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Inside The Rockets

Houston Rockets Rookie Amen Thompson Lands Nike Contract

Alongside 12 other rookies, Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets inks a Nike deal.
Jonah Kubicek|
Houston Rockets Rookie Amen Thompson Lands Nike Contract
Houston Rockets Rookie Amen Thompson Lands Nike Contract

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are building one of the best young cores in the NBA, and they have the marketing appeal to back that up. Jalen Green signed a shoe deal with Adidas before he was drafted, and Jabari Smith Jr. inked the same contract last year.

In a loaded rookie class, Nike took the top prize. On top of Victor Wembanyama, the shoe giant added 12 other rookies to their portfolio — including Amen Thompson and his brother, Ausar.

While the deal with Thompson doesn’t mean a signature shoe will be hitting the market this season, it does solidify his place among the NBA’s best young players. Nike has the money to hand out endorsement deals like candy, but they usually only sign the top prospects. This season is no exception.

As international brands like Chinese-owned Li-Nang snag top players, Nike is still the industry's behemoth. Based on who they signed this offseason, it’s safe to say that Wembanyama will be the first to unveil a signature shoe, and Brandon Miller will probably be second based on his draft position.

However, Amen Thompson holds a unique marketing strategy: a twin brother. Nike could release signature shoes for Amen and Ausar to showcase the sibling rivalry or the twins could collaborate on a brotherly release of a single shoe.

The second option would appease both Rockets and Pistons fans, and it would prevent Nike from playing favorites. That being said, the shoe game is a business, and if one of the twins performs better on the court, Nike won’t have an issue offering one a better deal moving forward. 

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Jonah Kubicek
JONAH KUBICEK

Jonah Kubicek has been writing about the NBA since 2021, covering the Pistons, Jazz, Spurs, Magic, Rockets, and Knicks. As a lifelong Spurs fan living in Michigan, he never misses an opportunity to bring up the 2005 NBA Finals (you should have guarded Horry!). He is a long-suffering Tigers fan and closely follows the NFL, although he never found an affinity for the Lions. Jonah graduated from Oakland University with a degree in History and spends his spare time playing tennis or reading. Follow Jonah on Twitter for updates on Tre Jones and other NBA news.

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