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The Houston Rockets have agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie-scale contract extension with guard Amen Thompson, securing one of the team’s most promising young players through the 2032 season.
The deal includes a 10% trade kicker, according to ESPN sources. Thompson’s extension carries the same percentage of Houston’s salary cap as the five-year, $185 million rookie extension the Rockets gave Alperen Sengun in 2024.
Houston selected Thompson fourth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, and the 23-year-old has steadily developed into a versatile two-way contributor. His new contract reflects the organization’s belief that he can become a cornerstone of its future.
“Amen represents everything we want our organization to be about,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said. “He has elite two-way ability, a toughness and the will to outwork his peers, and he competes in every circumstance.”
Thompson Breaks Out in Third NBA Season
Thompson took a significant step forward last season, averaging career highs of 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game while starting 79 games.
He also led the NBA in total minutes with 2,953, becoming only the third player in Rockets history to lead the league in that category after James Harden and Moses Malone.
Thompson’s all-around production placed him among an exclusive group of players. He was one of just nine players to average at least 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists during the season.
His versatility became particularly valuable after Fred VanVleet missed the season with a knee injury. Thompson took on increased point guard responsibilities while continuing to make an impact defensively and demonstrating an ability to play multiple positions.
The fourth overall pick has improved his scoring average in each of his first three seasons, going from 9.5 points per game as a rookie to 14.1 in his second season before reaching 18.3 last season.
Rockets Lock Up Young Core
Thompson’s extension gives Houston another long-term piece as the franchise continues to build around its young core.
The Rockets have already reached multiyear extensions with Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. Houston also added veteran star Kevin Durant on a two-year, $90 million extension before last season, with a player option for 2027-28.
The Rockets have won 52 games in each of the past two seasons, and Thompson’s development has been an important part of their progress.
Thompson also becomes the second member of the 2023 draft class to agree to a rookie-scale extension, joining San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Thompson Set to Remain in Houston Through 2032
The new agreement gives the Rockets long-term control of a player who has quickly established himself as one of their most important pieces on both ends of the floor.
Thompson has appeared in 210 regular-season games over his first three seasons, averaging 14.3 points and 7.6 rebounds while making 144 starts.
With the extension beginning after his rookie contract expires, Thompson will remain in Houston through the 2031-32 season.
Stone believes the young guard’s development is far from complete.
“Year over year, he’s improved in every facet of his game, and we know his best basketball is ahead of him,” Stone said.
