Latest news with #AmenThompson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rockets star Amen Thompson mulls playing for Jamaica in future international competitions
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson is open to playing for Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, the 22-year-old rising star said earlier this week. 'Ever since I was a kid, I used to watch the Olympics and see [sprinters] Usain Bolt and [Yohan] Blake," Thompson said, via Daniel Blake of the Jamaica Observer. 'Jamaica always represents a gold medal culture. I always wanted to see a basketball team, I wanted to picture basketball players with a Jamaica jersey on, and I always wanted to wear one, too.' Advertisement 'So, just getting the opportunity — I could either play for USA or Jamaica — but being able to be here and it even [being] an option, it means a lot to me.' Michael Shapiro of Houston's has more: Thompson, along with his twin brother and Detroit Pistons wing Ausar Thompson, discussed his international basketball future during an appearance in Kingston, Jamaica, with the Jamaica Basketball Association and the Bob Marley Foundation. Both twins expressed interest in competing for Team Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, following in the footsteps of their uncle, Mark Thompson, who competed in the 400-meter hurdles for Jamaica at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Troy Thompson, the twins' father, is Jamaican, and according to the Jamaica Observer, both Amen and Ausar have started the process of obtaining Jamaican citizenship. Both Thompson twins are eligible to compete for the United States in upcoming international competitions, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Amen, in particular, would seem to have a path to Team USA after a breakout NBA season in 2024-25 and a stint with the U.S. Select Team during the 2024 offseason. But Jamaica represents another option, and one in which he could conceivably play with his twin brother. While Jamaica does not have any previous experience in either the Olympics or the FIBA World Cup, the team has already secured a playing commitment from Los Angeles Clippers star Norman Powell, which —especially if combined with the Thompson twins — could make them a formidable side. Advertisement The Rockets haven't had a representative on Team USA since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1996. More: Rockets prospects Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson named to USA Basketball select team This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Amen Thompson considers playing for Jamaica in global competitions
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rockets star Amen Thompson mulls playing for Jamaica in future international competitions
Rockets star Amen Thompson mulls playing for Jamaica in future international competitions Rockets star Amen Thompson and his twin brother, Ausar, are expressing interest in playing for Jamaica in future international basketball competitions. Team USA is also an option. Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson is open to playing for Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, the 22-year-old rising star said earlier this week. 'Ever since I was a kid, I used to watch the Olympics and see [sprinters] Usain Bolt and [Yohan] Blake," Thompson said, via Daniel Blake of the Jamaica Observer. 'Jamaica always represents a gold medal culture. I always wanted to see a basketball team, I wanted to picture basketball players with a Jamaica jersey on, and I always wanted to wear one, too.' 'So, just getting the opportunity — I could either play for USA or Jamaica — but being able to be here and it even [being] an option, it means a lot to me.' Michael Shapiro of Houston's has more: Thompson, along with his twin brother and Detroit Pistons wing Ausar Thompson, discussed his international basketball future during an appearance in Kingston, Jamaica, with the Jamaica Basketball Association and the Bob Marley Foundation. Both twins expressed interest in competing for Team Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, following in the footsteps of their uncle, Mark Thompson, who competed in the 400-meter hurdles for Jamaica at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Troy Thompson, the twins' father, is Jamaican, and according to the Jamaica Observer, both Amen and Ausar have started the process of obtaining Jamaican citizenship. Both Thompson twins are eligible to compete for the United States in upcoming international competitions, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Amen, in particular, would seem to have a path to Team USA after a breakout NBA season in 2024-25 and a stint with the U.S. Select Team during the 2024 offseason. But Jamaica represents another option, and one in which he could conceivably play with his twin brother. While Jamaica does not have any previous experience in either the Olympics or the FIBA World Cup, the team has already secured a playing commitment from Los Angeles Clippers star Norman Powell, which —especially if combined with the Thompson twins — could make them a formidable side. The Rockets haven't had a representative on Team USA since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1996. More: Rockets prospects Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson named to USA Basketball select team
