteran guards Jordan Clarkson (33 points) and Collin Sexton (28 points). But despite combining to score 61, each missed a close shot in the final 40 seconds of overtime that could have put Utah in front. The Jazz had won 12 of their previous 15 games going in, while the Rockets were coming off a 1-5 road trip.

Here’s our look at Saturday’s highlights and postgame interviews from Toyota Center, along with reaction by media members and fans. Houston continues its homestand with night two of a back-to-back on Sunday versus Boston (32-10), with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Central.

Takeaways: Defensive slide continues as Sixers star Joel Embiid blasts Rockets

In his return from injury, reigning MVP Joel Embiid was outstanding (41 points, 10 rebounds) and vastly outplayed Alperen Sengun. It led to a blowout Sixers win.

The road woes continued for the Rockets in Monday afternoon’s 124-115 loss (box score) to the Philadelphia 76ers (25-13). With the latest defeat, Houston (19-20) is 1-4 on its six-game road trip and a ghastly 4-14 away from home this season.

Ime Udoka’s Rockets find themselves below .500 for only the second time since Nov. 6 — and they’re just a half-game ahead of the Lakers (19-21) for 10th in the Western Conference standings, which represents the final play-in tournament spot.

In Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee, Sixers star Joel Embiid returned from a knee injury and quickly showed why he’s the reigning NBA MVP. In 31 minutes, Embiid dominated with 41 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 12-of-21 overall (57.1%) and making 16-of-17 from the free-throw line (94.1%).

“We have to be physical without fouling,” Udoka said postgame. “We were undisciplined there. We know he’s a guy that’s gonna swipe.”

“The things we talked about, we didn’t really execute on that end, defensively,” Udoka said. “We wanna be physical without fouling and when they were in the bonus, we gave them some easy shots or some questionable calls with the sweep through and all that.”

Rising star Tyrese Maxey added 27 points and 7 assists at point guard while making 6-of-10 from 3-point range (60%).

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, but his five first-quarter turnovers helped put Houston in an early hole it never came close to digging itself out of.

Houston’s other statistical standouts included:

  • Dillon Brooks: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals; 7-of-9 shooting (77.8%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%)
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 13 points, 7 rebounds; 5-of-9 shooting (55.6%)
  • Jalen Green: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; 7-of-16 shooting (43.8%), 1-of-7 on 3-pointers (14.3%), 5-of-7 on free throws (71.4%)
  • Cam Whitmore: 14 points, 6 rebounds in 23 minutes; 6-of-12 shooting (50%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40%)
  • Amen Thompson: 14 points, 3 rebounds in 19 minutes; 7-of-8 shooting (87.5%)

Tari Eason remains sidelined by a lower left leg injury, which traces back to a stress reaction in the 2023-24 preseason. His playing status will be re-evaluated when the team returns home later this week.

Eason’s absence has certainly harmed Houston’s increasingly leaky defense. After ranking as high as second in net defensive rating earlier this season, the Rockets are eighth among the NBA’s 30 teams, and 19th in nine January games. For the season, Houston remains winless when giving up at least 120 points, and it has allowed that in all four losses on this road trip.

Here’s our look at Monday’s highlights and postgame interviews from Philadelphia, along with reaction by media members and fans.

Houston finishes its increasingly miserable road trip on Wednesday at New York (23-17), where the tip is set for 6:30 p.m. Central.

Bleacher Report ranks key Rockets among NBA’s top under-22 players

Bleacher Report’s latest ranking of the NBA’s best under-22 prospects includes both Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. in the top six. #Rockets

The Houston Rockets and their fans have increasingly touted the value of their young core of prospects selected in the first round of recent NBA drafts, and many around the league are taking notice.

In a new ranking by Dan Favale and Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report, the Rockets are well represented in a “22 under 22” ranking of the best NBA prospects under the age of 22 years old.

Here’s a look at the criteria, via Bleacher Report:

Settling on this ranking requires some loose criteria. First and foremost, players must be in their age-21-or-younger season to meet the under-22 inclusion bar. This means anyone who is already 22 or will be 22 before Jan. 31 does not appear here.

Performances from this season have shaped our initial impressions and carry tons of weight. But this is not a batch of in-the-moment rankings.

Instead, view our pecking order through the lens of “Who should you want on your team for the rest of their career?”

Here’s where members of Houston’s young core stood on that list, which can be viewed in its entirety at Bleacher Report. (Not surprisingly, spoiler, No. 1 is San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama.)

Alperen Sengun dominates, Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson break out as Rockets rip Nets

First-round rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore had some of their most encouraging minutes yet as Houston rallied past Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

HOUSTON — Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson, the duo of highly drafted rookies from the 2023 first round, had their best combined performance yet as the Rockets rallied past the visiting Brooklyn Nets, 112-101 (box score), on Wednesday at Toyota Center.

