Amen Thompson’s All-Defensive nod cements his status in Giannis negotiations

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson hasn't needed long to establish himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA—and a player whom the front office must deem untouchable. It's hard to make such a claim when Giannis Antetokounmpo is the trade target, but Thompson has proven enough in two seasons to warrant the distinction.

If nothing else, at just 22 years of age, Thompson is already an elite defender—a claim that was legitimized when the NBA revealed that Thompson has been named to the 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team.

It's a remarkable honor that was well-earned by one of the most dynamic defensive talents the NBA has to offer. In just his second NBA season, Thompson has already proven capable of playing lockdown defense both on and away from the ball.

That's at least partially reflected in his 2024-25 regular season averages of 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.

Beyond his box score figures, Thompson forced opponents to shoot 5.5 percent worse from the field when he was the primary defender. That's made even more impressive by the fact that he often took on the challenge of defending an opposing team's primary scoring threat.

Houston defended as a team, but Thompson's All-Defensive First Team honor is an accurate depiction of how valuable he is to its success.

All-Defense proof Amen Thompson can't be traded—not even for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Acquiring Antetokounmpo would give the Rockets a true franchise player in the prime of their career. Furthermore, it would be a rare opportunity to land a superstar who fits an established culture and should thus be able to make a seamless transition.

Fair as that ambition may be, even a team with an opportunity to strike superstar gold must be willing to set boundaries on what it's willing to offer.

For Houston, giving up Thompson would mean parting ways with an already dominant defensive player who should only improve over time. It would also entail giving up on the development of a 22-year-old whose rise to prominence took just two seasons.

Rather than sending Thompson to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo, Houston would be wise to pair them as teammates and allow the former to make the latter's job significantly easier on defense.

Houston can still make a remarkable offer for Antetokounmpo without including Thompson. It's rumored to be open to moving All-Star center Alperen Sengun for the Bucks star, although that same report claims Milwaukee prefers rising scoring guard Jalen Green.

In addition to either Green or Sengun, the Rockets could make an offer that includes three future first-round draft picks, multiple pick swaps, and a combination of exceptionally promising young players.

By holding on to Thompson, Houston would position itself to retain a top-tier young talent to complement Antetokounmpo for years to come. Considering Thompson improved his three-point field goal percentage by 13.7 percent from 2023-24 to 2024-25, it's safe to believe he has the work ethic to deliver.

Thompson is officially an All-Defensive First Team honoree, but perhaps more importantly, he's been cemented as a player who should be untouchable in Antetokounmpo negotiations.