The Houston Rockets’ core is centered around Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, arguably the two best players they have drafted in this current era of the franchise.
Shang-Goon has already been an All-Star twice in his five NBA seasons, and Thompson has earned some consideration for being one of the league’s top defenders. Bleacher Report writer Andy Bailey believes Sengun and Thompson are among the top 30 players in the league when 2030 arrives.
“Sengun could take a little better care of the ball.
His jump shot and the touch on some of those adventurous finishing attempts need improvement. Defensive mobility may never get better, but his awareness can. If he does zero in and make those improvements, several more All-Star appearances are likely on the way,” Bailey wrote of Sengun.
“Thompson’s athleticism can be genuinely shocking. He already uses it to great effect on the defensive end. If he spends the next four years figuring out how to do so on the other, Thompson could be a perennial All-NBA contender,” Bailey added.
While the Rockets have flirted with the idea of trading one of these players to get better sooner, the team has to trust that they can carry Houston for the next several years. With Sengun’s IQ leading the way on offense and Thompson’s tenacity charging the defense, the Rockets have elite playmakers that can keep them in the contender conversation for years to come.
By 2030, if both players are still with the Rockets, they should be one of the best teams in the NBA.
