How This NBA Player is Dominating Without a Jump Shot
Amen Thompson has been one of the most exciting second-year players in the NBA this season, and the Houston Rockets are racking up win after win because of his contributions. Is Amen Thompson proof that needing a jump shot is overrated in today’s NBA?
➤ X: https://x.com/AlexHoops_
➤ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/AlexHoops
➤ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMediaPass
#AmenThompson #HoustonRockets #NBA #ThompsonTwins #Rockets
29 Comments
"Can you be a star in the NBA without a jump shot?" No, Alex…. I can't
He's going to be special, man. He's so athletic and already clearly has a great feel for the game. But when he works and refines things like his floater, catch-and-shoot three, etc. he's going to be a bonified star. He's got the playstyle to be a star too. Who doesn't love watching an athletic wing dunk, steal, and block shots?!
The main difference between amen and a young Ben Simmons is responsibility. Amen does work dramatically better as a role player, because the focus isn't on him.
By having more primary threats on ball, it allows amen to take advantage of not being the primary focus of opponent defenses. Defenses aren't scheming to stop him, and aren't pressing him like a star. And the rockets aren't running it through him too much. Which when he has gotten used to much, has still gotten exposed too many times to realistically run it through him for a while.
Him as a star role player gives his team a higher ceiling than if they would rely on him as a true star.
He can get eyes off him so much more, and use his cutting ability underneath for interior passes and offensive rebounds. And his passing abilities give them an extra layer of ball movement they really need. And obviously defense is where he shines the most. So having others be bigger focuses on offense, allows amen to focus more on defense.
Jump Shot is still important, he's just elite at the other aspects of the game
Bc you don’t need everyone to shoot or play a robotic game
He's the best player on the Rockets
His basketball iq is out of this world. He plays great defense and moves super well without the ball. He knows where to be at the right time at all times.
Bald Mamba at 100%
Just watched a TB video on him, those twin brothers are freak athletes man. That is fair unlike a Roberson these guys aren’t afraid to have the rock
Reminds me of Shawn Marion type player but could be even better
Amen and Ausar should be on every All Def 1st team for the next decade. Their impact on that end is jaw dropping and the offense is coming
He can’t be a closer but definitely can be a star
Easily one of my favorite players, he can do everything in the court except shooting and even then he’s progressing rapidly as a shooter
What Jokic can do on offense is what Amen can do on defense Lol
Ben Simmons could do everything Amen could do and more. He was never surrounded by this amount of floor spacing and ball movement. Prime Ben Simmons would be a nightly triple double threat on this year’s Rockets team.
What Ben Simmons should’ve been
One thing I think a lot of people overlook is that Giannis has already proven you can have insane offensive gravity and be a true superstar and win a title and win multiple MVP awards without a jump shot in today's NBA–you just have to be physically dominant enough. I think people have this implicit assumption that, "oh, he's around 7 feet tall, of course that's the case" but Giannis actually often plays as a perimeter-oriented player. I guess the question then is, can a guy who's a little shorter than Giannis, maybe not quite as insanely strong (yet?) be just as physically dominant just by being an insane four-quadrants athlete with incredible basketball IQ?
is it fair to say amen is like a draymond with more scoring but less defensive iq? or how would you guys put it?
He's literally a 2 way slashing playmaker irl
Amen just has to be a special role player for the rockets right now and i mean that in a good way! Especially they have a go to guy in Green and lots of firepower coming from the rockets core in Vanvleet,Brooks,Whitmore,Smith,Eason,Holiday,Sheppard, and the rest. This rockets team can get hot offensively at any given games and can score with the best teams in the league. But ultimately it’s their grit and hunger on the defensive side of the ball that wins them games right now. and that’s when Amen’s role is so crucial to this team
He just has this Westbrook 2017 motor that he can do it all especially on defending and rebounding. I really do believe this team is ready to win it all this year if they stay healthy throughout the course of the season! 🚀💯
They said the same for ben Simmons
i think its a regular season boost- houston is my team and we have the 2nd hardest schedule moving forward. which mean teams arent gonna be as sloppy guarding him nor are the playoffs gonna be as kind to guys like amen/asur and westbrook.
A Rich Man's Gerald Wallace
Hes Ben simmons but with a work ethic.
Giannis in his first 10 years was a straight brick tbh
Everything you are saying right now is the same thing we said about Ben Simmons early in his career. Right down to the stats.
He takes jumpers all the time lol
if it wasnt for wemby, there should be a strong case for Amen to go #1 overall over brandon miller and scoot henderson
Rondo was a star. So?🤔