Evaluating Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore's Rookie Seasons with Rockets

The Rockets introduced two high-flying rookies to their squad in 2023-24. How did they fare?

The Houston Rockets swung big with their first round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.

With the fourth overall selection, they took a gamble on jumbo guard Amen Thompson, perhaps the highest ceiling player in the draft, save for Victor Wembanyama. 

And at No. 20, they landed the coveted Cam Whitmore, who saw a massive draft night slide after being heralded as a likely top-10 pick at Villanova.

Houston made obvious improvements over the course of the 2023-24 season, pushing their win total to 41. But how much of that was due to their shiny new freshmen? Let’s take a look at how the pair fared in their first season of action:

Amen Thompson | G

9.5 points | 6.6 rebounds | 2.6 assists | 54% FG | 14% 3P | 68% FT

Despite a rollercoaster season due to injuries, Thompson was as advertised throughout the draft process. At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, he has some of the most functional athleticism ever seen in the NBA, and that was on full display throughout his debut season.

There were times he looked out of his element, but his tools and pure feel for the game made up for it on most nights. He was typically at least impactful on the defensive end at the point of attack and in transition.

“As advertised,” wasn’t always pretty, though. The frosh shot just 14% from three-point land on less than one attempt per game. There were obvious signals from the jump that would be a pain point, but it was likely even worse than many thought.

There’s good news, though. Despite not clearing up any shooting concerns, there was obvious improvement from Thompson throughout the season. He ended his year on a hot streak, scoring 13.9 points, grabbing 8.9 rebounds and dishing 3.4 assists in his last 19 games played.

Cam Whitmore | F

12.3 points | 3.8 rebounds | 0.7 assists | 45% FG | 36% 3P | 68% FT

Whitmore was equally impressive in year one, despite not seeing consistent NBA time until around the 30-game mark.

HIs scoring was lethal — 13.3 points in 20.4 minutes in 40 games after receiving consistent minutes — and the signs were there of a legitimate go-to option down the road.

His splits of 45% from the field and 36% from five attempts beyond the arc were solid for a rookie, and even better considering outside shooting wasn’t considered a strength in college.

Still, there’s plenty of improvement to be had for Whitmore, too. Despite athleticism that allows him to nab blocks and steals, his overall defensive product left lots to be desired. And his 33-to-46 assist-to-turnover ratio is likely his biggest improvement point in order to become a full-time scorer.

Conclusion:

All in all, the rookie seasons of Houston’s newbies would be considered a wild success. The signs of stardom are there for both, with clear-cut areas to improve on for the future.

There’s a great chance both will don Rockets red for the foreseeable future as the team looks to contend in the coming years.