Rockets Can Benefit from 'Positionless' Amen Thompson

Houston Rockets second-year pro Amen Thompson came into the league as someone who could play point guard, power forward or somewhere in between.

At 6-7, Thompson came into the league with the size of a wing but the skillset of a guard, making him a unique player that the Rockets couldn't hesitate to take with the No. 4 overall pick, and he's meshing in well with Houston.

"I get the spacing concerns, I really do. I also watched how Thompson found his niche as a rookie despite his shooting woes, using his versatility and athleticism to defend multiple positions (95th percentile, per Estimated Plus-Minus), put downhill pressure on defenders and play without the ball. Late in the season, Thompson was unlocked in the dunker’s spot, a testament to his positionless approach that lends well to the modern game," The Athletic's Kelly Iko writes.

Thompson averaged 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in 62 appearances (23 starts) for the Rockets in his rookie year.

There is still so much about Thompson's game that needs to grow and develop and the ceiling is very high. He could emerge into the Rockets' starting point guard some day, or he can share the floor with a more traditional floor general like Fred VanVleet.

Thompson allows the Rockets to go into so many different lineups and directions, and that makes him arguably the most important cog in the machine for Houston's future.

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