Rockets go with Amen Thompson with 4th pick of NBA draft
With the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets have selected guard Amen Thompson of the Overtime Elite league.
Thompson, like his twin brother Ausar, was a touted five-star high school prospect but rebuffed the traditional routes of college and going pro internationally to join Overtime Elite, a new startup league that had yet to play its inaugural season. It was marketed as an alternative to the NCAA with a minimum six-figure salary, or players could opt to play under a scholarship to preserve their college eligibility.
The Detroit Pistons selected Ausar with the next pick, fifth overall.
Whether OTE has done enough to prepare its players for the NBA remains to be seen, but Thompson will effectively serve as one of the most visible measuring sticks of its development process. An explosive combo guard, he demonstrated plenty of talent throughout two years in the competition against high schoolers and other signees. However, if he fails to acclimate to the Association, teams might be wary of trusting OTE again.
Bio
Position: Guard
Club: City Reapers (OTE)
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 214 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot
Max vertical: N/A
2022-23 stats with City Reapers (Overtime Elite)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 56.6 | 25.0 | 65.6 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 16.4 |
Strengths
- Possesses incredible athleticism, which he pairs with a quick first step to attack the basket almost at will.
- Frequently creates good looks for teammates, usually after beating his man off the dribble and scrambling defenses.
- Boasts a rare mix of talented ball-handling and size for a guard.
Weaknesses
- Not a great shooter; low free-throw percentage adds credence to notion that his mechanics need in-depth work to allow him to extend his range in the NBA.
- Questions persist about quality of competition; 2022-23 Overtime Elite season included just three full-time teams competing against three high school teams, plus occasional non-league games against other high schools.
NBA comparable: Ben Simmons. It's not a perfect comparison, especially factoring in Simmons' on-court struggles in recent seasons, but both he and Thompson are giant point guards (Simmons slightly moreso at 6-foot-10) who are beyond comfortable with the ball in their hands while doing a little bit of everything, statistically speaking.
The obvious other similarity is their shooting or lack thereof. But while both are subpar spacers, Thompson does appear to have the confidence to put up attempts from distance; he totaled 43 attempts with 10 makes this past season, while Simmons has just 36 tries over five seasons of action. Both of their forms are subpar, but Simmons could compensate with great playmaking from the point while being able to defend multiple positions - qualities that Thompson is projected to boast himself thanks to his frame and athleticism.