Amen Thompson Draft Profile: A Prayer for the Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery

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2023 NBA Draft prospect Amen Thompson
(Credit: Overtime Elite)

Amen Thompson and his twin brother, Ausar, are playing for Overtime Elite (OTE) again this season. While it remains to be seen what kind of competition they will play against, they have looked the part of first-round picks in the little we’ve seen of them. Amen is a 6-foot-7, 200-pound combo guard with superior athleticism.

Examining Amen Thompson’s Game

Thompson has explosive leap coupled with an arsenal of dribble moves to get to his spots on the floor. The big hope is that the games OTE play will be against stiffer competition and grown men so that proper evaluations can take place. This would give scouts a much better idea of what he is truly capable of at the next level. Here are his stats from last season with OTE:

  • 14.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.1 SPG
  • 53.2 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 53.1 FT%

While shooting consistently will be a swing skill for Thompson, there are still a few major components of his game that make him a potential top-10 pick. His defensive versatility along with his dribbling and passing are not only fun to watch, but are crucial for OTE team to get wins. It also allows him to guard three different positions well and without any drop off. Thompson collects blocks thanks to his jumping ability and anticipation. His competition level may also play a role in that.

Amen Thompson’s Strengths and Weaknesses

You can see just from his shooting percentages above that he will need to improve his outside stroke. Thompson struggles to hit consistently from deep, but another year playing with OTE should hopefully improve that at least a bit. He has been working with former NBA champ (and Rookie of the Year) Mike Miller on his shooting. The major difference in Thompson’s shot will have to be shooting up and straightening out the elbow as he used to shoot the ball more outwards with a flat arc.

The dribbling prowess of Thompson might be one of the most tantalizing aspects of his game as he makes it look so smooth. He gets to the rim with ease and finds teammates fairly well. The lengthy guard utilizes a bunch of different moves to get to his spots including spins, hesitations, and quick crossovers. Once he gets to the rim, that’s when the fun begins.

Thompson can get above the rim, around the rim, and even finish under it if need be. He’s long enough to go around defenders and strong enough to go through some of them as well. Thompson is nothing short of a superb athlete and he knows it, taking absolute advantage of that when possible. He’s going to be a top-10 pick and could move up further if he shows the improvements scouts are hoping to see.

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