Fred VanVleet`s unfortunate ACL tear, which will sideline him for the entire 2025-26 season, has immediately brought two names to the forefront for Houston Rockets enthusiasts. The first is Reed Sheppard, the 2024 No. 3 overall pick, who despite a modest rookie season, now finds himself in a pivotal position to contribute significantly to a potential championship contender. The second, Amen Thompson, stands out even more; unlike Sheppard, he has already solidified his reputation as one of the league`s most unique talents and rapidly rising stars heading into his third year. Barring any immediate trade for an established point guard, both Sheppard and Thompson are now poised to take on crucial ball-handling responsibilities.
While Sheppard`s development in this new role will be interesting, Thompson`s journey is truly captivating. It feels like this moment could mark the beginning of a rewrite for one of the NBA`s most compelling historical narratives: the saga of Ben Simmons. With Simmons, considering the dramatic start and, for all practical purposes, the premature end to his career, we are left perpetually wondering about his untapped potential. Now, with the ball increasingly in his hands, Thompson has a distinct chance to provide an answer to that lingering question.
It’s important to note that Thompson is not solely destined for stardom as an off-ball contributor; he excels in that capacity, resembling a younger version of Andre Iguodala. However, when entrusted with orchestrating an offense, his game strongly echoes Simmons. The physical comparisons between them are undeniable: both are immensely gifted athletes possessing elite positional size, enabling them to dominate defensively, initiate swift fast breaks, and aggressively attack the paint as either powerful finishers or adept facilitators.
Statistical Comparison: NBA Year 2 (Per 36 Minutes)
| Player | Points (PTS) | Rebounds (REB) | Assists (AST) | Field Goal % (FG%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Simmons | 17.8 | 9.3 | 8.1 | 56.3% |
| Amen Thompson | 15.7 | 9.1 | 4.3 | 55.7% |
The most conspicuous similarity between them is their shooting deficiency. Nevertheless, Thompson distinguishes himself by being a willing shooter, and there are promising early indications of his progression towards at least competence, and potentially more, as a short pull-up threat.
Even if we assume that shooting — particularly from long range — may never become Thompson`s primary strength, a transition to a more significant playmaking role was always likely to be crucial for him to achieve his optimal career trajectory. The surprising element is that this opportunity has presented itself much sooner than anticipated.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Thompson is not as tall as the 6-foot-10 Simmons. Yet, if he is consistently guarded by opposing point guards rather than wings, especially within potentially enormous lineups featuring him at the offensive helm, the impact of his size could be quite similar. Furthermore, Thompson boasts superior athleticism compared to peak Simmons, is a more effective defender, and demonstrates a more ferocious ability to finish at the rim.
Currently, asserting that Thompson possesses the same elite playmaking abilities as peak Simmons would be an overstatement. However, this is precisely the aspect everyone is keen to observe with a larger sample size. There is already ample evidence suggesting he can reach that level swiftly. During a 15-game stretch last season, from early February to early March, when VanVleet was sidelined, Thompson took on primary ball-handling duties and averaged nearly six assists per game.
Simmons and Thompson are not simply identical players. From a perspective of pure athletic force, Thompson might ultimately draw comparisons to a taller Russell Westbrook, which represents a formidable threat in an entirely different manner. However, in terms of sheer uniqueness, the league had never before witnessed a player quite like Simmons—someone capable of performing at his size, seemingly exempt from the modern axiom that a point guard must be an elite shooter to dominate. In an era where many point guards began to adopt similar playing styles, Simmons stood apart.
Thompson shares this distinction. There is no other player in the league who mirrors his style of play, apart from his twin brother, Ausar. Now, with increased possession of the ball, he has been granted the chance to continue the narrative that Simmons, just as it was reaching its most promising chapters, abruptly ceased writing.
If we are fortunate, Thompson will provide us with at least a glimpse of how that captivating story might have concluded.
