Amen Thompson career highs: Running through the best games of Thompson's career

The Houston Rockets have a lot of young talent. Their long-term outlook is bright by virtue of the sheer quantity of exciting young players that they have.

It's unclear who "the man" is in Houston. They have a lot of young talent, but nobody has clearly emerged as a franchise player. Still, if you talk to people around the league, you're likely to hear one of two names:

Alperen Sengun, or Amen Thompson.

I already ran through the best games of Sengun's career. It's time for Thompson's introspective.

Here are the five best games of his young career, ranked.

5. March 27, 2024 vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Stats: 25 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists

Thompson didn't grab the headlines in this one. They belonged to Jalen Green. He had 37 points in a crucial late-season 2023-24 Rockets win. The team was in the thick of the play-in race, and Green was having a March that still lives in infamy.

Still, we shouldn't sell The (terror and identical) Twin short. Thompson's 25 points and 15 rebounds were instrumental in this victory.

At this point, Thompson was nearing the end of his rookie campaign. He'd spent most of his time off-ball. Pundits were excited about his defensive upside, but his point totals were often modest. So, this 25-point outburst was telling.

It's still the weakest game you'll see on this list.

4. November 11, 2025 vs Washington Wizards

Stats: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 blocks

OK, fine:

A lot of people will suggest that this is the weakest game on this list.

Fair enough. A 13-point game hardly screams superstar. Thompson's 8 rebounds were strong, but he only managed a single dime. What gives?

The stocks. Dear God, won't somebody think about the stocks.

Four steals and four blocks? Patently absurd. There are precious few players in the NBA who are capable of giving 8 stocks in one game.

In some respects, this was a flagship game for Thompson. Sure, he was playing the paltry Wizards. That's not the point. Thompson's offensive game will continue to develop, but his signature ability is his defensive playmaking. That's what makes him special:

And it's what made this a special performance.

3. January 25, 2025 vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Stats: 23 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists

A triple double. This is something Rockets fans could get used to.

It's worth noting that this performance came in a win. Every one of these games resulted in a Rockets victory. It seems that when Thompson produces, the Rockets succeed.

Who would have thought?

This was an impressive game. It secured a 135-131 win over the Cavs. It was the second time the Rockets had defeated the best team in the NBA in three games.

It feels like an eon ago. The Rockets have dropped 11 of their last 16 contests. They are struggling.

So, let's reflect on the grand old days of - well, earlier this year. Those games still count. They still reflect the potential that this young core has:

Particularly (in this case) Thompson.

2. April 24, 2024 vs Los Angeles Clippers

Stats: 18 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks

I know what you're thinking. Why is this triple double ahead of the last one? There are three reasons.

First, who cares? The rankings here are largely an arbitrary construct. The fun in this article is looking at Thompson's best performances so far.

Secondly, this was Thompson's first triple double. It's a significant milestone. Since the rankings don't matter, it felt suitable to acknowledge a momentous occasion. Lastly:

Dear God, won't somebody think of the stocks?

Thompson dominated every facet of this game. Adding 3 steals and 3 blocks to an already-gaudy statline is impressive. Any Rockets fan was excited by this one.

1. January 27, 2025 vs Boston

Stats: 33 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists

If you want a game that saw Thompson looking like a future star, this is the one.

Sure, he had his career high in points. Thompson's ability to break down one of the league's best defenses was staggering on this night. That's not the only starry quality he showcased:

Thompson hit a game-winning floater with just .7 seconds left on the clock.

He was the Rockets' best player in a tight contest against the defending champions. Nobody can say with any certainty that the Rockets have a franchise player:

But Thompson is as good of a bet as anybody.