'I'm Not Just An OTE Athlete': Rockets, Amen Thompson Not Leery Of Overtime Elite's Competition
HOUSTON — Amen Thompson was highly regarded as the second-best point guard entering the 2023 NBA Draft. He averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 assists as part of Overtime Elite's City Reapers, who Thompson and his twin brother, Ausar Thompson, led to a championship title during the 2022-23 season.
He met every intangible a team seeks to improve their guard play. But outside of shooting, the competition level Thompson faced during his two-year stint at Overtime Elite was a vital knock against his draft stock.
"I just felt like OTE gave me time to develop and work on my game," Thompson said. "I tell people all the time, I am not just an OTE athlete. I was a great player before I went to OTE and that will continue."
When the Rockets made Thompson the No. 4 pick in Thursday's draft, he became the first prospect selected from Overtime Elite.
OTE is a professional basketball league founded in 2021 that offers players an alternate route to becoming professional athletes. The institution has created some doubt in regards to the competition level, given the age of players ranging from 16-20 years old.
But general manager Rafael Stone said the Thompson twins have been on an NBA radar before joining Overtime Elite. Stone became enamored by Thompson following OTE's six-game tournament in Spain.
While Stone watched every game, the 20-year-old point guard averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists against professional players outside the NBA. Thompson's best game came during a contest against Serbian's pro team Mega Basket, where he registered 18 points on 5-for-14 shooting, 10 rebounds, five steals and four blocks.
Stone said evaluating prospects is part of a general manager's job — no matter the competition. The goal is to collect as much talent as possible to build a future championship team.
"In a perfect world, everyone you draft would play the same competition," Stone said. "But that is not reality. What Amen can do [on the court] jumps out. When you see something special, you know it is special."
Thompson said a day before the draft his goal is to maintain the winning mentality he learned at Overtime Elite to help the Rockets successfully enter phase II of their rebuilding project.
"I'm just trying to contribute to winning," Thompson said. "When I look back at my career at Overtime Elite, I do not regret anything. OTE got me prepared for the next level. It taught me how to be a pro early on, and I am thankful for the help they have given me."
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