Rockets’ Amen Thompson Shines Amid Praise from Dillon Brooks

HOUSTON, Texas — Rising NBA star Amen Thompson is gaining recognition for his impressive performance on the court this season. After a strong 2024-25 season, where he achieved a 60.2% true shooting percentage, Thompson started the 2025-26 season with a lower efficiency of 54.8%. However, recent games suggest that he is regaining his form.

In his last two games against the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns, Thompson averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal per game while shooting an impressive 58.8% overall. He also maintained a perfect record at the free-throw line. Veteran Suns forward Dillon Brooks, who was Thompson’s teammate for the past two seasons, took notice of this upward trend.

Brooks commented on Thompson’s skills, stating, “He’s a great player. You can’t let him get to his right hand, that’s his strong suit. His growth has been tremendous. He was a great player for the years I was there, and now.” Brooks emphasized Thompson’s ability to score in the paint and his defensive capabilities, saying he guards the best player every night.

Despite the early-season dip in shooting, Thompson’s net rating differential is the highest on the Rockets, showing a +10.3 when he is on the floor. The young guard was drafted fourth overall by Houston in 2023 and has shown significant improvement in his play thanks in part to Brooks’ mentorship.

The Rockets are enjoying a strong start to the season with an 11-4 record as they look ahead to a matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. Central. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN. As Thompson continues to develop, fans are eager to see how he builds on his recent successes.