Sep 22, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson (1) poses for a picture during media day at Hilton Americas hotel. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Sep 22, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson (1) poses for a picture during media day at Hilton Americas hotel. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Amen Thompson recently addressed a press conference during the Rockets’ media day ahead of the 2026-27 season, where he spoke about several things, including finding out about his own and his brother’s five-year rookie scale extensions this summer (which totaled $363 million guaranteed for the Thompson family) and missing out on All-Defensive honors in 2026.
The 23-year-old Rockets star signed a five-year, $208 million contract extension this summer, and his brother, Ausar Thompson, signed a $155 million deal for the same duration with the Pistons.
“I’m gonna be so real with you. I found out he signed while I was on the PS5 just playing the game. He didn’t tell me, and apparently I did the same to him. We actually don’t really talk about that stuff, you know,” Amen Thompson said about how he found out about his brother’s deal.
“I think, uh, we both have goals that are, I mean, that are very, like, high. We talk about stuff like that. We don’t really talk about the money stuff and, uh, the contracts, but I mean, obviously, it’s a great feeling. You know, growing up, you know, we wanted to be in these positions, and now we are, and we’re just focused on the next thing after that.”
A reporter then asked Amen Thompson what it meant to him that the franchise showed its trust in him by giving him a five-year deal.
“Yeah, I mean, it means a lot, you know. Just I feel like I’m an important piece to the team. I think they think the same thing. So, just being back and secured for this amount of time, you know, I’m ready to work. I want to bring a championship to Houston. So, I mean, those are my goals.”
When asked what he spent his money on first after learning about the $208 million extension that kicks in from the 2027-28 season, Amen Thompson had a hilarious response.
“Probably some Uber Eats. I get ChopShop. I try to kind of eat healthy. I get a fruit cup. It’s so boring. Don’t order it,” he said.
In the 2025-26 season, Thompson averaged 18.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 53.0% from the field. But the premier defender, selected to All-Defensive teams in the past two seasons, wasn’t selected to any in 2026.
Reflecting on the past season and missing out on All-Defensive honors, Amen Thompson admitted he took the honors for granted and didn’t defend well enough to be named to either the first or second team in the All-Defensive category.
“Yeah, for sure,” Thompson said about whether not making the All-Defensive teams motivates him. “I mean, I knew I didn’t deserve it last year, honestly, if I’m being real, but I just want to be a premier defender. I want to make those teams every year. So, it definitely was a motivation, especially Ausar making it and me not, you know what I mean?
“I don’t think it’s going to take much. I just don’t think it was… I went into the season just thinking I was going to get it, if I’m being real, and I still was close,” Amen Thompson added on what he needs to do to get back to that All-NBA-caliber defense.
“But just knowing, like, nothing’s just promised to me. I got to actually go out there and do what I do, and, um, I think things will be good that way,” Thompson concluded.
Therefore, this shows that Amen Thompson has specific objectives going into the 2026-27 season after securing a whopping $208 million new contract.
The Rockets star hopes to reestablish himself as one of the NBA’s top defenders while helping Houston win a championship. Losing out on All-Defensive honors seems to have given him more drive to succeed. All eyes are now on him to see if Thompson meets these expectations in the 2026-27 season.