Rockets: 4 things that separate Amen Thompson from even the best prospects

2. Humble upbringing

Amen and Ausar Thompson are the sons of Maya Wilson and Troy Thompson. The parents’ dedication to their children played the biggest factor in how Amen has developed into the person and player he is today.

From Maya leaving her job to home school the twins, to Troy willing to drive long hours to take the twins to practice and events, and even uprooting the entire family to move to Florida so the twins can develop under the prestigious Pine Crest Academy.

Their older brother Troy Jr. was also an exceptional athlete, however upon running into legal problems, his developmental trajectory began to change, Troy Jr. has since become a civil rights lawyer.

The twins realized how quickly an opportunity in basketball can be taken away, and they have embodied a no-nonsense approach to their own lives. At the tender age of nine years old, Amen and Ausar developed an intense training plan. At nine-years-old, the twins had a handwritten daily workout plan titled “Amen and Ausar's Basketball Dream."

The brothers aimed to run 2 miles dribbling left-handed, complete 200 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, 50 pull-ups, 500 calf raises and squat while watching TV, in addition to making 200 or more shots daily. They also included goals that didn't directly relate to their basketball skills, such as reading and writing.

Isn’t this what every parent wants?

Self-sufficient children that apply their own constructive routines?

That’s exactly what I expect Amen Thompson to be for the Houston Rockets: a self-sufficient player that is proactively getting better, while holding himself accountable and allowing himself to be coached. There are countless players that were lottery talents that couldn’t get over themselves, and let their attitudes give general managers a reason to be stingy.

I do not see that being an issue with Amen. He wants to be the best, and he has extensively researched the best due his penchant as a basketball junkie. These are traits I’m beyond excited for when paired with Amen’s physical abilities.

As Michael Jordan famously quoted, “the ceiling is the roof”.

Indeed it is with Amen Thompson.