Amen Thompson: Defensive Star Snubbed?

Houston Rockets wing Amen Thompson was a significant omission from the 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive teams, despite establishing himself as one of the league's top defensive wings in just three seasons. His twin brother, Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons, was selected to the First Team. This exclusion has led to claims of a snub, though Thompson's defensive impact may have been affected by an increased workload.

Thompson embraced a larger offensive role for the Rockets, stepping in as point guard to replace the injured Fred VanVleet. This demanding new assignment, coupled with leading the entire league in minutes played, undoubtedly impacted his energy reserves. Consequently, his defensive prowess, while still elite, saw a slight decline, a common occurrence for any player facing such a significant load. At times, he was not tasked with guarding the opponent's top scorer as the team prioritized his offensive contributions.

While Thompson received votes for both the first and second teams, he ultimately fell short of making the top ten selections. He recorded averages of 2.5 deflections, 1.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Other notable players like Jaden McDaniels and Evan Mobley also faced similar snubs. Overall, Thompson posted impressive statistics with 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, shooting 53.4 percent from the field. He is eligible for a new contract this summer, potentially worth up to $251 million, and this perceived slight is expected to fuel his motivation for the upcoming season.