Earlier this summer, Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson signed a five-year rookie extension worth $208 million, which will pay him an annual salary of $41.6 million per year, according to spotrac.com.
Per Spotrac, Thompson’s contract includes a 10% trade kicker and begins in the summer of 2027.
During Houston’s media day on Tuesday, the forward shared what was the first thing he bought after signing his max deal.
“Probably some Uber Eats,” Thompson said. “I get ChopShop. I try to eat kinda healthy. So, I get original ChopShop and I get the fruit cup. It’s so boring, don’t order it.”
Thompson was later asked about not making either one of the All-Defensive Teams give him a little added motivation heading into the 2026-27 season. Thompson said he didn’t deserve to be on either team.
"I knew I didn't deserve it last year, honestly, if I'm being real, but I want to be a premier defender,” said Thompson.
“I want to make those teams every year. So, it definitely was motivation."
If you had the opportunity to catch Thompson after practice and before games, he is always working on his mid-range, and now that’s a shot he feels comfortable taking on the court.
"I work on my [mid-range]. It's a shot I'm comfortable taking. It's a shot I'm comfortable getting to,” Thompson said.
Thompson would later share how he approached the offseason heading into this season. Focusing on a little bit of everything: his shooting, handles, defense, play calling, and becoming a better leader.
"It's going to sound kind of corny to y’all but just being the best basketball player I could be. A little bit of everything. I know y'all want me to say shooting, and I focused on that, too,” Thompson shared.
“But just a little bit of everything, for sure. Defense, my handle, play calling, being a better leader, and shooting on top of that, too."
Thompson's coach, Ime Udoka, wants him to be a Swiss Army Knife and play at a high level on the court moving forward.
"Oh, take another jump, and keep improving in every area. And, um, you know, I think with him, anytime you see him, whether it's Las Vegas and, you know, playing in the open gym there or Los Angeles or wherever he's at, he's one of the more dominant players on the court wherever he's at,” said Udoka.
"And so, want that to translate into the NBA, and he's had really good seasons and progressed. But, uh, for him, it's continued to improve in every area. I think having the ball less in his hands will let him do other things on the court."
He added, "He's like a Swiss Army knife out there where he can play wherever, but it also allows him to probably get back to the defensive intensity that he wants to play at a high level."
"Obviously, leading the league in minutes is going to take a toll on you some on both ends at times. And, uh, you know, we don't want to have him and Kevin that high minutes-wise. And I think with our rotation and the depth we have now, we feel more comfortable with that."
Last season, Thompson averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game for the Houston Rockets.
