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Amen Thompson

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Amen Thompson
No. 1 – Houston Rockets
PositionGuard/small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born(2003-01-30)January 30, 2003(age 21)
Oakland, California,U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolPine Crest
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
NBA draft2023:1st round, 4th overall pick
Selected by theHouston Rockets
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Team OTE
2022–2023City Reapers
2023–presentHouston Rockets
2023→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Career highlights and awards
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat NBA.com
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat Basketball-Reference.com

Ameiz XLNC"Amen"Thompson(/əˈmɛnˈɛksələnsˈtɒmsən/ə-MENEK-sə-lənssTOM-sən;[1]born January 30, 2003) is an American professionalbasketballplayer for theHouston Rocketsof theNational Basketball Association(NBA). He played basketball forPine Crest SchoolinFort Lauderdale, Florida,where he was rated a five-starrecruitbyESPNand won a state title. Thompson bypassed his senior year of high school to sign withOTE,where he played for two seasons and helped his team win the league title while earning All-OTE First Team honors in 2023. He was selected 4th overall in the2023 NBA draftby the Houston Rockets. He is the twin brother of basketball playerAusar Thompson.

Early life

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Thompson was born to Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson and raised inSan Leandro, California.[2][3]His identical twin brother,Ausar,was born one minute after him; they share the middle name "XLNC" (pronounced "excellence").[4]Thompson's older brother, Troy Jr., playedcollege basketballforPrairie View A&M.His uncle,Mark Thompson,representedJamaicain400 meter hurdlesat the1992 Summer Olympics.He and Ausar began training for basketball under the guidance of their father by age seven and drew inspiration fromLeBron James.[2]The twins werehomeschooledin sixth and seventh grades to focus on basketball.[3]

High school career

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Entering eighth grade, Thompson and his family moved toFort Lauderdale, Floridaso that he and Ausar could play high school basketball one year early atPine Crest School.[2][5]The twins immediately started for the team.[6]As a sophomore at Pine Crest, Thompson averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, earning All-Countyhonorable mention. Entering his junior season, he was named to the Broward County Fab Five by theSun-Sentinel.[7]He averaged 20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game as a junior, leading his team to the Class 4A state championship in a 90–83 doubleovertimewin overSanta Fe High School.[8]In the title game, Thompson scored 43 points and helped Pine Crest overcome an eight-point deficit with 45 seconds left in overtime.[6]He shared Broward County Class 5A-1A co-player of the year honors from theSun-Sentinelwith Ausar.[8]

Recruiting

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Thompson was considered a five-starrecruitbyESPNand a four-star recruit byRivals.[9][10]He gained interest from college programs in 2019, receiving a scholarship offer fromAlabama.[11]After his junior year, Thompson held offers fromAlabama,Arizona,Auburn,Arizona StateandKansas,among other programs, before deciding to not playcollege basketball.[12]

UScollege sports recruitinginformation for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Amen Thompson
PG/SG/SF 		Fort Lauderdale, FL Pine Crest(FL) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) —
Recruiting star ratings:Rivals:4/5 stars247Sports:N/AESPN:5/5 starsESPN grade: 90
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note:In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Professional career

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Team OTE (2021–2022)

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On May 25, 2021, Thompson signed a two-year contract withOvertime Elite(OTE), a new professional league based inAtlantawith players between ages 16 and 20. He joined the league with his brother Ausar, bypassing his final year of high school and college, because he felt that it would prepare him best for the NBA.[2][13][14]In the 2021–22 season, Thompson played for Team OTE, one of three teams in the league, and averaged 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game.[15][16]He competed against other OTE teams, as well asprep schoolandpostgraduateopponents.[17]He helped his team achieve a runner-up finish, scoring 13 points in a 52–45 loss to Team Elite in the decisive third game of the finals.[18]Thompson played for OTE affiliate Team Overtime inThe Basketball Tournamentin July 2022.[2]His team lost to Omaha Blue Crew, 74–70, in the first round of the tournament.[19]

City Reapers (2022–2023)

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In the 2022–23 OTE season, Thompson played for the City Reapers alongside teamcaptainAusar, who selected him with the first pick in the league's draft.[20]On January 9, 2023, he was named OTE Player of the Week, three days after recording 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals in a 101–90 win over the Cold Hearts.[21]In the regular season, Thompson averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game and was named to the All-OTE First Team.[22][23]In game 2 of the OTE Finals, he made a game-winning layup at the buzzer in an 80–78 win over the YNG Dreamerz.[24]Thompson helped the Reapers win the league championship in a 3–0sweep.[25]On April 21, 2023, he declared for the2023 NBA draft,where analysts viewed him as a potential top-10 pick.[26]

Houston Rockets (2023–present)

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TheHouston Rocketsselected Thompson with the fourth overall pick in the2023 NBA draft,one pick ahead of his twin brotherAusar.[27]They were the first brothers in NBA draft history to be selected in the top 5 in the same year.[28]On October 25, 2023, Thompson made his NBA debut, scoring eight points along with five rebounds and two assists in a 116–86 loss to theOrlando Magic.[29]Thompson missed a couple of games from the start of the season after suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain on his left ankle. He was sent to the G-League on December 5 for development before being recalled from the Rockets four days later.[30]Thompson made his return on the bench after a 15-game absence and recorded two points, five rebounds, and one assist in 10 minutes in the 93-82 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Thompson's minutes and numbers increased while playing full-time in the starting lineup for the remaining 15 games after teammateAlperen Şengünmissed the remainder of the season from a knee injury.[31]Thompson recorded his first triple-double in a game win against theLos Angeles Clipperswith a total of 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in his final game as a rookie.[32]He was selected to theNBA All-Rookie Second Teamand became the fifth Rockets player to receive NBA all-rookie recognition in the past four seasons for the Rockets Rebuild.

