Amen Thompson is spending part of his offseason in the Rockets facility with a familiar name attached to the most important part of his game: shooting coach Chip Engelland.
The photo that surfaced on social media showed Thompson working with Engelland as he keeps building toward the 2026-27 season. It’s a fitting development for a player whose next leap is tied directly to what happens when he puts the ball on the floor and rises up from the perimeter.
Thompson’s talent is already obvious. The three-year forward put together a career-best scoring season, averaging 18.3 points a year ago, and he finished second in the league in dunks.
But the weakness that followed him all season was just as clear: he shot only 21.6% from 3-point range. That number hangs over his game, and it’s the one area that could change everything.
That’s where Engelland enters the picture. He has built a reputation for helping reshape jump shots, with players such as Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Dejounte Murray among the names tied to his work from his San Antonio days. For Thompson, that kind of guidance could be exactly what he needs as he tries to turn raw explosiveness into a more complete offensive package.
If the shot comes around, Thompson’s ceiling gets a lot louder. He could become one of the most feared players in the Western Conference. If it doesn’t, the Rockets still have a unique weapon: one of the league’s most athletic and versatile defenders, which remains a major asset in today’s NBA.
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Rockets Camp Battle Gets Real At Shooting Guard
Training camp is about to put Houstons shooting guard rotation under a brighter spotlight, with the Rockets heading in determined to sort out how the backcourt pieces fit. Kevin Porter Jr., now on a five-year rookie extension, remains a key part of that conversation, while recent draft pick Jalen Sheppard is expected to learn behind the veterans as the team starts to sort through its guard depth.
Bogdan Bogdanovic adds another layer to the mix as a veteran presence on a one-year contract, giving Houston another option for bench scoring and experience. For a team trying to build stability and find the right balance in the backcourt, camp should offer a clearer picture of who can seize the opportunity and who still has work to do. [Read more 🡒]
Amen Thompson Just Entered A Contract Fight Rockets Fans Should Watch
Jalen Durens next deal has turned into a cautionary tale for teams trying to lock up young big men before the market gets away from them. The Pistons have put a five-year offer on the table worth around $190 million, but Duren is reportedly looking for at least $200 million, and talks have slowed enough that the gap is starting to matter. For Rockets fans, the connection is obvious: Houstons own Amen Thompson signed a five-year, $208 million extension, and that number is already echoing through a negotiation far from Toyota Center.
Duren is even weighing a qualifying offer route that would let him hit unrestricted free agency next summer, a risky but real leverage play if he decides the long-term money is worth the wait. The Sacramento Kings are said to have interest, which only raises the stakes for Detroit and adds another reminder that one Rockets contract can ripple beyond Houston in a hurry. Even if the sides eventually bridge the gap, Thompsons deal has become part of the argument, and that alone says plenty about how quickly the bar is rising. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Pauls Latest Move Will Hit Home For Rockets Fans
Chris Paul is making his latest move off the floor, teaming up with Genius Sports on a new athlete-led sports media venture built around programming from Paul and other players. The idea is to use technology and data to deepen storytelling and bring fans closer to the game, a pitch that fits a veteran who has spent years thinking about how the sport is presented as much as how it is played.
For Rockets fans, the name still carries real weight because of what Paul brought to Houston in 2017-18, when the partnership with James Harden came within reach of something bigger. His new project adds another layer to a career that has stretched well beyond the box score, and it now points toward a fresh platform where athletes help shape the conversation instead of only reacting to it. [Read more 🡒]