Amen Thompson’s stock keeps climbing, and the latest sign comes from a fresh ranking that puts the Houston Rockets guard among the NBA’s best at his position.
HoopsHype slotted Thompson at No. 4 on its list of the top 27 shooting guards heading into the 2026-2027 season, placing him just behind Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, and Devin Booker. That’s a strong neighborhood to live in, and it reflects how quickly Thompson has become one of the league’s most intriguing young guards.
The case starts with what Thompson already brings. Last season, he averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 53.4% from the field across 79 games. He also finished in the top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting for the second straight year, a reminder that his impact goes well beyond scoring.
HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina made the argument plainly:
“While his twin brother lacks as an offensive option, Amen Thompson is far more confident with the ball in his hands. A 6-foot-7 freak athlete with ridiculous burst and body control, Thompson is an elite slasher as well as an effective pull-up scorer from the midrange… If he were just able to shoot it from the outside, there’s little doubt he would have an All-Star appearance under his belt by now, if not an All-NBA nod; he’s that impactful everywhere else on the floor.”
That outside shot is still the major hurdle. Thompson hit just 21.6% from three-point range last season, and he did it on only 1.5 attempts per game. In a league that keeps putting more weight on perimeter shooting, that kind of production can hold a player back even when everything else is clicking.
Houston does have at least one reason for optimism on that front. The Rockets added assistant coach Chip Engelland, who carries the nickname “The Shot Doctor” and has built his reputation around shooting mechanics and player development.
The Rockets themselves were solid from deep in 2025-2026, making 11.5 of 31.5 three-point attempts per game. Reed Sheppard led the team in made threes and, as a Sixth Man of the Year contender, gave Houston another player worthy of a bigger role.
Thompson also won’t be asked to carry everything alone. Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun give the Rockets All-Star-level support, and Thompson’s next step could lift the ceiling even higher for a team coming off a 50+ win season. Houston was most recently bounced in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but the source material says the championship window remains wide open in 2027.
If Thompson keeps moving the way he has, the ranking may end up looking less like a projection and more like a preview. An All-Star appearance, according to the reporting here, is very much in play.
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