Rockets PG Amen Thompson Plans to Utilize Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. in Better Ways

Amen Thompson can round out a "Big 3" for the Houston Rockets with Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr.

Jeremy Brener | Jun 26, 2023

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets hope to no longer be picking in the top five next year after three consecutive seasons at the bottom of the NBA standings.

Considering how the NBA works, those who do bad get rewarded in the NBA Draft, and the Rockets are gifted with 2021 No. 2 pick Jalen Green, 2022 No. 3 pick Jabari Smith Jr. and now, 2023 No. 4 pick Amen Thompson, who believes he can fit well alongside his fellow top-pick teammates.

"I think I pair really well with all of those guys," Thompson said via Kelly Iko of The Athletic. "I think we’re a big lineup that can lock up on defense. I think getting Jabari and Jalen easier, wide-open looks, their 3-point percentage is going to go up. They’re going to be utilized in a better way. I think that’s just what we need, and I need them too.

Thompson fits a similar profile to that of Green and Smith. He's athletic and big for his position, allowing Ime Udoka to fill him in lineups alongside them. Thompson is also a playmaker, which should be a nice complement to Green's scoring abilities and Smith's three-point prowess and spacing.

If Thompson's vision can be fulfilled, along with the rest of what the Rockets want to do, it could end up being a pretty-near-perfect fit.

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Published Jun 26, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.