Houston (17-15) won its second straight, while Brooklyn (15-20) lost for the 10th time in 12 games. The Rockets trailed by five midway through the third quarter, but led by star center Alperen Sengun, they took the lead and never looked back. Sengun bolstered his All-Star push with a game-high 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting (64.7%), and he also tallied 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in his 34 minutes.

For Houston, which was without two key rotation players in Dillon Brooks (right oblique strain) and Tari Eason (left lower leg soreness), it was the emergence of the rookies — who haven’t played large roles so far this season — that could offer the most promise.

Whitmore finished 11 points, 2 steals, and 2 rebounds in 17 minutes, shooting 3-of-5 from 3-point range (60.0%). Thompson added 10 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes. Both also provided value defensively with considerable length, athleticism, and versatility.

Mikal Bridges scored 15 points for the Nets on just 5-of-18 shooting (27.8%) and 3-of-12 from 3-point range (25.0%), reflecting a strong defensive effort by many of Houston’s perimeter players.

It was a relatively solid night for Houston’s starting backcourt, though Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green did have four turnovers apiece.

Key statistics for the backcourt duo included:

  • VanVleet: 21 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds; 7-of-9 shooting (77.8%), 6-of-8 on 3-pointers (75.0%)
  • Green: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists; 5-of-15 shooting (33.3%), 3-of-9 on 3-pointers (33.3%)

It was a blistering night from 3-point range for the Rockets, who connected on 19-of-39 (48.7%) against the Nets.

Here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Wednesday was Houston’s fifth game of a season-long homestand at Toyota Center, which concludes with a challenging back-to-back on Friday and Saturday versus Minnesota and Milwaukee. Tipoff of both is at 7:00 p.m. Central.

Thompson Twins: Amen, Rockets defeat Ausar, Pistons in first matchup

Amen Thompson finished had a career night in his first matchup against his twin brother, Ausar, to help the Rockets defeat the Pistons.

Amen Thompson had a career night and emerged victorious in his first matchup against his twin brother, Ausar Thompson, to help the Houston Rockets defeat the Detroit Pistons.

Amen produced 12 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals in the 136-113 win on Monday. He went 5-of-6 from the field in 28 minutes off the bench in his 12th appearance of the season with the Rockets. On the other side, Ausar finished with five points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

The matchup was the first time the two brothers faced each other at any level of basketball. Their older brother, Troy Thompson, estimated that about 30 friends and family would be in attendance to watch the contest.

Amen called it a special night before the game.

“It is going to be a special moment for me, him, my family and my friends,” Amen told Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network. “I’ve got a lot of people coming. It is special.”

The first unofficial matchup between Amen and Ausar was scratched in July when the fourth pick suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from playing in the NBA Summer League contest.

To celebrate the first regular-season matchup, the Rockets hosted a “twin night” at Toyota Center, featuring giveaways of interlocking bobbleheads of the two players. The Pistons will do the same when the two teams meet for the second and final time of the season on Jan. 12.

They were matched up on each other periodically throughout the contest. However, neither player when guarded by the other, so the collective basketball community will have to wait to see if one brother can dunk on the other this season.

The evening certainly proved to be special for Amen and Ausar, who became the first siblings selected in the top 10 of the same NBA draft. They figure to see each other for years to come.

“It is crazy, but seeing him on the court warming up is weird; him being on a different team,” Ausar told Natalie Kerwin of Bally Sports Detroit before the game. “I haven’t seen him practice in so long. It is crazy we’re in this position. We’ve dreamed of this moment for so long.”

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In battle of twins, Amen Thompson enjoys career night for Rockets

In a matchup against his twin brother, Rockets rookie Amen Thompson finished with career-highs in points, assists, and minutes played as Houston routed Detroit.

HOUSTON — Rookie guard Amen Thompson has faced tough opponents throughout his basketball career. This season, he has faced NBA elites as he continues to work his way into the Rockets’ rotation under head coach Ime Udoka.

In Monday’s win over the Pistons, Thompson came face to face with one challenger who knows his game inside and out and knows his on- and off-court tendencies — even his favorite meal and movie. It was as if Amen was looking into a mirror when he was greeted by Detroit rookie Ausar Thompson, his twin brother.

This was the first time the brothers competed against each other in an NBA regular-season game. With family and friends in the stands to watch the New Year’s Day matchup, Amen outshined his brother with the best performance of his rookie season to date. He finished with 12 points and 6 assists in 28 minutes, all career highs.

Known as the “Thompson Twins,” Amen and Ausar made a name for themselves at Pine Crest High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before moving on to Overtime Elite, where their draft stock rose each minute they were on the court together.

The two accomplished so much together growing up, never being away from each other longer than a day, that it wasn’t unusual to see them become the first brothers drafted in the top-10 NBA selections. Amen went to Houston with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 first round. Ausar was drafted by Detroit with the very next selection.

There weren’t many one-on-one highlights from Monday’s matchup, but the brothers will have an opportunity to face one another again when the Rockets (16-15) travel to Detroit (3-30) on Jan. 12.

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