Amen Thompson Is Taking Notes From LeBron and Rondo-And It’s Showing
By Year 23, most NBA players are either long retired or hanging on for a farewell tour. LeBron James?
He’s still going toe-to-toe with rising stars who grew up watching him dominate the league. That’s the kind of longevity that doesn’t just turn heads-it builds legacies.
One of those up-and-coming players is Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson. At just 22, Thompson is already carving out a reputation as a high-level 3-and-D talent. But with Fred VanVleet sidelined due to injury, Thompson has been asked to shift gears-taking over point guard duties and stepping into a far more demanding role as a floor general.
And he’s not just winging it.
To prepare for the transition, Thompson went straight to the film room, diving into the playbooks of some of the best to ever orchestrate an offense-LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and, perhaps most intriguingly, Rajon Rondo.
“I love watching those type of guys to see how they attack when given the opportunity,” Thompson said. “I also like how they can command the floor.”
That command is what separates good point guards from great ones. And Rondo, in particular, left a lasting impression.
“I knew he was nice, but I didn’t know he was that nice,” Thompson admitted.
Rondo, who played from 2006 to 2022, was never known as a shooter-but that never stopped him from controlling the tempo of a game. His basketball IQ, court vision, and ability to manipulate defenses were elite. Thompson sees echoes of his own game in Rondo’s style: a non-shooter who still dictates the flow, gets to his spots, and fills up the stat sheet in ways that don’t always show up in the scoring column.
“He impacts the game while they are letting him shoot, but he still gets to where he wants and distributes and grabs 20 rebounds at 6-foot-2,” Thompson said.
That’s not just admiration-it’s a blueprint.
Thompson’s jumper is still a work in progress, but he’s finding other ways to leave his mark. As a slasher, ball-handler, and now a primary facilitator, he’s evolving.
And the results are starting to show. He’s averaging a career-high in assists this season, and while it’s only his third year in the league, the growth is undeniable.
For a young team like Houston, having someone step into that playmaking void is crucial. Thompson isn’t trying to be LeBron or Rondo-but he’s learning from them, and that’s a big part of what makes his development so promising.
LeBron Sends Congrats to Luka Doncic on New Arrival
In other news around the league, Luka Doncic recently missed a couple of games on the Lakers’ road trip for personal reasons-and now we know why. Doncic took to social media to share the birth of his second daughter, and the NBA community quickly rallied with congratulations.
Among those sending well-wishes was LeBron James, who made sure to acknowledge the moment. It’s a reminder that while the grind of the season never stops, life’s biggest wins sometimes happen off the court.