Houston might be as well positioned to go either of those routes as any team in the league outside of Oklahoma City. The Rockets are flush with draft capital and young talent. And there is particular enthusiasm coursing through Toyota Center that Amen Thompson, in particular, is a star in the homegrown making. For the record: The Rockets, sources say, believed that even before the Golden State series.
Source: marcstein.substack.com
Source: marcstein.substack.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
Top-5 defensive wings in the NBA. No particular order: Kawhi Leonard, Dyson Daniels, Amen Thompson, Toumani Camara, Lu Dort
Anyone I missed that belongs up there in place of someone else? – 6:50 PM
Top-5 defensive wings in the NBA. No particular order: Kawhi Leonard, Dyson Daniels, Amen Thompson, Toumani Camara, Lu Dort
Anyone I missed that belongs up there in place of someone else? – 6:50 PM
David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
If Amen Thompson comes back with a three-point shot next season, and the Houston Rockets don’t trade for a star, he will be the best player on his team. No disrespect to Alperen Şengün. Thompson is possibly the most athletic guy in the league, and what? A top-3 defender? He’s 22. – 6:42 PM
If Amen Thompson comes back with a three-point shot next season, and the Houston Rockets don’t trade for a star, he will be the best player on his team. No disrespect to Alperen Şengün. Thompson is possibly the most athletic guy in the league, and what? A top-3 defender? He’s 22. – 6:42 PM
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Draymond Green greeting Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Ime Udoka, Amen Thompson and Steven Adams after the series. Pretty friendly postgame scene in Houston. pic.x.com/oc4zSGmKRD – 11:13 PM
Draymond Green greeting Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Ime Udoka, Amen Thompson and Steven Adams after the series. Pretty friendly postgame scene in Houston. pic.x.com/oc4zSGmKRD – 11:13 PM
David Hardisty @clutchfans
NBA Draft Lottery is one week from Monday. The offseason for the Rockets will be very interesting as stars may become available via trade. Change is very possible, but Amen Thompson is not going anywhere. – 11:10 PM
NBA Draft Lottery is one week from Monday. The offseason for the Rockets will be very interesting as stars may become available via trade. Change is very possible, but Amen Thompson is not going anywhere. – 11:10 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Big respect from Stephen Curry to Amen Thompson after Warriors survive Rockets in Game 7 pic.x.com/6qEBUjHRO9 – 11:09 PM
Big respect from Stephen Curry to Amen Thompson after Warriors survive Rockets in Game 7 pic.x.com/6qEBUjHRO9 – 11:09 PM
Marcus Thompson @ThompsonScribe
Amen Thompson is incredible. It’s a Game 7 and he’s look his most confident – 10:26 PM
Amen Thompson is incredible. It’s a Game 7 and he’s look his most confident – 10:26 PM
Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Warriors are killing between Draymond on defense and Hield’s shotmaking, but holy mother of god Amen Thompson is special right now on the court and just willing the Rockets to stay in this game. This is unreal. That tip over three guys off of the Sengun miss was CRAZY. – 10:09 PM
Warriors are killing between Draymond on defense and Hield’s shotmaking, but holy mother of god Amen Thompson is special right now on the court and just willing the Rockets to stay in this game. This is unreal. That tip over three guys off of the Sengun miss was CRAZY. – 10:09 PM
Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
When it comes to the off season and trade talks… Amen Thompson definitely better be untouchable. That young man is Special – 10:09 PM
When it comes to the off season and trade talks… Amen Thompson definitely better be untouchable. That young man is Special – 10:09 PM
David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
It’s Game 7, and 22yo Amen Thompson is keeping the Rockets in it. This kid is already awesome. Really excited to see how his career unfolds. – 10:09 PM
It’s Game 7, and 22yo Amen Thompson is keeping the Rockets in it. This kid is already awesome. Really excited to see how his career unfolds. – 10:09 PM
Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Everyone on this broadcast should be fired immediately for not showing that Amen Thompson highlight immediately after the buzzer. – 9:39 PM
Everyone on this broadcast should be fired immediately for not showing that Amen Thompson highlight immediately after the buzzer. – 9:39 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Steph finally hits one before Amen Thompson does some matrix-shape shifting stuff to return serve.
Warriors up 51-39 at the half. Buddy Hield with 22. Thompson with 12 – 9:38 PM
Steph finally hits one before Amen Thompson does some matrix-shape shifting stuff to return serve.
Warriors up 51-39 at the half. Buddy Hield with 22. Thompson with 12 – 9:38 PM
David Hardisty @clutchfans
Starting lineups for Game 7:
Houston Rockets
G – Fred VanVleet
G – Jalen Green
F – Dillon Brooks
F – Amen Thompson
C – Alperen Şengün
Golden State Warriors
G – Steph Curry
G – Brandin Podziemski
F – Buddy Hield
F – Jimmy Butler
C – Draymond Green playback.tv/clutchfans?s=9… – 8:01 PM
Starting lineups for Game 7:
Houston Rockets
G – Fred VanVleet
G – Jalen Green
F – Dillon Brooks
F – Amen Thompson
C – Alperen Şengün
Golden State Warriors
G – Steph Curry
G – Brandin Podziemski
F – Buddy Hield
F – Jimmy Butler
C – Draymond Green playback.tv/clutchfans?s=9… – 8:01 PM
More on this storyline
Jackson Gatlin: Rockets win 131-116 in Game 5, surviving a late push by Warriors reserves. Fred VanVleet led with 26 points, Amen Thompson added 25 and 8 stocks. Alperen Sengun (15/9/9/2 STL) flirted with a triple-double. Rockets defense had Steph and Jimmy (13 and 8 points) in hell. -via x.com / April 30, 2025
But Plan B would be to cash in some of the assets that the Rockets patiently accumulated over the past five years to speed up the process via a blockbuster trade. Green is Houston’s leading scorer and one of a handful of “bets,” as Stone puts it, that the Rockets have on the board to grow into that All-NBA talent necessary to make a title run. Sengun, a skilled center, made his first All-Star appearance at age 22 this season. Amen Thompson, 22, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, has already established himself as a dominant defensive force and is just starting to scratch the surface of his offensive potential. Rockets decision-makers consider guard Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick who hasn’t cracked a deep rotation on a consistent basis as a rookie, as perhaps the most gifted offensive talent on the roster. -via ESPN / April 30, 2025
David Hardisty: This is ugly — Amen Thompson falls forward and ends up undercutting Jimmy Butler pic.x.com/PsDujc8sSD -via Twitter @clutchfans / April 23, 2025