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jock Landale on rising Rockets star Amen Thompson: ‘Future of the program'
Jock Landale on rising Rockets star Amen Thompson: 'Future of the program' 'He has all the makings to be a superstar in this league for a very long time,' Jock Landale says of his 22-year-old Rockets teammate Amen Thompson. In a recent podcast appearance, veteran center Jock Landale shared kind words for Dillon Brooks, his teammate with the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Houston Rockets. 'He had a career year this year that nobody talks about, because we had so much other stuff going on, positively,' Landale said on the Ausmerican Aces NBA Show. Among that 'other stuff' was Houston's elite defense, which ranked among the NBA's top five all season. That helped launch the Rockets from a 41-41 finish in 2023-24 (No. 11 in the Western Conference) to a 52-30 record in 2024-25 (No. 2 in the West). Brooks had a role in that defensive success, but the most important piece was second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson, who was recently named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. Regarding Thompson, Landale said on the same podcast: Amen Thompson is one of a kind, mate. That dude is a freak of nature, and you guys haven't seen anything yet. I never give him praise to his face, cause we've got that kind of a relationship, but behind his back… I'm like, 'This dude is unbelievable. He just moves at a pace and does things you just can't teach. And on top of that, he's just a sponge, he soaks everything up. He's a complete gym rat. You've seen the Tyler Herro thing, we've seen that multiple times through the years, and in practice. He has like this light switch. He walks on the court, and it's like, bang. He's a psycho. He has all the makings to be a superstar in this league for a very long time. In an extended conversation on the same YouTube channel (via a Tommy Talks episode), Landale elaborated on what he sees in Thompson: In 37 games since taking over a full-time starting position in January, Thompson averaged 15.9 points (55.7% FG), 9.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 36.1 minutes per game. He technically replaced Smith at power forward, though Thompson had the defensive versatility to guard virtually any position, including the majority of possessions versus superstar Warriors guard Steph Curry in the playoffs (when Houston lost a hard-fought, seven-game series to Golden State). As for Landale, the Australian big man has two years remaining on his contract with the Rockets at $8 million annually, though both are non-guaranteed. His 2025-26 deal will become guaranteed if he is not waived by June 29. Beyond providing quality depth, the 29-year-old is also very well regarded as a teammate in Houston's locker room, as shown via these types of conversations. Landale was replaced by Steven Adams as Houston's primary backup at center in the 2024-25 season. However, with Adams as an unrestricted free agent in the 2025 offseason, it's at least plausible that Landale could regain that role in 2025-26 behind incumbent starter Alperen Sengun. More: Jock Landale on Dillon Brooks' impact in Houston: 'One of the best teammates I've ever had'
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
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
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA／湯普森雙胞胎擬轉籍牙買加 有望攜手鮑威爾出戰國際賽
火箭隊的湯普森（Amen Thompson）與效力活塞的弟弟湯普森（Ausar Thompson）兩雙胞胎兄弟近日展開申請牙買加國籍的程序，未來有望代表牙買加國家隊征戰國際賽場。由於兩人的父親具有牙買加血統，讓兩兄弟擁有申請該國國籍的資格。若入籍順利完成，兩人將能代表牙買加參加FIBA等國際賽事。 牙買加國家隊近年積極補強陣容，據報導，已成功爭取快艇隊得分後衛鮑威爾（Norman Powell）承諾加入，準備出戰未來FIBA賽事。除了鮑威爾外，牙買加也正在積極招募其他具牙買加血統的NBA球員，包括太陽隊中鋒理查茲（Nick Richards）、活塞隊內線史都華（Isaiah Stewart），以及灰狼隊前鋒米諾特（Josh Minott）。 若招募成果順利，牙買加隊有望成為中北美區一支不可忽視的新興強權。從具潛力新星到即戰力老將，牙買加正試圖打造具備深度與競爭力的國家隊陣容，在國際舞台上展現全新戰力輪廓。 Amen and Ausar Thompson plan to represent Jamaica in future FIBA and Olympic competitions, per @ dope. 🇯🇲 — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) 2025年5月25日 Norman Powell has committed to representing Jamaica in the FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifiers 🇯🇲🔥(h/t @BASKETBALLonX ) — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) 2025年4月11日 更多udn報導 中職明星賽／宋晟睿呼籲象迷投其他隊也可以 學長笑答：你不錯喔！ 中職專欄／高中缺大物、旅外掛零 選秀度小年「大社球員」扮主角 MLB／首度實戰投打飆156公里 大谷翔平賞2K拉弓、搞笑開心 NBA／唐斯末節開無雙拯救尼克 布朗森關鍵進球逆轉溜馬
