2023 NBA Draft: The Appeal of Amen Thompson at No. 3
In a 2023 NBA draft class with a solidified first and second selections in French phenom Victor Wembanyama and Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, the search has been on for a definitive third.
While there’s plenty of sufficient options, none have jumped, in this case quite literally, off the page more than Overtime Elite guard Amen Thompson.
Just one half of the exciting Thompson twins duo, Amen is a slender, 6-foot-7 gravity-defying guard with a plus wingspan. His build has all the makings of a potential top-three pick.
Athletically, he’s one of the more unreal players we’ve seen — probably ever. He’s got a reported 44-inch vertical leap and isn’t afraid to display it in-game. There’s few prospects in draft history as gifted as Thompson in the athleticism category.
On top of being an ultra-athlete, he’s got the same rangy elasticity that has made players like Jalen Green immediately successful.
Thompson’s playmaking ability sets him apart from the rest of the crew looking to lock themselves into the third overall slot. While players like Brandon Miller, Keynote George, Cam Whitmore and more are certainly viable picks, none feel close to cornerstone-esque as Thompson.
Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. has shown flashes of potentially potent playmaking ability as well, creating for himself and his Razorback teammates, but his decision-making and raw ability even feels a bit behind Thompson.
For one, Thompson’s quick twitch and athleticism allows him to generate paint touches nearly at will, and while he won’t often wow you with his pure passing ability, he’s a fine decision maker and capable facilitator who only stands to grow in that regard.
Offensively, Thompson is high-feel and fluid. He’s got capable handle, is good of the bounce and can finish capably with either hand at the rim in a variety of ways. His size makes him an above-average positional rebounder as well.
Thompson is a playmaker defensively as well. He’s far from consistent on the perimeter, but his natural feels for the game allows for some pretty impressive steals and blocks. Most of which should translate to the NBA.
As a jumbo guard with athleticism, he should be a neutral to plus NBA defender with time.
Thompson’s critical weakness is his shooting.
His jump shot needs much more than work: it needs an overhaul. And he’s a ways out from seeing any sort of reliability from the perimeter. In regards to the NBA, defenders will likely sag and play off him until he can prove he’s capable of scoring from beyond the arc.
It’s a pretty big downside. One that could potentially see teams opting for a different direction come draft night. But it’s also something we’ve seen fixed time and time again in the big leagues.
Unless one of the collegiate risers can really separate themselves from the pack, or they fill a need of the team who lands the third overall selection, all signs point to Thompson being the most appealing No. 3.
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