Houston gained 52 video games, led the league in rebounding and completed because the No. 2 seed within the ever-competitive Western Convention this season. The Rockets additionally produced their first All-Star, Alperen Sengun, since the 2020 selections of James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Regardless of these achievements, Houston’s largest takeaway this season was the event of budding two-way star Amen Thompson, who established himself as a franchise cornerstone this postseason. The 6-foot-7 ahead proved to be a participant extra worthy of constructing round than his touted teammate, guard Jalen Inexperienced.
In the course of the Rockets’ convention quarterfinals loss to Golden State in seven video games, Thompson’s immense potential was on full show.
Thompson, the fourth total choose within the 2023 NBA Draft and twin brother of Pistons ahead Ausar Thompson, ranked in the top three on the Rockets in factors (15.7), rebounds (6.9), assists (3.3), steals (1.7) and blocks (0.9) in the course of the postseason. Impressively, the second-year participant additionally was the first defender in opposition to Steph Curry, who lauded his effort after the collection.
“He’s a dawg. He confirmed [that] all seven video games, and he’s gonna be an issue, for certain,” Curry told reporters. “I do know he’s been making an attempt to develop his recreation, particularly offensively. However defensively, he’s a freak athlete, and I feel he loves the problem and likes to be within the struggle.”
From the second he was drafted, expectations had been excessive for Thompson due to his relentless motor and unparalleled athleticism.
In his debut playoff collection, Thompson proved why he was the fourth total draft choose. On offense, the gifted twin probed the ground as a slasher, scoring well timed baskets across the rim. Defensively, Thompson served a Swiss military knife function for Houston, taking up assignments in opposition to guards and wing gamers.
“Once I coached Kyrie [Irving, in Brooklyn], you’ll be wowed at one thing he did offensively each evening,” Rockets HC Ime Udoka told SI’s Chris Mannix. “It’s the identical factor with Amen on the defensive finish. You may’t educate what he does.”
