The 2023 NBA Draft may forever belong to Victor Wembanyama, but Houston found something special of its own in Amen Thompson. The 23-year-old has transformed into a vital piece of the Rockets’ rising core. His scoring has climbed, his versatility has expanded, and his impact has grown louder. Now, Houston has made its belief unmistakable, placing a major contract extension on the table.
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Amen Thompson has secured a massive five-year, $208 million deal with the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Thompson’s contract also carries a 10% trade kicker. Its cap impact matches the share tied to Alperen Sengun’s five-year, $185 million extension in 2024. Thompson also topped the league in minutes last season. Meanwhile, he posted career bests of 18.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. He finished eighth in total steals and fourth in loose ball recoveries.
It is safe to say that the Houston Rockets have put complete faith in the 23-year-old. But here’s the thing: Amen Thompson’s contract is bigger than veteran guard Austin Reaves’.
The Los Angeles Lakers star declined a four-year, $89.2 million max contract extension in 2025. He waited until June to get the four-year, $185 million maximum deal. This means he will earn $41.2 million this upcoming season. Meanwhile, Amen Thompson will earn $41.6 million.
This information has somehow thrown fans into a frenzy.
Amen Thompson’s new contract extension has become the latest talking point
X user @LakeShowYo shared a GIF of Shaquille O’Neal laughing hysterically. They captioned: “Rockets just paid Amen Thompson more than what Austin Reaves received 😭💀. 5 years, $208 Million.”
On the other hand, someone took a more brutal stance. “When Amen Thompson turns 28 he’ll be running the league n Reaves will be out the league 😂🔥,” they wrote. Well, Amen will turn 28 in around 5 years. That is exactly when his latest extension will also come to an end. But then, it is difficult to say whether Reaves will be in or out of the league
Meanwhile, another fan wrote, “W. Now trade sengun for a better center and that’s a championship.” If you look at both Thompson and Alperen Sengun, then the latter is a better player production-wise. Throughout their 2026 playoff series against the Lakers, the Turkish giant averaged 20,3 points, compared to Thompson’s 19.2.
However, the Houston Rockets need Amen for the disruption he brings to the floor. So, a fan commented, “41m is not bad actually.”
Lastly, fans are worried about Thompson’s shooting troubles. He remains a shaky threat from beyond the arc. He converted only 21.6% of his threes while taking 1.5 attempts per game. His free-throw rate stood at 77.9%, while his career three-point shooting sits near 22%. So, one concerned netizen said, “200ms and can’t hit an open 3 that’s fire.”
Right now, the fans are sharing mixed opinions about the Rockets’ decision. Only the 2026-27 season will say whether they made the right choice or not.