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.
In Other News...
Amen Thompson Extension Sparks The Biggest Rockets Debate Yet
Amen Thompsons new deal is another sign that Houston has settled in around its young core, with the Rockets locking in a five-year commitment after a breakout season that put him on the leagues defensive radar. He paired strong two-way production with a workload that showed how quickly he has become central to everything Houston does, and the front office has now joined him to Alperen Sengun in handing out major long-term money.
Still, the extension lands in a moment when the bigger conversation around the Rockets is less about whether Thompson matters and more about just how far he can rise in the pecking order. Sengun is already a two-time All-Star and another cornerstone contract is on the books, which is why the debate around the teams ceiling now circles back to Thompson, his role, and whether Houston is preparing for him to become something even larger than a foundational piece. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Camp Sets Up A Real Minutes Battle For Ime Udoka
The Rockets camp picture is already crowded before the first real minute of the season is even mapped out. Kevin Durant, Alperen engn and Amen Thompson give Ime Udoka a strong top end, while the roster also carries the kind of versatility and veteran presence that can make a depth chart look deeper than usual. With starters, rotation pieces and bench or G League hopefuls all in the mix, Houston has the ingredients for a team that can be shaped in a few different directions.
The harder part is sorting out who actually fits where once the games start for real. Udoka has a lot of usable talent to organize, and the Rockets camp will be less about finding bodies than about choosing combinations, roles and minutes that make sense around the core. There are a few names in the mix whose camp showings will matter a lot for the way Houston handles its backcourt and its long-term planning, and the competition there figures to be one of the more interesting early storylines in camp. [Read more 🡒]