Rockets forward listed among biggest breakout candidates for 2026-27 season

Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, The Ringer revealed a list of six breakout candidates, and among them was a current Rockets player, Amen Thompson. Ever since the 2023 NBA Draft, Houston fans have been waiting for an All-Star season from Thompson. Although he made another big jump last year, continuing his dominance on the defensive end, it’s clear that his upward trajectory is reliant on the improvements made to his 3-point shooting.

However, after the Rockets hired famous shooting instructor Chip Engelland, who previously helped Kawhi Leonard develop his jump shot, things could be looking up for Thompson on that front this season. “The notion that either twin (Amen or Ausar) will become an above-average 3-point shooter feels like a pipe dream at this point, yet there is still a lot that can be gained from a shooting coach at this pivotal juncture in their respective careers.”

After shooting 21.6% from beyond the arc last season, it may take a while for Thompson to develop a 3-point shot that hovers around league average (35-36%). That said, any sizable improvement will not only benefit the Rockets but will also change how opponents have to game plan around Thompson and Ime Udoka’s offense. If able to force defenders out to the perimeter, Thompson could viscously attack closeouts and manufacture even more points at the rim.

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This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets forward listed among biggest breakout candidates for 2026-27 season