2023 NBA Draft: Amen Thompson Could Require Specific NBA Fit

Amen Thompson is one of the top prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft cycle. But tapping into his upside will require giving him the keys to the offense.

The upper echelon of the 2023 NBA Draft has something for everyone. A 7-foot-4 French phenom, a dynamo who dominated the G League at 17-years-old and the Alabama sharpshooter who took college basketball by storm.

Amen Thompson, one of the more athletic prospects in recent memory, fits in nicely among that upper echelon. But maximizing his potential is a bit trickier.

At 6-foot-7, Thompson has lead ball-handler potential with his innate athleticism, a variety of dribble moves and lightning quick instincts getting to the paint. Not only that, he’s shown tremendous upside as a playmaker when operating as a lead creator.

His primary downside is his outside shooting, which is certainly a work in progress with lackluster numbers and a bit of a wonky shooting form. But for the most part, Thompson fits the mold of a potential NBA star.

It doesn’t sound like a hard task to plug Thompson into the NBA. But diving in further reveals a few hiccups.

Firstly, Thompson is going to require on-ball reps to really tap into his potential superstar upside. Relegating him to a primarily off-ball player simply isn’t going to help his development. He might not be worthy of a full on “project” title, but the jump from the Overtime Elite league to the NBA is going to hit hard and will likely take plenty of time.

Secondly, there are just a few teams in true need of point guard help. Much less, ones that will take time to develop such a selection. The first that come to mind are the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, both of which have the best possible chance at landing No. 1 and Victor Wembanyama. Scoot Henderson, the projected second pick overall, could end up at one of those locations, too.

Houston seems to be opting for win-now talent this offseason, and hasn’t shown a recent track record of great development, regardless. San Antonio seems to be a perfect fit for Thompson, and has been linked to valuing the prospect highly. But hoping for one singular team to land his talents could be a tall task.

Outside of those, Thompson’s fit with several other teams feels odd. Charlotte already has LaMelo Ball running point, Detroit has multiple lead handlers and Orlando’s spacing likely can’t handle another potentially sub 30 percent 3-point shooter.

Thompson’s talent is undeniable, and it’s possible he can shine through regardless of situation. But we’ve seen time and again prospects not land in a pristine fit and fizzle. Luckily, Thompson is versatile enough he may be able to thrive off-ball, too, but it certainly won't be maximizing his potential.

For now, we’ll wait on the 2023 draft lottery, held on Tuesday, May 16, to determine the draft order.

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