Rockets fans shouldn't hold their breath on Amen Thompson glaring weakness

Amen Thompson likely isn’t going to be a serviceable three-point shooter anytime soon, but the Houston Rockets shouldn’t worry about that. They have enough shooting on the roster to ignore Thompson’s biggest flaw, especially considering how great he is in other aspects of the game.

Already, Thompson is one of the best defenders in the NBA. He’s a staple of the Rockets’ lineup because of his incredible defensive versatility, freakish athleticism, and solid ball-handling. Adding a three-point shot would be nice, but Rockets fans shouldn’t hold out hope of that happening in the near future, as there hasn’t been much hope to latch onto.

Instead, focus on the good.

Why doesn’t Amen Thompson’s three-point shot matter?

Last year, Thompson shot 27.5% from beyond the three-point arc, which was significantly better than the 13.8% he shot in his rookie season. Still, he’s nowhere close to being a reliable three-point threat, especially considering the low volume (1.3 attempts per game).

Yet Thompson’s poor three-point shooting numbers are the last thing people should look at when it comes to his stats from last season. Instead, take a peek at his 14.1 points per game. His 8.2 rebounds. His 3.8 assists. Appreciate the 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks he averaged per night. His wildly efficient 55.7% shooting from the field.

Thompson turned himself into one of the best young players in the NBA, and it all starts with his work on the defensive end. That’s an extremely important skill to have in today’s NBA.

The Rockets are going to be gunning for a championship next season. They enjoyed a ton of regular-season success last year, but now, they want to make another leap.

They traded for Kevin Durant this summer, putting one of the best scorers in NBA history at the helm of one of the best defenses in the league. And Thompson is planted firmly in the middle of their plans.

His defense is a major key to everything they’re going to do next season, as it will undoubtedly be his job to guard the best player on almost every single team they face.

Luka Doncic. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Anthony Edwards. Stephen Curry.

All of those guys will be standing in the Rockets' way, and Thompson will be ready to slow them down.

Thompson adding a three-point shot should be the least of fans’ worries, and while it may not happen soon, that doesn’t matter.