In NBA.com’s annual GM survey, rising star Amen Thompson was a popular choice, and particularly in categories related to defense and athleticism.
Each year, as part of the annual NBA GM survey, NBA.com’s John Schuhmann polls the top decision-makers for each of the league’s 30 teams.
Topics polled include the best teams, players, coaches, and offseason moves, and general managers are not allowed to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentage figures are based on the pool of respondents to that particular question and not necessarily all 30 general managers.
Regarding the 2025-26 Houston Rockets, one consistent theme was third-year guard Amen Thompson, who featured repeatedly in the October 2025 GM survey.
Here’s a rundown of where Thompson was represented:
NBA player most likely to have a breakout season: Amen Thompson at No. 1 (30%)Best perimeter defender in the NBA: Amen Thompson at No. 3 (22%)Most versatile defender in the NBA: Amen Thompson at No. 1 (18%)Most athletic player in the NBA: Amen Thompson at No. 1 (58%)Fastest NBA player with the ball: Amen Thompson received votes
At just 22 years old and in his second NBA season, Thompson was a 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team selection.
In 42 games as a starter last season, Thompson averaged 16.0 points (56.0% FG), 9.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 35.9 minutes per game. He’s now expected to take on an even greater role as the “lead playmaker” for a Houston squad that lost veteran guard Fred VanVleet to a serious knee injury during the offseason.
Beyond Thompson, the Rockets also had a few other players and coaches receive votes across multiple categories, as can be viewed here. But the rising third-year star was by far the most frequent pick from rival GMs.
As a team, the Rockets were picked to finish third in the Western Conference behind Oklahoma City and Denver, and Houston received at least one vote as the 2026 NBA Finals winner. Should that occur, Thompson would almost certainly be among the primary reasons.