Amen Thompson

Amen Thompson is an American professional basketball player best known as an explosive guard-forward for the Houston Rockets and one of the NBA’s most exciting young two-way talents. Born in Oakland, California, and raised in the San Leandro area, Thompson developed a reputation for elite athleticism, defensive versatility, and creative playmaking at an early age. Alongside his identical twin brother Ausar Thompson, he became part of one of the most closely watched sibling stories in modern basketball.

Thompson attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he emerged as a high-level prospect with rare size and explosiveness for a guard. He helped Pine Crest win a Florida state championship during the 2020-21 season and was regarded as a five-star recruit. Rather than taking the traditional college route, Thompson bypassed his senior season of high school and joined Overtime Elite, a professional development league designed for top basketball prospects.

At Overtime Elite, Thompson played for Team OTE and later the City Reapers. His combination of speed, vertical athleticism, passing instincts, and defensive disruption made him one of the league’s top prospects. During the 2022-23 season, he helped lead the City Reapers to the OTE championship and earned All-OTE First Team honors. His time in OTE strengthened his reputation as a high-upside playmaker with the tools to defend multiple positions at the next level.

The Houston Rockets selected Thompson with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. One pick later, his twin brother Ausar was selected fifth overall by the Detroit Pistons, making the Thompson twins one of the most notable brother duos in NBA Draft history. Amen entered the NBA as a 6-foot-7 guard-forward with elite transition ability, strong rebounding instincts, and the defensive tools to guard both perimeter players and wings.

Thompson made his NBA debut during the 2023-24 season with Houston. As a rookie, he showed flashes of star potential through his open-court speed, rebounding, passing, and ability to impact games without needing heavy scoring volume. He finished the season averaging 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

During the 2024-25 season, Thompson made a major leap and became one of Houston’s most important players. His defense became a defining part of the Rockets’ identity, as he used his length, strength, foot speed, and instincts to guard elite scorers across multiple positions. In January 2025, he was named Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month after producing standout defensive numbers while also contributing as a scorer, rebounder, and playmaker.

Thompson’s breakout defensive season was recognized with selection to the 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive First Team. That honor established him as one of the league’s premier young defenders and made him one of the most valuable building blocks in Houston’s young core. He also participated in the 2025 NBA Rising Stars event, further raising his national profile among the NBA’s next generation of stars.

By the 2025-26 season, Thompson had expanded his offensive role while remaining a high-impact defender and transition weapon. On April 10, 2026, he scored a career-high 41 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, showing how far his scoring game had developed since entering the league. With rare athletic traits, defensive excellence, playmaking upside, and a rapidly growing offensive game, Amen Thompson has become one of the most collectible young names in modern basketball cards and memorabilia.