Amen Thompson’s All-Defensive Votes Nearly Vanish Despite Overall Improvement

Amen Thompson missed All-Defense by a hair, and it’s justifiably stirring up controversy across the league. How does Thompson go from making All-Defense in 2024-25 to missing it entirely after becoming a far more complete player on one of the NBA’s best defenses?

Amen took a major leap this season and still ended up with less recognition, all while remaining one of the league’s most disruptive defenders. It is ridiculous that a player carrying a much larger offensive burden remained one of basketball’s most feared defenders yet dropped from 75 First Place votes a year ago to just five.

This year, Thompson finished just outside the cutoff with 46 total voting points, just four shy of making Second Team, despite Houston once again building one of the league’s best defensive identities under Ime Udoka.

Per the NBA, Thompson’s production jumped across the board this season. His scoring increased from 35.7 points per game to 39.5, his assists rose from 3.8 to 5.3, and his plus-minus improved, as well.

Somehow, the more responsibility Thompson took on overall, the quieter the conversation around his defense became. Meanwhile, twin brother Ausar Thompson received 166 voting points after posting cleaner year-to-year defensive metrics in a more defense-specialized role.

More often than not, Udoka was throwing Amen at the most difficult matchup on the floor regardless of position. Unlike a lot of young defenders who survive mostly off athleticism, Thompson’s instincts look noticeably sharper now too.

Offenses had a much harder time dragging him out of possessions because he was reacting faster mentally instead of just physically, which usually takes far longer than three years to develop.

It almost feels like voters normalized how ridiculous Amen is defensively a little too quickly.

The first time a young player starts flying around defensively, everybody notices. The second year, people quietly start looking for the next breakout defender instead, even if the original player expands his game dramatically.

Meanwhile, Thompson is sitting here at 23 years old already looking like one of the most versatile defenders and overall athletes in basketball.

Apparently, maintaining elite defensive versatility while taking on a significantly larger offensive role wasn’t enough to keep Thompson on either All-Defensive team this season.