Career statistics

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Legend
GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
FG% Field goalpercentage 3P% 3-point field goalpercentage FT% Free throwpercentage
RPG Reboundsper game APG Assistsper game SPG Stealsper game
BPG Blocksper game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
* Led the league

NBA

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Houston 62 23 22.4 .536 .138 .684 6.6 2.6 1.3 .6 9.5
Career 62 23 22.4 .536 .138 .684 6.6 2.6 1.3 .6 9.5

References

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  1. ^"2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide"(Press release). National Basketball Association. October 24, 2023.RetrievedMay 17,2024.
  2. ^abcdeGutierrez, Israel (August 31, 2022)."The Thompson twins and Overtime Elite's unproven path to the NBA".ESPN.RetrievedJanuary 26,2023.
  3. ^abPolacheck, Jacob (April 18, 2022)."An Audacious Dream Meets Itself in Reality: A Look Inside Overtime Elite's Inaugural Season".Zagsblog.RetrievedJanuary 26,2023.
  4. ^Graham, Pat (June 20, 2023)."Twins Amen and Ausar Thompson set to be taken in top-10 of NBA draft".ABC News.RetrievedJune 23,2023.
  5. ^Schoenfield, Bruce (November 30, 2021)."The Teenagers Getting Six Figures to Leave Their High Schools for Basketball".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 26,2023.
  6. ^abWilson, David (March 6, 2021)."'I did not think we were going to win': Pine Crest wins state title with miracle comeback ".Miami Herald.RetrievedJanuary 27,2023.
  7. ^Lichtenstein, Adam (December 15, 2020)."Broward County boys basketball Fab Five for 2020 (and the next five)".Sun-Sentinel.RetrievedJanuary 27,2023.
  8. ^abLichtenstein, Adam (March 27, 2021)."Broward 5A-1A boys basketball co-players of the year: Ausar Thompson and Amen Thompson, Pine Crest juniors".Sun-Sentinel.RetrievedJanuary 27,2023.
  9. ^"Amen Thompson - Basketball Recruiting".ESPN.RetrievedJanuary 27,2023.
  10. ^"Amen Thompson, 2022 Point Guard".Rivals.RetrievedJanuary 27,2023.
  11. ^Young, Justin (October 2, 2019)."South Florida's Thompson Twins are catching on with recruiters".HoopSeen.RetrievedJanuary 27,2023.
  12. ^Branham, Travis (May 25, 2021)."Elite twins Amen and Ausar Thompson skip college to join the Overtime Elite program".247Sports.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  13. ^Boone, Kyle (May 25, 2021)."Overtime Elite lands another set of twins as Amen and Ausar Thompson choose professional program over college".CBS Sports.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  14. ^Woo, Jeremy (March 7, 2022)."Can Overtime Elite Disrupt Basketball With... Twins?".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  15. ^Araiza, Robert (January 13, 2023)."Amen & Ausar Thompson: Should the San Antonio Spurs roll the dice?".Air Alamo.FanSided.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  16. ^Sprung, Shlomo (August 26, 2022)."Overtime Elite Roster 2022-23".Boardroom.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  17. ^Givony, Jonathan (October 13, 2021)."Overtime Elite announces 2021-22 schedule, roster for inaugural season".ESPN.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  18. ^Feldman, Joseph (March 14, 2022)."Team Elite Wins First Overtime Elite Championship".Overtime Elite.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  19. ^DeMarinis, Matt (July 17, 2022)."Omaha Blue Crew outlasts Team Overtime in a battle of old versus new".White and Blue Review.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
  20. ^Feldman, Joseph (September 21, 2022)."OTE Announces Roster Reveal and Expansion for Season 2".Overtime Elite.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  21. ^Feldman, Joseph (January 9, 2023)."Amen Thompson named OTE Player of the Week".Overtime Elite.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
  22. ^"OTE Announces Regular Season Awards".OTE.February 20, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 21,2023.
  23. ^"Amen Thompson".Overtime Elite.February 11, 2023.RetrievedJune 19,2023.
  24. ^Feldman, Joseph (March 4, 2023)."Amen Sinks Buzzer Beater for Reapers Game 2 Win".Overtime Elite.RetrievedJune 19,2023.
  25. ^Feldman, Joseph (March 4, 2023)."City Reapers Win OTE Championship".Overtime Elite.RetrievedJune 19,2023.
  26. ^Cobb, David (April 21, 2023)."2023 NBA Draft: Amen, Ausar Thompson declare as likely lottery picks after playing for Overtime Elite".CBS Sports.RetrievedJune 18,2023.
  27. ^Siegel, Brett (June 22, 2023)."Amen Thompson: Meet the Rockets' No. 4 pick in 2023 NBA Draft".ClutchPoints.RetrievedJune 22,2023.
  28. ^Woodyard, Eric (June 23, 2023)."Amen, Ausar Thompson first brothers taken in top 5 of same NBA draft".ESPN.com.RetrievedJune 27,2023.
  29. ^"Rockets 86-116 Magic (Oct 25, 2023) Box Score".ESPN.RetrievedOctober 26,2023.
  30. ^DuBose, Ben (December 5, 2023)."Rockets rookie Amen Thompson returns from injury with NBA G League assignment".rocketswire.usatoday.com.
  31. ^DuBose, Ben (March 12, 2024)."With Alperen Sengun injured, Rockets promote Amen Thompson to starting lineup".rocketswire.usatoday.com.RetrievedMarch 12,2024.
  32. ^DuBose, Ben (April 14, 2024)."Takeaways: Amen Thompson posts first triple-double, Rockets beat Clippers to clinch.500 season".rocketswire.usatoday.com.RetrievedApril 14,2024.
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