The Rockets are healthy and have the components in place to fit the vision general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka had in mind last year when they pulled off the surprising trade for Kevin Durant.
This version of the Rockets, a blend of experienced veterans and youth, is built to win now. But much of how the 2026-27 season turns out will depend greatly on the continued development of versatile Amen Thompson, who is entering his fourth season with the Rockets.
Udoka saw signs of improvement in Thompson in places and situations throughout the offseason. Now he is ready to see if the freakish athleticism that Thompson has is ready to take that next step on NBA floors.
“Take another jump, continue to improve in every area,” Udoka responded to the Defender when asked what he is looking for from Thompson this season. “I think anytime you see him, whether it’s Las Vegas playing in the open gym there or Los Angeles, I think he is one of the more dominant players on the court wherever he is at. Want that to translate to the NBA, where he has had really good seasons and progressed, but for him it’s continue to improve in every area.”
It’s a challenge Thompson believes he is ready to meet after an offseason of improving his game in all phases. After being forced last season to play more point guard in the absence of Fred VanVleet, he improved as a ballhandler, scorer, and rebounder as the team leaned on him more heavily.
The only area of Thompson’s game that didn’t improve was defensively, which had been his hallmark during his first two seasons in the league, largely because of the increased offensive demands.
Thompson vows that this season is the time to elevate his game in all facets.
“He is going to be great. I have a lot to learn from him, as well. We’re two different players in how we play. We have some similarities, but he is 6’7 with a longer wingspan. To be able to move is incredible. I’m just glad to be a part of his journey, as well.”
– Marcus Smart, Rockets forward
“Last season was a learning experience, it was fun, getting a lot more on-ball reps obviously,” the 23-year-old said to the Defender. “Had to pick and choose when to use a lot of my energy. This year, I’m going to be off-ball, on-ball. Both.
“Really locked in on the defensive end and bring what I usually bring. Transition, defensive, and my offensive game.”
A more locked-in Thompson could be great for the Rockets and problematic for the rest of the NBA. During his first three seasons, he was something of a Swiss Army knife, capable of defending virtually every position on the floor, playing multiple positions on the floor, and rebounding with the best of them.
Now the key is to bring it all together at the small forward spot while playing in a starting lineup that includes Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun, VanVleet, and Durant.
“I really just focused on – I know this is going to sound corny – being the best basketball player I can be,” Thompson said when asked what his focus was this offseason. “It was a little bit of everything. I focused on shooting, too. But it was a little bit of everything, defense, my handle, playcalling, being a better leader, and shooting on top of that, too.”
Last season, led to another jump in scoring (18.3 points), rebounding (7.8), and assists (5.3) while shooting 53.4% from the floor and playing the most cumulative minutes of any NBA player at 37.4 minutes per game. The Rockets brass knows there is substantial potential for more growth, which is why the franchise chose to invest heavily in the fourth-overall pick this offseason with a five-year, $208 million extension on his rookie deal.
That investment speaks volumes about the Rockets’ belief in Thompson. It just made sense to Stone to lock Thompson for the future this offseason, which was the first time teams could extend rookies from the 2023 NBA Draft.
“He helps our team on the court in literally every way you can,” Stone said. “We turn the ball over less. We turn the other team over more. We rebound better. We shoot a higher percentage. We shoot free throws better.
“Everything is better with Amen. So yeah, we’re very, very high on him.”
Of course, getting the extension meant a lot to Thompson because of what it said about the Rockets’ belief in him. But he insists getting the deal done wasn’t his primary focus.
“It means a lot,” said Thomspon, whose twin brother, Ausar, received a rookie extension this offseason in Detroit. “I feel like I’m a big piece to the team. I think they think the same thing. So just being back and being secured for this amount of time. I’m ready to work, and I want to bring a championship to Houston.”
Now the focus is on continued growth, being more comfortable as a non-ballhandler who is capable of handling the ball when necessary, and getting back to being the defensive presence that made him a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2024-25.
“Just playing basketball the way I play. I play both ends of the floor,” Thompson said. “It’s not really a balancing act for me. It’s how I play, and I play my best when I’m defending at a high level, getting out on transition and finding my spots on offense.”
“Being all-defensive in the past and wants to get back to that and taking steps offensively, understanding what we are looking for from him. Everybody talks about the jump shot, and he has been a really dominant player without that at times, but we will continue
Rockets coach Ime Udoka
to improve on that.”
His teammates are seeing that next level of being locked in in the usually reserved Thompson, who’s been less inclined to be vocal in the past. But that has been much different going into this season.
“On the court, the growth is something that everybody is seeing,” Smith said to the Defender. “But I think off the court, he is just talking a lot more. On the court we were playing a few days ago, and he was just talking a lot, putting guys in spots.
“I can tell the game is slowing down a lot for him. Just with him playing point guard a lot last year, he is seeing the game a little different,” Smith continued. “He’s talking a lot more, even on defense, he is talking a lot more. He is just a little bit more vocal. We know Amen is pretty quiet, so it’s definitely a jump in the right direction for him to be using his voice just talking a lot more.”
Speaking up is something Thompson says he focused on improving.
“This offseason, and last season, too, I really did want to work on becoming more vocal, being a leader,” he said.
Thompson’s game on the floor has also improved, along with his vocal skills. He has been something of an athletic freak around the basket, dunking the basketball and posting up. Thompson has needed to improve most in developing a mid-range jumper and 3-point shooting.
While those aspects are still a work in progress, there has been improvement.
“His game is obviously improving. His jump shot is improving, his ballhandling is improving … everything on the court is a given,” Smith said. “We know his potential; we know what he can do. I’m most impressed with how vocal he is, how much he is taking on that leadership role.”
It all fits into Thompson’s plan to be better overall this season.
“The most important thing is becoming the best basketball player I can be,” he said. “I feel like I really wanted to become a better leader.”
