Amen Thompson Getting $208 Million Extension Baffles Fans – “For A Glorified Role Player”

23-year-old Amen Thompson has grown to become a main component of the Houston Rockets' starting five.

Amen Thompson Getting $208 Million Extension Baffles Fans – “For A Glorified Role Player”

Amen Thompson gets a massive raise (Image via The Sporting News/X)

When Amen Thompson and his twin brother, Ausar Thompson, entered the NBA, the goals they had laid out earlier in their lives received a lot of praise. They had pinpointed what they wanted to achieve, and one of their goals was to become billionaires.

They did not specifically mention whether they wanted to enter the exclusive club together or individually. But no doubt watching the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and most recently, LeBron James, become billionaires gave them the idea that it was possible.

To get to that goal, they also remarked that they had to become the best players in the NBA, which would enable them to get monster contracts, lucrative endorsement deals, and help them to invest in other businesses.

So far, the two have proved that they are not just here for the sake of being in the NBA, as both have proved their worth to their respective franchises. But there is a long way to go before the 23-year-olds can achieve their dream.

Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson has agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie-scale contract extension with the franchise, sources tell ESPN. The new deal includes a 10% trade kicker.

Shams Charania revealed on X

This means that Amen Thompson has taken the first step towards the childhood goal he shares with his twin. This deal will pay out over the next five years, which means there is time for the guard to work towards netting another major extension.

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Fans unsure whether Amen Thompson is worth that much

With this new contract, Amen Thompson will be earning an average salary of $41.6 million. The problem basketball fans had with this number is that it is equal to or better than what most second options earn.

They pointed out that on the current Houston Rockets team, the California native may not be their third-best player once Fred VanVleet returns. Therefore, they believe that this was an overpay considering that Thompson has yet to completely fulfil his rookie hype. Check out examples of those reactions below.

To Amen Thompson’s credit, he adjusted the most last season with VanVleet out, playing out of position and still helping the Rockets reach the playoffs. Some may label last season as a failure simply by looking at the roster construction. But the franchise believes that their 2023 draft pick has shown enough promise to earn that money.

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Amen Thompson is the Rockets’ future

The Houston Rockets traded for Kevin Durant with the view that his championship-winning experience will expedite the development of their otherwise young squad.

The Rockets' young core
The Rockets’ young core (Image via Yahoo Sports/X)

The franchise may be in a clear win-now mode, but by locking up Amen Thompson with a five-year deal, they essentially ensured that not only will their rising star get paid, but also stick around for a long time.

Despite what naysayers say, the organization knows that its young core of Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason is its future.

They may have a ton of veterans now pushing them towards a championship. But the Rockets believe that this young core will keep them competitive for years once the likes of Durant and Fred VanVleet leave. Paying Amen Thompson $41.6 million will look like a bargain once that happens.

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