Amen Thompson making underrated leap that could unlock full superstar potential

As the Houston Rockets have barreled their way to an 11-4 record so far this season, the leap that third-year guard Amen Thompson has taken has been breathtaking, as there have been nights (such as their last matchup against the Phoenix Suns) in which he has been far and away their most impactful player.

Moreover, while his 24.2% mark from beyond the arc is, in many ways, limiting the effectiveness of his game on the offensive end, the leap he has taken at the free-throw line indicates that his jumper could find its footing sooner rather than later, putting him the perfect position to enter the superstar conversation.

This season, Thompson has shot 79% at the charity stripe: a vast improvement from the 68.4% he put up in each of his first two seasons. If this proves to be any indication of a change in his mechanics and his confidence, those perimeter shots could start to fall at a higher clip very soon.

Amen Thompson is fixing the biggest weakness in his game as we speak

Through his first two seasons, the NBA very quickly got to know Thompson as an insane athlete and defensive phenom: one who could make highlight-worthy plays on the defensive end on a near-nightly basis.

Last season, he had his true breakout in that aspect of his game, earning serious consideration for Defensive Player of the Year and making the NBA All-Defensive Team.

Yet, many of the concerns that surrounding him in his draft year still lingered. He is an unreliable shooter, and, at times, his jumper looks completely broken. If the ultimate evolution of Thompson's game is as a dynamic cutter and rim runner who can play elite roaming defense, the Rockets undeniably have a star on their hands.

However, his play this season has indicated that there certainly could be more than that.

If he can reliably knock down his free throws, fouling him is a less viable option, making his runs to the rim all the more dangerous. Against the Suns, Thompson made all seven of his free throws en route to a 28-point performance.

Moreover, if he is able to make mechanical adjustments to his free-throw form, that is a significant indication that his jumper is not outright broken. Once he is able to make similar adjustments on his shots from the mid-range and the perimeter, they will certainly start to fall at a higher clip.

Confidence in one area of a player's game begets confidence in other areas, and a confident and shooting Amen Thompson should be a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.