Amen Thompson is ready to make that superstar leap immediately

The Houston Rockets love what they've seen from Amen Thompson through two seasons. So does the All-NBA podcast's Tim Legler: He thinks Thompson is going to reach superstar status soon.

"(In Game 7) Amen Thompson was more comfortable than any player on the floor practically, outside of Curry and Butler...he's going to be a superstar in this league...and he's going to get there sooner than later"

-Tim Legler

Who am I to disagree? Thompson looked like a ten-year veteran in Game 7 against the Warriors. He showed poise that belied his age. Thompson was confident and willing to do whatever it took to win.

In the end, he (and the Rockets) lost. That's fine. Iron sharpens iron. The Rockets will be a tougher team due to adversity, and Thompson will be a tougher player. Oh - and they added Kevin Durant.

Will he help Thompson make "the leap" this year?

Rockets' Thompson has a chance to explode

He should certainly help.

If you're familiar with Thompson, you know what's coming. He's an outlier among outlier athletes. It would be fair to say he's a 100th percentile NBA athlete - who's more athletic? Moreover, Thompson has a keen mind for the game. It's hard to bet against that rare package of athleticism and intelligence:

But if you were going to bet against it, you'd point to Thompson's shooting.

Although Thompson's improvement must be noted. He shot 13.8% from deep as a rookie, and improved that mark to 27.5% on 1.3 attempts per game as a sophomore.

That's great. Thompson still connected on 27.5% of a low volume of mostly wide-open threes. His form still appears belabored. Thompson is not a natural shooter, and that's unlikely to change.

So, pairing him with one of the most lethal shooting threats in NBA history is a good first step.

It would be tremendously helpful if Alperen Sengun could improve his shot. It's not that the onus should rightly be on him instead of Thompson - it just feels more realistic that Sengun could get there. If he can connect on, say, 33% of 3 attempts per game, Thompson should be the only true non-shooter in most Rockets lineups.

That'll allow him to get to the rim at will. That should lead to a superstar breakout.

What if that doesn't happen?

Rockets' Thompson will always impact the game

Thompson is already arguably the best defensive wing in the NBA. He's going to be a problem in this league, no matter what else happens.

He has ways to contribute offensively already - even if neither he or Sengun improves from deep. Thompson's handle is steadily developing, and he's athletic enough to get to the rim even when the paint is packed. Moreover, he's an outstanding cutter who can capitalize on Sengun's passing ability out of the high post.

Rockets fans should expect improvement from Thompson. He's a near lock to be a top-25ish player in the NBA. If things break correctly, there's no telling how high he can climb:

Superstar status is certainly in play.