Cold hard Amen Thompson truth has become impossible for Rockets to ignore

The acquisition of Kevin Durant left no doubt the Houston Rockets have vaulted themselves into genuine championship contention, but it's the continued emergence of their young core, including Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard, that has propelled them even further.

Yet even as Thompson takes on a new, on-ball role in the absence of Fred VanVleet, and continues to take strides in his ball-handling and playmaking, his jump shot in the mid-range and from beyond the arc still remain painfully sub-par. Not only has that inhibited the emergence of that core, but it could also limit his ceiling as he becomes eligible for his rookie extension.

This season, Thompson is averaging 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists through his first 23 games. He's taken a leap, but the question remains: Can he reach star status if he doesn't start to knock down some of his shots from the outside?

Amen Thompson's ceiling will be determined by his ability to hit his jump shots

Thompson has filled the role of stand-in point guard better than almost anyone could have imagined. Just over a quarter of the way into the season, his 5.3 assists per game are paired with only 2.5 turnovers, and he's become the reliable secondary ball-handler the team desperately needs.

Moreover, as a cutter and a rim-runner who is capable of capitalizing upon the gravity Sengun and Durant create, Thompson is as valuable an offensive player as he is an impactful defender.

Despite hope that he would begin to find his footing from beyond the arc this season, he has continued to struggle as an outside shooter. He is knocking down just 18.8% of his attempts from 3-point range, and his numbers in the mid-range are not much better. On attempts between 10 feet from the basket and the 3-point line, he's shooting just 29.7%.

If Thompson is one of the league's most dynamic defenders while also being a capable scorer at the rim and in the paint, he will be a hugely important piece to the Rockets.

Yet his ability to reach his star potential hinges on him sinking a healthy portion of his shots from other areas of the court. If he becomes, say, even a 35% shooter from beyond the arc, his ability to make defenders hesitate and willingness to capitalize upon that indecision with downhill momentum will pay massive dividends.

In his third season, Thompson still has ample time to develop. Yet this season, it has become crystal clear where that development needs to happen.