As an athletic 6-foot-7 rookie, Amen Thompson has the versatility to start at multiple positions, and he became a frontcourt player in the aftermath of the season-ending injury to Alperen Sengun.
Yet, the No. 4 overall pick from the NBA’s 2023 first round was drafted as a point guard, and Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka still believes in his long-term potential in that role.
So, with veteran Fred VanVleet (right hip contusion) sitting out in Portland for Friday’s penultimate game of the 2023-24 regular season, Thompson made his first career start at point guard. Jock Landale started at center to soak up many of the vacated frontcourt minutes.
As for Thompson, the 21-year-old responded with 17 points (50.0% FG), 6 assists, and a career-high 15 rebounds in an impressive road victory for the young and improving Rockets (40-41).
Here’s what Udoka said when asked if point guard is still where Thompson will eventually end up, as his career progresses:
A big part is improving his shot, not being defended by five men [centers] at times. That’s a big piece. It [playing in a frontcourt role] was due to circumstance, with him being in the starting lineup with Alpi out. You’re out there with Jalen [Green] and Fred, and with his versatility and size and athleticism, we were able to move him around, and use him off ball. I think that will only help him down the line.
He gets it off the glass, he pushes pace and has vision to find everybody. So, he’s a natural initiator and finder, from that standpoint. I think improving his IQ in the halfcourt, and understanding where to get his shots and where to get others, is a big piece of it. He’s very capable of playing the point, but he can do all those other things, as well.
VanVleet’s status for Sunday’s finale in Los Angeles against the Clippers is uncertain so it isn’t yet clear if Thompson will start in the frontcourt or at point guard. But either way, he’ll have an important role as Houston seeks its first non-losing season in four years.
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Ime Udoka met with the media a short time ago
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