ESPN's Brian Windhorst views Amen Thompson as NBA's next breakout star
ESPN's Brian Windhorst views Amen Thompson as NBA's next breakout star 'He is a future All-Star, he is potentially a future franchise player,' ESPN's Brian Windhorst says of rising Rockets star Amen Thompson.
In a television segment on ESPN's Get Up spotlighting the future stars of the NBA, longtime insider Brian Windhorst picked Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson as the league's next young breakout star.
Choices by other panelists included Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Haliburton, who function as lead guards for the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, respectively.
Regarding Thompson, Windhorst said:
Let me give you the name of somebody that you should keep an eye on next year, and he's a twin. Amen Thompson, from the Houston Rockets. He's not going to win MVP, but he's a guy you should pay attention to. Amen Thompson just made the All-Defensive First Team, he is going to get better offensively. He is a future All-Star, he is potentially a future franchise player.
With Thompson as their best and most versatile defensive player, Houston finished up the 2024-25 season with a top-five defense in the NBA and the league's fourth-best record (52-30).
Windhorst briefly identified Thompson as a highly desirable trade target for other NBA teams, given his young age (22 years old) and all those attributes. After all, it's not a secret that Houston is at least exploring the market for established veteran stars.
However, other reports have indicated that Thompson is likely untouchable in trade talks, and there's good reason for that. Expect him to be a focal point of the Rockets for 2025-26 and beyond.
More: 'That dude is special': Amen Thompson turns NBA heads in All-Defensive season
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