Amen Thompson has heard plenty of criticism about his shooting during his first three NBA seasons, but the Houston Rockets guard remains confident that it will become a strength of his game.
Speaking to Will Guillory, Thompson acknowledged that his jumper often receives more attention than the other parts of his game.
“They gotta talk about something,” Thompson said. “I feel like I’m really good at a lot of things. I’m really impactful on the court. It’s fun to do that I guess — pick on that one thing. But I work on it every day. I know I’m going to be a good shooter. So, it doesn’t matter to me.”
Shooting has been the most obvious area of concern in Thompson’s offensive development. He has made just 21.9% of his three-point attempts through three NBA seasons, including 21.6% on 1.5 attempts per game in 2025-26.
At the same time, Thompson has steadily expanded his overall offensive impact. He averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 79 games last season while shooting 53.4% from the field. He also shot a career-best 77.9% from the free-throw line.
Thompson has worked specifically on his shooting throughout the offseason, including his mid-range game. He said consistency has been a major focus of his approach.
“Just the little reps,” Thompson said during the Media Day. “The form shooting, consistently doing the same habits and then over time that becomes something you’re used to.”
The 23-year-old enters the 2026-27 season after signing a five-year, $208 million extension with Houston. The new deal comes as Thompson continues to establish himself as one of the Rockets’ most important two-way players.
Defense remains a major part of his identity. Thompson finished eighth in 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year voting after averaging 1.5 steals per game, although he was not selected to either All-Defensive team.
“I want to be a premier defender. I want to make those teams every year,” Thompson said.
Thompson also said his offseason work extended beyond shooting, with a focus on his handle, play-calling and leadership. He will have Marcus Smart as another defensive-minded veteran to learn from, while Fred VanVleet’s return gives Houston another experienced ball-handler.
