It didn't take long before the Houston Rockets realized they had gotten a special player with Amen Thompson. They brought him in slowly as a rookie, even sending him to the NBA G-League for a brief while before giving him a longer leash towards the end of the season.
Now, two years removed from being the fourth pick in the 2023 NBA draft, the young guard/forward is looking at a crucial third season. Judging by what he showed in his second year in the league, it's safe to assume that he's looking at a massive raise in his next contract.
Rockets' Amen Thompson Deserves Big Payday Next Season
Thompson averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game on 55.7% from the floor in 69 games (42 starts) last season. The San Leandro, CA native showed that he could play on and off the ball and guard one through five like few players in the league.
That type of dynamic and efficient two-way play can be crucial to the Rockets' aspirations, and with a gritty and defensive-oriented coach like Ime Udoka there, his role will only grow as the game keeps slowing down for him.
At just $9.7 million a year, Thompson is going to be one of the biggest bargains in the game. His salary is projected to go up to around $12.3 million for the 2026-27 season, but the Rockets will be wise to lock him up for the future before it gets even more expensive.
Per Bryan Toporek of Forbes, he could be looking at a five-year, $271.3 million extension that could be even more lucrative depending on incentives:
"If the salary cap continues to increase by 10% every year as expected, (Thompson will) be eligible for a five-year, $271.3 million extension that would begin with a $46.8 million salary in the 2027-28 season," Toporek wrote. "If he makes an All-NBA team or wins MVP or Defensive Player of the Year in 2026-27, his extension could start at $56.1 million and get bumped up to $325.6 million in total."
Thompson will be a seamless fit next to Kevin Durant. They'll give the Rockets more length and a more switchable defense to make up for Alperen Sengun's shortcomings on that end of the floor, all while providing a perennial threat as a slasher.
Thompson does need to become a more consistent shooter, as he shot just 27.5 percent from beyond the arc on 1.7 attempts per game last season. With his playmaking, basketball IQ, and athleticism, being able to stretch the floor could turn him into a top-five two-way player in the league.