With a 99-97 loss to the Nets on Tuesday, the Rockets dropped to 32-18. Houston is 5-5 of their final 10 and has misplaced 4 straight. Regardless of their latest struggles. the workforce had a powerful January. 

Final month, the Rockets went 11-4. Second-year professional Amen Thompson performed a significant position in Houston’s success, particularly on protection. For his excellent efforts in January, Thompson was named Western Convention Defensive Participant of the Month.

Amen Thompson continues to develop in his second yr with Houston

Amen Thompson has been named 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝 🏆

It’s solely proper.#Rockets | #Liftoff pic.twitter.com/wWJrIUBdJa

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 4, 2025

Within the 2023 NBA draft, the Rockets used the 4th general decide to pick out Amen Thompson. As a rookie, Thompson performed in 62 video games and made 23 begins for the Rockets. He averaged (9.5) factors, (6.6) rebounds, (2.6) assists, and (1.3) steals per recreation. Thompson was a depth piece off the bench for Houston in 2023-24. To start the 2024-25 season, Amen Thompson was once more coming off the bench for head coach Ime Udoka.

Since January 5, Thompson has began 15 video games in a row for the Rockets and is benefiting from that taking part in time. On January 27, Thompson scored a career-high 33 factors and the game-winner vs. the Celtics. Two video games earlier than that, Thompson had a career-high 16 rebounds towards the Cavaliers. Throughout January, Amen Thompson led the Western Convention with (2.2) steals per recreation. Moreover, his (7.3) defensive rebounds per recreation have been seventh final month.

He was the one participant in January to common not less than two steals and one block per recreation. That was sufficient for Thompson to win Western Convention Defensive Participant of the Month. The 22-year-old is having a career-best season with the Rockets. He’s averaging (13.7) factors, (8.1) rebounds, (3.1) assists, (1.4) steals, and (1.2) blocks per recreation. Thompson does a little bit little bit of every little thing for Houston. He’s a part of the explanation why Houston is third within the Western Convention. If Thompson can discover consistency from past the arc, he’ll be a professional two-way menace within the NBA.